Usr/friendly will be releasing their debut LP in 2020.
This Is An Advertisement
usr/friendly Lyrics
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On your wooden Post
With fake news
For your trained hopes
My skeletons in closets speak
With broken mouths
Numb to the sound
They'll tell you what
As phantoms flood
Your eyes and ears
Until you disappear
This is an advertisement
Guided illness for your sleeping children
Years mirror, years mirror
Watered soot with broken skulls
From womb to tomb
In the flicker of a fly
Like a shutoff switch
In a reflex fit
To submit
You swallow noise
Following static
Because
I am a scarecrow
On your wooden post
With the fake news
For your trained hopes
My skeletons in closets speak
With broken mouths
Numb to the sound
They'll tell you what
You want to hear
As phantoms flood
Your eyes and ears
Until you disappear
In "This Is An Advertisement," UR/FRIENDLY uses the metaphor of a scarecrow stuck on a wooden post to describe the manipulation and deception that people are subjected to through media and other forms of propaganda. The scarecrow represents the falsehoods and illusions that are presented to us, while the wooden post signifies the platform or medium through which they are communicated. The line "with fake news for your trained hopes" highlights the idea that people are taught to believe certain things through conditioning and repetition, even if they aren't necessarily true. The singer also refers to "skeletons in closets" speaking with broken mouths, which suggests that there are hidden, dark truths being concealed or distorted. The imagery of "year mirrors," "watered soot with broken skulls," and "phantoms flood[ing] your eyes and ears" all contribute to a sense of confusion and disorientation, and the final line "until you disappear" implies that ultimately, these falsehoods could lead to a loss of identity or sense of self.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a scarecrow stuck
I am a symbol of distrust and deception.
On your wooden post
You rely on me for support and as a source of information.
With fake news
I spread misinformation and propaganda.
For your trained hopes
You are conditioned to believe what I say.
My skeletons in closets speak
I have secrets to hide and truths to distort.
With broken mouths
I cannot be trusted to speak the truth.
Numb to the sound
I am indifferent to the harm I cause.
They'll tell you what
I will say anything to manipulate you.
You want to hear
I prey on your desires and fears.
As phantoms flood
I cloud your judgment with illusions and lies.
Your eyes and ears
Your senses are vulnerable to my influence.
Until you disappear
I will consume your attention and identity until you lose yourself.
This is an advertisement
I am trying to sell you something, even if it's not real.
Guided illness for your sleeping children
I am leading you and your loved ones towards harm.
Years mirror, years mirror
The consequences of my deception can last for years.
Watered soot with broken skulls
My promises are empty and destructive.
From womb to tomb
I affect every aspect of your life, from birth to death.
In the flicker of a fly
My influence is fleeting and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
Like a shutoff switch
I have the power to control and manipulate you with a simple action.
In a reflex fit
You don't realize how I affect you until it's too late.
To submit
You are powerless to resist my influence.
You swallow noise
You consume my lies and propaganda without question.
Following static
You are distracted by meaningless information instead of seeking the truth.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Steven DeLair
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind