Anthem
v.h.r. Lyrics
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To sing their anthem proudly
Voices raised to sing their praise
Of their hollow country
All this talk of freedom
And some talk of liberty
From your plastic podium
You try and convince me
I can't fall anymore
For some silver-tongued song
Your freedom isn't free
So let me say what freedom means to
I can't see red, white, and blue waving in the air
I don't hear the bombs bursting and I don't even care
I'm sorry for my lack of faith
I'm not the greatest patriot
If this is all their is to freedom I don't want it
I can't fall anymore
For some silver-tongued song
Your freedom isn't free
So let me say what freedom means to
Pushing us a drug that you call freedom and democracy
Promise us that selfishness is the means for happiness
I burned that bridge so long ago that I can hardly see
Anything but solace in what freedom means to me
I can't fall anymore
For some silver-tongued song
Freedom isn't free
So let me say what freedom means to
It cannot mean to serve ourselves
That doesn't mean a thing
It doesn't mean to give the license
To seek ourselves in anything
That would be slavery to ourselves it isn't free
Jesus Christ, the only thing that freedom means to me.
The song "Anthem" by v.h.r. is a critical commentary on the concept of freedom in America. The singer of the song is disillusioned with the supposed freedom that is promised by the US government, and sees the country as being hypocritical in its claims to promote liberty. The lyrics describe a nation singing their national anthem, but with a sense of emptiness behind it - the country is hollow, and there is a lack of true meaning or substance to the concept of freedom that is being promoted. The singer is tired of hearing politicians talk about freedom and liberty from their "plastic podiums," and is skeptical of what they are being told.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I can't fall anymore for some silver-tongued song." This line highlights the frustration and cynicism that the singer feels towards the rhetoric of the US government. They have heard too many empty promises and meaningless slogans, and are no longer willing to be swayed by vague appeals to "freedom" or "democracy." The singer suggests that the version of freedom that is being sold by the US government is not truly free at all - it comes at a cost, and often involves sacrificing one's principles or values.
The final verse of the song offers an alternative vision of what freedom could mean. Instead of being sold a "drug" that is promised to bring happiness and satisfaction, the singer suggests that true freedom must involve freeing oneself from selfishness and the desire for material gain. For the singer, freedom is found in embracing Jesus Christ, rather than in seeking individual success or pleasure at the expense of others. The song concludes with the lines "Jesus Christ, the only thing that freedom means to me," which suggest that the singer has rejected the false promises of the US government and found a more meaningful source of inspiration and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
A nation stands with heart in hand
The citizens of this country stand with their love and loyalty on display
To sing their anthem proudly
They sing their national anthem with pride and honor
Voices raised to sing their praise
Their voices are uplifted to show appreciation for their nation
Of their hollow country
The nation may seem empty and lacking in substance or purpose
All this talk of freedom
There is a lot of discussion about what it means to be free
And some talk of liberty
There is also conversation around what it means to have personal freedoms
From your plastic podium
The singer is addressing a leader or authority figure who seems fake and insincere
You try and convince me
The artist is resistant to the arguments being presented
I can't fall anymore
The artist has been disillusioned and can no longer be convinced by empty promises
For some silver-tongued song
The artist sees the leader's words as manipulative and misleading
Your freedom isn't free
The singer recognizes that true freedom comes at a cost and cannot be taken for granted
So let me say what freedom means to
The artist wants to express their own understanding and definition of freedom
I can't see red, white, and blue waving in the air
The symbols of patriotism do not hold meaning or inspire the singer
I don't hear the bombs bursting and I don't even care
The singer is disinterested in glorifying violence or war
I'm sorry for my lack of faith
The singer recognizes that others may see them as unpatriotic or disloyal
I'm not the greatest patriot
The artist does not see themselves as the epitome of national pride
If this is all their is to freedom I don't want it
The artist will not blindly support a false idea of freedom
Pushing us a drug that you call freedom and democracy
The singer believes that leaders are selling an addictive but ultimately empty promise of freedom and democracy
Promise us that selfishness is the means for happiness
The singer sees the emphasis on individualism as misguided and detrimental to true happiness
I burned that bridge so long ago that I can hardly see
The artist has severed ties with a false idea of freedom and has moved on to a new understanding
Anything but solace in what freedom means to me
The artist has found peace and comfort in their own personal understanding of freedom
It cannot mean to serve ourselves
The true meaning of freedom must go beyond self-interest and personal gain
That doesn't mean a thing
Selfishness and freedom are not synonymous
It doesn't mean to give the license
Freedom is not an excuse to do whatever one wants
To seek ourselves in anything
The singer believes that true freedom comes from looking beyond oneself
That would be slavery to ourselves it isn't free
A narrow focus on self-interest and personal freedom only leads to a form of enslavement and is not true freedom
Jesus Christ, the only thing that freedom means to me.
The singer has found spiritual and personal freedom in their faith and relationship with Jesus Christ
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW JOHN CONNELL, DONALD GEORGE JOHNSON, JEREMY EDWARD SIMON KERR, MARTIN RICHARD MOSCROP, ANTHONY QUIGLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind