Last Time I Checked

Song Meaning

The speaker, after "ages" away from the news, returns only to find it filled with "propaganda." This re-engagement quickly shifts into a critique of media bias and selective reporting. There's an immediate sense of frustration with how information is framed. A central tension emerges from the media's selective focus, highlighting "tragedies in the USA" while ignoring "non-english speaking countries." This perceived bias ignites a "pain to my heart," leading to a pointed self-reflection: "We blame society / But we're society." The lyrics suggest a deep frustration with collective hypocrisy and a refusal to acknowledge shared responsibility. The lyrics employ a striking parallel structure in the second verse, contrasting how certain words are used within specific groups versus externally. When a "black friend says 'Hey nigga!'" or a "girl friend says 'Hey bitch!'" to peers, it's accepted, but from an outsider, it "cause offence." The speaker's firm declaration, "Offensive in one way's offensive in all," acts as a consistent moral compass, exposing perceived double standards and the "downfall" of attempts to justify them. The recurring phrase "Since the last time I checked" acts as a rhythmic anchor, grounding the speaker's observations in a personal timeline while implying a frustrating lack of progress. This personal lens culminates in the chorus, where the societal "Seems like it won't end" directly connects to the personal consequence: "I don't have as many friends." The shifting desire for connection in the second chorus—from wanting "too many friends" to not wanting them—reveals a complex internal struggle, suggesting that the speaker's principled critique, while sharp, comes with a cost of isolation and a fluctuating acceptance of that reality.