100 Generations
ThouShaltNot Lyrics


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We ate our young and never blinked an eye
We carved the subway tunnels and prayed to snipers in the sky
We practiced medicine without knowing how to heal
We killed ourselves in dreams a thousand times, always believing it was real

We gave birth silently to jargon, metal, smoke
And mirrors that we kissed until they clouded up and broke
We fed a starving child with an apple's knowing taste
Denying 'till her dying tears the poison with which it had been laced

So father kill your daughter
Mother kill your son
Swallow up the universe
'Till all the killing's done

It happens when you slumber
It happens unaware
Out of every human eye
A hundred generations' stare

If you lose your eyes, you will see
And if you lose your faith, you will believe
If you lose your blood, no more will you bleed
And if you lose all your desires, nevermore will you need

If you lose your light, you will glow
And if you lose your mind, you will know
If you lose your youth, no more will you grow
And if you learn to stand your ground, there'll be nowhere left to go

So father kill your daughter
Mother kill your son
Swallow up the universe
'Till all the killing's done

It happens when you slumber
It happens unaware
Out of every human eye
A hundred generations' stare





Come here to mend
What's come before will come again

Overall Meaning

The song "100 Generations" by ThouShaltNot addresses the ways in which humanity has recklessly destroyed itself and its environment throughout history. The lyrics reference actions that show a lack of morality or foresight, such as cannibalism, senseless violence, and denial of deadly truths. The metaphor of "a hundred generations' stare" suggests that these actions have lasting consequences that span far beyond the individual human lifespan. The song also speaks to the idea of sacrifice, with the repeated refrain urging parents to kill their children as a way to end the cycle of destruction and death.


The line "If you lose your light, you will glow" is particularly intriguing, as it suggests that one can find a new kind of strength or beauty in the midst of darkness or crisis. This theme is echoed in the lines "if you lose your faith, you will believe" and "if you lose your mind, you will know", which suggest that by surrendering our expectations and preconceived notions, we can open ourselves up to new experiences and perspectives.


Line by Line Meaning

We ate our young and never blinked an eye
We were so consumed by our own greed and hunger that we were willing to harm our own children without remorse.


We carved the subway tunnels and prayed to snipers in the sky
We built urban infrastructure with no regard for our own safety or the consequences of our actions.


We practiced medicine without knowing how to heal
We experimented with medical practices without an understanding of what we were doing or how it would impact patients.


We killed ourselves in dreams a thousand times, always believing it was real
We mentally and emotionally harmed ourselves repeatedly, never realizing that we were in control of our thoughts and feelings.


We gave birth silently to jargon, metal, smoke
Rather than bringing new life into the world, we instead created artificial and meaningless constructs.


And mirrors that we kissed until they clouded up and broke
We placed too much value on false appearances, obsessing over them until they inevitably shattered.


We fed a starving child with an apple's knowing taste
We tried to alleviate the suffering of those in need, but did so with a hidden agenda and at a great cost to their wellbeing.


Denying 'till her dying tears the poison with which it had been laced
We refused to acknowledge the harmful realities that we imposed on others, even as they suffered and died from them.


So father kill your daughter
We have been conditioned to carry out violence against those closest to us by a society that values power and control over compassion and empathy.


Mother kill your son
We have been taught to see familial bonds as disposable, and to view even our own children as expendable resources for our own benefit.


Swallow up the universe
We have a desire for absolute control and superiority that extends beyond our own individual lives and will stop at nothing to achieve it.


'Till all the killing's done
We believe that violence and destruction are the only means to an end, and that nothing is more important than achieving our own goals.


It happens when you slumber
Our actions and the consequences of those actions are often hidden from us, occurring in our subconscious as we go about our daily lives.


It happens unaware
We have normalized and accepted destructive behaviors and beliefs to the point where they no longer register as negative or harmful.


Out of every human eye
These patterns of destruction and violence are pervasive across all of humanity.


A hundred generations' stare
This pattern has been repeated and sustained across many generations of human history.


If you lose your eyes, you will see
By removing oneself from the material world and its distractions, one can achieve a deeper spiritual understanding.


And if you lose your faith, you will believe
By abandoning preconceived notions and beliefs, one is open to new possibilities and truth.


If you lose your blood, no more will you bleed
By shedding our attachment to the physical body, we become free from fear and pain.


And if you lose all your desires, nevermore will you need
By shifting our focus to the present moment and embracing contentment, we can live without constantly striving for more.


If you lose your light, you will glow
By shedding the superficial layers of the self, our inner light can shine all the more bright.


And if you lose your mind, you will know
By letting go of the rational mind and embracing intuition, one finds a deeper understanding.


If you lose your youth, no more will you grow
By embracing the impermanence of life and accepting change as a natural part of the cycle, we free ourselves from expectations and attachments.


And if you learn to stand your ground, there'll be nowhere left to go
By embracing the present moment and our true selves, we can let go of the need to constantly search for external validation or accomplishments.


Come here to mend
We have the power to heal and repair the harm we have caused, if we are willing to confront and take responsibility for our actions.


What's come before will come again
If we fail to address and correct our destructive patterns, they will continue to repeat indefinitely.




Contributed by Caleb T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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