All-American Apathy
The Uncontrollable Few Lyrics


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I'll wait a little longer
It's not a pressing matter yet
So effort makes you stronger
See if I care when I'm second best

Drown out the childish laughter
Leave all the dying in the street
My fears are compromised in defeat

It's the All-American apathy
I can feel I can feel it trying to get to me
We fell asleep to the war on tv
Now it's get now it's get now it's getting to me

Let's drink the rivers dry
With purple majesty
We'll lock up all the sinners
Then we'll be truely free

In the middle of the night it feels so right
To give it all up without a fight
Justice is blind and so are we

It's the All-American apathy
I can feel I can feel it trying to get to me
We fell asleep to the war on tv
Now it's get now it's get now it's getting to me

I don't care what colours you wear
As long as you look like a star
And I won't shout when my say doesn't count
That's what majorities are for
And I won't mind when I'm doing time
For being exactly who I am
And damned if I cry when we stop wondering why
All the people are the same
It's like we don't even have a name

It's the All-American apathy
I can feel I can feel it trying to get to me




We fell asleep to the war on tv
Now it's get now it's get now it's getting to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Uncontrollable Few's song "All-American Apathy" reflect a feeling of disconnection and disillusionment with society. The singer is waiting for something to happen, but it's not urgent enough to require immediate action. The chorus speaks to the apathy felt by the singer, as they can feel it trying to consume them. The line "we fell asleep to the war on tv" speaks to the idea that people are becoming desensitized to violence and chaos because it's so normalized in the media.


The verses also touch on themes of injustice and the idea that people are becoming numb to it. The line "My fears are compromised in defeat" suggests that the singer has given up on fighting against injustice because they feel powerless to make a change. The bridge brings up the concept of freedom and what it means in America. The idea of drinking the rivers dry with "purple majesty" could be seen as a reference to the American flag and the freedom it's supposed to represent. However, the singer is critical of this idea, as they suggest that locking up "all the sinners" isn't true freedom.


Overall, the song appears to be a commentary on the state of American society and the apathy and disconnection that many people feel. It's a call to wake up and start paying attention to what's happening around us.


Line by Line Meaning

I'll wait a little longer
I am hesitant to take action and will delay making any decisions.


It's not a pressing matter yet
This situation is not currently urgent or important.


So effort makes you stronger
Putting in effort and perseverance can build resilience.


See if I care when I'm second best
I do not place value on winning or being the best.


Drown out the childish laughter
Ignore the trivial and immature things that distract from real issues.


Leave all the dying in the street
Society has become apathetic to the suffering of others.


My fears are compromised in defeat
I am resigned to losing and afraid of the consequences.


It's the All-American apathy
This indifference and lack of concern is a characteristic of American society.


I can feel I can feel it trying to get to me
This apathy is having an effect on me and my emotions.


We fell asleep to the war on tv
We have become desensitized to news of war and conflict.


Now it's get now it's get now it's getting to me
This apathy is starting to have a negative impact on me.


Let's drink the rivers dry
We are recklessly using up natural resources without thought for the future.


With purple majesty
We are deluded by grandiose imagery and ideas.


We'll lock up all the sinners
We are quick to judge and punish others for their perceived wrongdoings.


Then we'll be truely free
We believe that punishing others will make us free and happy.


In the middle of the night it feels so right
We are making poor decisions based on misguided emotions and ideals.


To give it all up without a fight
We are willing to give up on our beliefs and principles without resistance.


Justice is blind and so are we
We are ignoring the injustices in society and not seeking to correct them.


I don't care what colours you wear
I am not concerned with superficial differences like race or appearance.


As long as you look like a star
As long as you fit society's current trends and standards of beauty and success.


And I won't shout when my say doesn't count
I am resigned to the fact that my voice and opinions do not matter.


That's what majorities are for
The majority determines what is important and what should be done.


And I won't mind when I'm doing time
I am prepared to serve punishment for being true to myself and my beliefs.


For being exactly who I am
For not conforming to society's expectations and being different.


And damned if I cry when we stop wondering why
Society has stopped seeking answers and just accepts things as they are, and I am frustrated.


All the people are the same
We have stopped recognizing and valuing individuality and diversity.


It's like we don't even have a name
Our identity as individuals and as a society has become lost and meaningless.




Contributed by Adalyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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