Children Of Violence

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of individuals trapped within a destructive system, identifying themselves as "tools for a broken machine." This initial declaration sets a tone of resignation and dehumanization, suggesting a lack of agency. The repeated phrase emphasizes the cyclical nature of this entrapment, where people are merely components in a larger, malfunctioning apparatus. It’s a powerful, almost bleak, opening that immediately grounds the listener in a sense of systemic failure. The central tension arises from the duality of "fighting against" – both external oppressive forces and, crucially, "against each other." This internal conflict is presented as a symptom of the "broken machine," where the oppressed turn on themselves instead of the source of their suffering. The lyrics describe this as a "cancer that grows into stone," a chilling image of stagnation and irreversible damage, and their "teeth turn to fangs," signifying a descent into primal, self-destructive behavior. A key lyrical device is the stark contrast between the initial self-identification as "tools" and the later assertion of defiance. The pre-chorus shifts from "We are the tools" to "Inherit the tools," suggesting a reclamation and re-purposing of these instruments of oppression. This is further solidified by the declaration, "We won't be chained" and the call to "Abolish the power of a fascist regime." The repeated "Children of violence" refrain, however, lingers, a constant reminder of the origins and perhaps the indelible mark of their struggle. What makes these lyrics resonate is their unflinching portrayal of how systemic violence breeds internal conflict and a distorted sense of self. The transformation from passive "tools" to active, albeit still "children of violence," participants highlights a complex, perhaps morally ambiguous, fight for liberation. The writing forces a contemplation of whether breaking free from a "broken machine" requires becoming a new kind of beast, one forged in the very fires of the violence it seeks to escape.