Youth Of Today split in 1990 after releasing two studio albums and two 7" EPs, but have since reformed several times for reunion shows. Frontman Ray Cappo went on to form Hare Krishna bands Shelter (with Porcelly on guitar) and Better Than A Thousand, and would later cause controversy in the straight edge scene after being seen drinking a glass of wine in Italy while on tour.
Break Down the Walls
Youth of Today Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But over time I've seen they only serve to divide
It's so easy to judge people by the way they seem to be
We must overcome this problem to live life peacfully
Break down the walls!
Yes, we'll break down the walls !
Look beyond the fashion or the crowd that they are in
Look beyond their riches or the color of their skin
Look for what's inside before you make up your mind
Break down the walls!
We'll break down the walls !
The lyrics of Youth of Today's song Break Down the Walls addresses the issue of prejudice and discrimination that exists in the society that is based on people's appearance, their background, their social status, and the labels others have placed on them. The lyrics aim to encourage people to look beyond the superficial elements and see the worth of others as human beings. The song suggests that we need to "break down the walls" that divide society.
The opening line of the song suggests that a label is an emblem of pride, but as the lyrics proceed, it becomes clear that labels only fuel discord and dissension. People develop a habit of judging others according to their social status, wealth, race, and stereotypes that they hold. The lyrics warn us that this kind of behavior and attitude leads to conflicts and division in society. Therefore, the Youth of Today calls for people to look beyond appearances, superficial elements of others and dig deeper to look for the true qualities of others.
In conclusion, the song "Break Down the Walls" is a call for unity, equality, and understanding. It urges people to move beyond their preconceived notions and prejudices and to look at each other through a more empathetic lens. The Youth of Today encourages listeners to examine what they see if they want to find the truth about others.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to think that label were just symbol of pride
Once I thought labels like race, gender, and social status were just a source of identity one can feel proud of.
But over time I've seen they only serve to divide
As I grew older, I realized that labels only create division and a sense of alienation among people.
It's so easy to judge people by the way they seem to be
People tend to develop preconceptions based on appearances and judge others based on external attributes.
We must overcome this problem to live life peacefully
It's important for us to find a way to overcome these stereotypes in order to have a peaceful and harmonious society.
Break down the walls!
We need to tear down the walls that separate us to truly unite as one society.
Yes, we'll break down the walls!
We must have the determination to break down these walls dividing us to bring people closer.
Look beyond the fashion or the crowd that they are in
It's important to look past fashion trends, social groups, and cliques to see the person underneath.
Look beyond their riches or the color of their skin
We should also look past someone's financial status and physical characteristics, like skin color, to truly understand who they are.
Look beyond appearance and the truth you will find
When we stop judging people solely on their appearance, we can find something deeper and more meaningful about them.
Look for what's inside before you make up your mind
Rather than being quick to judge, take the time to truly understand someone by looking at who they are on the inside.
Lyrics © KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, Songtrust Ave
Written by: RAY CAPPO, JOHN PORCELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind