Bad Faith
Worldview is fronted by Oliver Shaw, an Oxford-based songwriter, performer … Read Full Bio ↴Worldview is fronted by Oliver Shaw, an Oxford-based songwriter, performer and producer. Worldview aims to fuse the sounds of rock, pop and dance music with insightful lyrics reminiscent of Elvis Costello or Morrissey and the melodic sensibility of the classic 60’s acts. Oliver began playing in bands, including one with Coldplay’s bassist-to-be, then spent several years honing a one-man band approach in his studio, writing, singing, recording and playing everything in the manner of Stevie Wonder, early Prince or World Party. He self-released a debut album, the relationship-themed “War Years”, in late 2002, culled from home sessions. It enjoyed some airplay and praise for the “timeless quality” of the songwriting. A second set, “Paying For It”, followed in January 2005, with a more diverse stylistic palette and topics ranging from celebrity and consumerism to the Iraq conflict. The Oxfordbands.com website judged it “chock full of good tunes, clever lyrics and…united by a consistent, if rather misanthropic, musical vision”. As well as gaining FM and online radio exposure his tracks were featured on various unsigned compilation CDs. He appeared many times at major Oxford venues with a backing band from the ranks of other fledging local acts, and played some solo acoustic sets at London venues. Oliver then put together a new gigging line-up of Worldview, combining live instruments and PC, playing dates in Oxford and London, and an album, “Our Condition”, is available at the iTunes store. “Worldview's aptly titled "Our Condition" takes a snapshot view of modern living, with its raw honest exploration of life today...It's a strong offering with music that combines the ballads of REM with the dance beats of Duran Duran" - Oxfordshire Music Scene. The Credit Crunch is the subject of download single, “Party’s Over”, which along with other Worldview tracks is a staple of Internet radio stations. It features on the new Worldview album "Schoolboy Errors", released in February 2012.

Bad Faith
Worldview Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

This world may be a phase you're going through
Before some higher plane you're heading to
But no firm evidence says this is true
And all you know is all that is in view

With this in mind
Are you gonna bide your time?
Well there is one distinction that we've got
As humans we can picture what is not
Weighing up the roles we might assume
Able to adopt them if we chose

With this in mind
Are you gonna script your life?
With this in mind

Are you living in bad faith
Are you running a rat race
Are you putting a brave face on?
Are you waiting in good faith
Just minding your own space
And aiming to stay safe, hey?

Now God's been dead a hundred years and more
And there were many roles we'd built him for
Meaning and belief have been erased
Leaving us to deal with a clean slate

Are you living in bad faith
Are you running a rat race
Are you showing your fine taste off?
Are you waiting in good faith
Just minding your own space
And tending to play safe, hey?

Freedom
It's an awe-inspiring thought
It's a terrifying thought
Should you spare it any thought
Freedom
It's an awe-inspiring thought
Is it safer to ignore
The suggestions of that thought?

Are you gonna steer your life?
With this in mind

Are you losing your bad faith
Are you ducking the rat race
Are you dreaming of new states now?

Are you hoping to make waves
Out throwing some strange shapes
And joking in poor taste, hey?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Worldview's song "Bad Faith" delve into existential themes, encouraging listeners to reflect on the nature of existence, belief, and the human condition. The opening lines propose a provocative idea: that life as we know it might simply be a transient phase, potentially leading to a higher reality or deeper understanding. However, this notion is immediately tempered by a recognition that there is no definitive evidence supporting such beliefs. The dichotomy between the conceivable and the evidential suggests that our understanding of life is confined to what we can directly perceive, leaving the quest for deeper truths ambiguous. This introduces a central theme of the song: the tension between faith and skepticism, and how it influences our approach to life.


The following lines emphasize a key aspect of human consciousness: our ability to conceive of possibilities beyond our direct experience. The lyrics suggest that humans possess a unique imagination, allowing us to envision roles and lives that diverge from our current reality. This creative faculty entails the potential for profound change and exploration, but it also implies a responsibility to make conscious choices about our lives. The questions posed—whether one is going to "bide your time" or "script your life"—highlight the existential challenge of agency. In a world devoid of preordained meanings or purposes, individuals must confront the freedom to define their existence, which can be both liberating and daunting.


Central to the song is the critique of what it refers to as "bad faith," a term rooted in existential philosophy that describes a form of self-deception where individuals engage in avoidance of personal responsibility. The chorus presents a series of rhetorical questions that challenge listeners to examine whether they are merely participating in a "rat race," creating façades, or waiting passively for something to happen. The contrast between "bad faith" and "good faith" raises the stakes for personal engagement in life. The implications of running a "rat race," or living without authentic intention, resonate powerfully in contemporary society, where complacency and consumerism often overshadow genuine self-exploration and freedom.


