Since Women's dissolution, the mem… Read Full Bio ↴Viet Cong are now Preoccupations.
Since Women's dissolution, the members of the Calgary band have gone on to form various projects, and this includes Viet Cong. Formed in 2012 The group features Matt Flegel and Mike Wallace from Women, along with Daniel Christiansen from Sharp Ends and Scott Munro from Lab Coast/Reuben and the Dark.
Following a scattering of live shows, their debut EP "Cassette" was released in 2013. The songs bear some resemblance to Women, with sounds ranging from the atmospheric psych folk of "Static Wall" to the jangling haze of "Unconscious Melody," the garage-y bounce of "Throw It Away," the jagged experimentalism of "Structureless Design" and the moody sprawl of "Select Your Drone." In 2015, Viet Cong released their eponymous debut album.
March of Progress
Viet Cong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Soon, before the infection can set in
Slowly, this repulsion leads to nausea
And fear for these old forgotten halls
Maybe you just need someone to keep you warm
With fire coming from a different sun
Your reputation is preceding you
And this incessant march of progress
Can guarantee our sure success
We've played [?] with give and take
We've built the buildings and led them to break
Tell me, tell me, tell it to me, tell it straight
What is the difference between love and hate?
We've played [?] with give and take
We've built the buildings and led them to break
Tell me, tell me, tell it to me, tell it straight
What is the difference between love and hate?
We've played [?] with give and take
We've built the buildings and led them to break
Tell me, tell me, tell it to me, tell it straight
What is the difference between love and hate?
In the beginning of the song March of Progress by Viet Cong, the singer speaks of a wound that needs to be healed before an infection can set in. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for a social wound, a wound caused by the incessant march of progress. The singer talks of repulsion leading to nausea and fear for the old and forgotten halls, which can be seen as a commentary on how modernity and progress can leave behind the old and the forgotten, causing fear and repulsion among them. The singer then asks if someone needs to be kept warm, possibly as a way to provide some sort of shelter from the harshness of modernity. The fire coming from a different sun could represent a new way of thinking or a new model to follow, something different from the current status quo.
The next verses of the song involve the singer talking about the reputation of progress preceding it and how impressed everyone is. Give and take is talked about in relation to building buildings and how those buildings will eventually break. The singer then asks a thought-provoking question, what is the difference between love and hate? This could be a way for the singer to question the benefits and negatives that come with progress and modernity. The repetitive nature of the last verse could signify how there is no clear answer to this question and how the cycle of progress and destruction just repeats itself over and over.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately, there's a wound that needs some healing
Recently, there has been a problem that requires a solution or remedy.
Soon, before the infection can set in
It is important to address the issue quickly before it becomes worse and harder to manage.
Slowly, this repulsion leads to nausea
Over time, this strong feeling of dislike or disgust can cause intense discomfort or sickness.
And fear for these old forgotten halls
We are concerned about the safety and welfare of these buildings that have been neglected and abandoned for a long time.
Maybe you just need someone to keep you warm
Perhaps what you require is a comforting presence or support to make you feel better or secure.
With fire coming from a different sun
This person or thing can provide a new and unique source of inspiration or motivation.
Your reputation is preceding you
Your past actions or achievements are already well-known and have earned you respect or admiration.
We're all sufficiently impressed
Everyone is duly impressed or awed by what you have done or accomplished.
And this incessant march of progress
This unstoppable and unending movement towards improvement and advancement.
Can guarantee our sure success
This will undoubtedly bring us the success or achievement we seek.
We've played [?] with give and take
We have engaged in a back-and-forth exchange or compromise.
We've built the buildings and led them to break
We have constructed structures or systems that are prone to failure or collapse.
Tell me, tell me, tell it to me, tell it straight
Please be honest and straightforward in your communication and tell me the truth.
What is the difference between love and hate?
What distinguishes the positive emotions of affection and fondness from the negative emotions of hostility and animosity?
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luke Snard
Lately, there's a wound that needs some healing soon
Before the infection can set in
Slowly, this repulsion leads to nausea
And fear for these old forgotten halls
Maybe you just need someone to keep you warm
With fire coming from a different sun
Your reputation is preceding you
We're all sufficiently impressed
And this incessant march of progress
Can guarantee our sure success
We play the life secure with give and take
We build the buildings and they're built to break
Tell me, tell me, tell it to me, tell it straight
What is the difference between love and hate?
We play the life secure with give and take
We build the buildings and they're built to break…
e Diaz
4:44 one of the best moments in recorded music history
yvng sh4m4n
i feel like this song should have been way longer, I'm thinking maybe 20 minutes. it has so much momentum going in the last couple minutes, which has their greatest riff imo, and it just abruptly ends when I really want it to go on longer. so much more they could have done with this song. it would have been Viet Cong's Sister Ray
acsol
my absolute favorite off of the album. I mean, those drums, goddamn. Also these lyrics are perfect:
"We play the life secure with give and take
We build the buildings and they’re built to break
Tell me, tell me, tell it to me, tell it straight:
What is the difference between love and hate?"
Contrariwise37
Dude enough good things cannot be said about this album
Luis Barajas
Just started listening to this amazing debut album by Viet Cong and this is, at least to me, one of the stand out tracks.
Luke Snard
Lately, there's a wound that needs some healing soon
Before the infection can set in
Slowly, this repulsion leads to nausea
And fear for these old forgotten halls
Maybe you just need someone to keep you warm
With fire coming from a different sun
Your reputation is preceding you
We're all sufficiently impressed
And this incessant march of progress
Can guarantee our sure success
We play the life secure with give and take
We build the buildings and they're built to break
Tell me, tell me, tell it to me, tell it straight
What is the difference between love and hate?
We play the life secure with give and take
We build the buildings and they're built to break…
Poe Meets Ludwig
probably the best post punk album of the last 5 years
Poe Meets Ludwig
@***** well. thi's rock stuff. no cavaco.
V A R I E T E X
realmente impresionante,la combinaciones, los ritmos y la voz <3
Andrew Hayes
I love this band. It reminds me of the industrial noise bands in San Francisco in the early 80's. They are so hypnotically primal like tribal psychonauts on a cosmic run through the universe. I will go anywhere to see them(almost).