How Flies Get Fat
Up Front Lyrics


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Here we go again skipping all the stones who will ever know how can anyone believe that what they're fed will eradicate a hunger that exists within their own reality maybe half of what we have is more than we need but no one wants to be the first to throw away we build machines to make machines that run machines and break our backs when we can't carry what they weigh who's going to carry all the weight of our own reality all we have is everything but sometimes we'll do anything to dig ourselves a hole that's deep enough so all we see is all the dirt that keeps a dead man from his dreams and all that's living from us all the words that people say about the fact that we should change the way we live from sun until moon are gasoline that soak the pages written by the hands that scratch the heads that try to understand it and someone has been busy building something that somebody said will serve some kind of purpose in the days and years that lay ahead if you want it you can have it they say it only gets better they're only trying to make it better for us all




Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Up Front's song How Flies Get Fat delve into the theme of consumerism, and the lengths that some people will go to acquire more than they need. The song begins with the lines, "Here we go again skipping all the stones/Who will ever know how can anyone believe/That what they're fed will eradicate a hunger that exists within their own reality". These lines are a commentary on the mindless pursuit of material possessions despite the fact that they do not necessarily fulfill deeper emotional needs.


The songwriter then goes on to suggest that perhaps "half of what we have is more than we need". However, society has taught us to always want more and to never be content with what we have. The chorus of the song, "Who's going to carry all the weight of our own reality/All we have is everything but sometimes we'll do anything to dig ourselves a hole that's deep enough so all we see is all the dirt that keeps a dead man from his dreams and all that's living from us" emphasizes the idea that we must take responsibility for the consequences of our actions, which includes the damage we cause to the environment and other people.


The lyrics also suggest that there is an underlying hypocrisy in the fact that people are aware that their current way of living is unsustainable, yet they continue to live that way. The line, "All the words that people say about the fact that we should change the way we live from sun until moon are gasoline that soak the pages written by the hands that scratch the heads that try to understand it" highlights this issue. The song concludes on a note of caution, warning listeners to be skeptical of people who promise a better future, as they may be more interested in their own personal gain than that of society as a whole.


Line by Line Meaning

Here we go again skipping all the stones who will ever know how can anyone believe that what they're fed will eradicate a hunger that exists within their own reality
We keep avoiding the underlying issues and never confronting the truth that the solutions offered to us won't address the fundamental problems we're facing.


maybe half of what we have is more than we need but no one wants to be the first to throw away
We have more resources than necessary, but no one is willing to take the first step in cutting back and reducing consumption.


we build machines to make machines that run machines and break our backs when we can't carry what they weigh
We create complex systems that lead to physical and mental exhaustion when we can't handle the weight of our own creations.


who's going to carry all the weight of our own reality
We all have to bear the consequences of our actions and the collective reality we create.


all we have is everything but sometimes we'll do anything to dig ourselves a hole that's deep enough so all we see is all the dirt that keeps a dead man from his dreams and all that's living from us
We have everything at our disposal, but we often choose self-destructive behaviors that prevent us from achieving our goals and harm those around us.


all the words that people say about the fact that we should change the way we live from sun until moon are gasoline that soak the pages written by the hands that scratch the heads that try to understand it
The constant talk of change doesn't lead to action and instead fuels frustration and confusion amongst those who try to make sense of it.


and someone has been busy building something that somebody said will serve some kind of purpose in the days and years that lay ahead if you want it you can have it they say it only gets better they're only trying to make it better for us all
Despite the chaos and confusion, some are still working towards creating something better and are hopeful that it will benefit everyone.




Contributed by Ryan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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