In the latter parts of the song, an acknowledgment of the historical concept of God being "dead" illustrates the stark void left in the absence of absolute meanings and overarching narratives that once provided comfort and clarity. This clean slate of belief offers both an extraordinary opportunity for self-determination and a daunting landscape void of prescribed meaning. The repeated refrains about freedom suggest that the act of questioning and envisioning new ways of being is an exhilarating yet frightening endeavor. The culmination of the lyrics calls for a reckoning with one's own beliefs and actions, urging listeners to confront whether they are liberating themselves or remaining complacent within societal confines. The invitation to “make waves” represents a challenge to embrace the discomfort of true freedom, encouraging a departure from the safety of the status quo in pursuit of a more authentic existence.


Line by Line Meaning

This world may be a phase you're going through
Consider that your current existence could simply be a temporary experience.


Before some higher plane you're heading to
Perhaps there is a more elevated state of existence that you are destined to reach.


But no firm evidence says this is true
However, there is no solid proof supporting the idea that such a transcendent state actually exists.


And all you know is all that is in view
Ultimately, your understanding is limited to what you can perceive in the present moment.


With this in mind
Given this perspective,


Are you gonna bide your time?
Are you simply waiting passively for something to happen?


Well there is one distinction that we've got
Yet, there is one unique trait that distinguishes us as humans.


As humans we can picture what is not
As human beings, we possess the ability to envision concepts and realities that do not currently exist.


Weighing up the roles we might assume
We can evaluate different identities and personas that we could adopt.


Able to adopt them if we chose
We have the power to take on those roles if we decide to do so.


With this in mind
With this awareness in consideration,


Are you gonna script your life?
Will you take charge and consciously plan the narrative of your existence?


With this in mind
Keeping this knowledge in perspective,


Are you living in bad faith
Are you existing in a state of denial or self-deception?


Are you running a rat race
Are you caught in a relentless competition with others?


Are you putting a brave face on?
Are you pretending to be strong, despite your internal struggles?


Are you waiting in good faith
Are you patiently hoping for positive outcomes with sincerity?


Just minding your own space
Are you focused on your personal environment and well-being?


And aiming to stay safe, hey?
Are you primarily concerned with avoiding risks and maintaining security?


Now God's been dead a hundred years and more
The notion of a divine authority or guiding force has been absent from our collective consciousness for generations.


And there were many roles we'd built him for
We constructed various interpretations of God to fulfill our existential needs.


Meaning and belief have been erased
With the absence of this belief system, our sense of purpose and understanding has dissipated.


Leaving us to deal with a clean slate
This has left us to confront an uncharted reality, free from prior assumptions.


Are you living in bad faith
Are you still choosing to exist without confronting your true self?


Are you running a rat race
Are you still engaged in this exhausting struggle for success?


Are you showing your fine taste off?
Are you preoccupied with displaying your sense of sophistication or aesthetics?


Are you waiting in good faith
Are you genuinely anticipating some positive change?


Just minding your own space
Are you simply focusing on your own personal priorities?


And tending to play safe, hey?
Are you mostly opting for caution in your choices?


Freedom
The concept of being truly free


It's an awe-inspiring thought
It evokes a sense of wonder and possibility.


It's a terrifying thought
Yet, it also brings about fear of the unknown.


Should you spare it any thought
Should you reflect upon the implications of that freedom?


Freedom
This idea of freedom continues to resonate.


It's an awe-inspiring thought
The potential it represents can be exhilarating.


Is it safer to ignore
Would it be easier to turn a blind eye to its complexities?


The suggestions of that thought?
What might those implications mean for your life?


Are you gonna steer your life?
Will you take the initiative to direct your own journey?


With this in mind
Considering everything that has been discussed,


Are you losing your bad faith
Are you beginning to shed the self-deceptive tendencies?


Are you ducking the rat race
Are you avoiding the competitive fray?


Are you dreaming of new states now?
Are you envisioning new possibilities and realities for yourself?


Are you hoping to make waves
Do you aspire to create significant change or disrupt the status quo?


Out throwing some strange shapes
Are you expressing your individuality in unconventional ways?


And joking in poor taste, hey?
And perhaps engaging in humor that challenges societal norms, even if it's not universally appreciated?




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Oliver Shaw

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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