The Purple Dawn
The Suicide File Lyrics
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Built up legends to distract us
I don't give a fuck about airbrushed beauty
And i don't give a shit about the cause celebre
Los Angleles is where you go to die
The palm trees cast shadows on paradise
And we continue to worship at the altar of the stars
Hollywood rots in the sun
These lyrics by The Suicide File in their song The Purple Dawn are a scathing indictment of the glorification of fame and celebrity culture. The opening line, "Celluloid heroes are a fucking fraud," directly confronts our obsession with creating larger-than-life personas around celebrities, reminding us that these are just constructed images meant to distract us from reality.
The second line continues this theme, suggesting that the construction of these legends is a deliberate attempt to keep us from paying attention to more pressing issues. This sentiment is further exemplified in the lines "I don't give a fuck about airbrushed beauty / And i don't give a shit about the cause celebre," where the singer dismisses our obsession with perfection and the latest fashionable cause, respectively.
The chorus focuses on Los Angeles, a symbol of the ultimate destination for fame seekers, but also a place where hopes and dreams can die. The palm trees and paradise are just a facade, masking the rotting culture underneath. By continuing to worship these empty idols, the singer suggests, we are only perpetuating the decay.
Overall, The Suicide File uses these lyrics to rail against the superficiality of celebrity culture and the lack of substance behind the carefully constructed images we idolize.
Line by Line Meaning
Celluloid heroes are a fucking fraud
Celebrity icons are simply illusions
Built up legends to distract us
These illusions are intentionally exaggerated to divert our attention
I don't give a fuck about airbrushed beauty
Artificial perfection means nothing to me
And i don't give a shit about the cause celebre
I am not swayed by popular trends
Los Angeles is where you go to die
The glamour of LA can destroy you
The palm trees cast shadows on paradise
Even in paradise, there are struggles and hardships
And we continue to worship at the altar of the stars
We are obsessed with celebrity culture
Hollywood rots in the sun
The entertainment industry is plagued with moral decay and corruption
Contributed by Lincoln N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.