Submission

Song Meaning

The lyrics for "Submission" immediately present a stark, almost clinical portrait of individuals reduced to their physical attributes. Phrases like "Two bright eyes" and "one red mouth" create a fragmented image, hinting at a manufactured or objectified presence. A chilling sense of detachment permeates the opening lines. The central emotional tension arises from the complete lack of agency attributed to these figures. They "can't think" and "can't act," suggesting a profound state of control or dehumanization. Yet, paradoxically, they "work hard / And they sell things," implying a system where effort is extracted without any individual will or choice. The craft is particularly effective in its use of objectification, reducing people to a collection of features before labeling them "one icon." This strips away personhood, presenting them as mere symbols or commodities. The later shift to a "we" perspective, admitting "We like that / 'Cause there's no choice," introduces a disturbing complicity or resignation from the observer, suggesting a collective acceptance of this state. The power of these lyrics stems from their stark, almost reportage-like quality, which makes the repeated "Submission" feel less like a command and more like a grim statement of fact. The final lines, "We can't see / 'Cause it's like that / We can't hear / 'Cause it's too late," seal a sense of irreversible, collective blindness, making the theme of submission resonate as an inescapable condition.