Awful (Live at Big Day Out)

Song Meaning

The lyrics for "Awful" paint a stark picture of disillusionment. A pervasive sense of decay hangs over a scene where youthful energy feels corrupted. What was once "punk" has become "stupid." The repeated "awful" underscores this pervasive negativity. At its core, the lyrics expose a brutal commodification of young women, repeatedly referred to as "girls like you." They are systematically "broken," their "souls" robbed, and their value reduced to a "royalty-rate." This exploitation is often masked by a deceptive allure, as seen in the figure who "tastes like candy" but is ultimately "awful," suggesting a toxic dynamic where superficial charm hides deeper harm. The most impactful craft element is the relentless use of juxtaposition, pitting sweet or appealing imagery against harsh realities. The recurring phrase "Sweet cherry, make it awful" immediately establishes a corrupted innocence. This contrast is further amplified by descriptions like a character being "beautiful" yet "deep like dirty water." Such contradictory language creates a profound sense of unease, revealing how destructive forces often present themselves in seductive forms. Ultimately, these lyrics hit hard through their unflinching honesty and refusal to soften a grim reality. The constant refrain of "awful" isn't just a complaint; it's a visceral indictment of a culture that consumes and discards. Yet, a powerful undercurrent of defiance emerges from this cynicism. The call to "steal the light" and the final directive to "build a new one" and "make it beautiful" transforms the initial despair into a rallying cry for radical creation and resistance against the very forces that make things "awful."