Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a bleak picture of a society steeped in negativity and conflict. The opening lines immediately establish a sense of unease, with the narrator walking "in someone else's pair of shoes" and returning "tired and disgusted" from "Hatred Avenue." This suggests an immersion in a toxic environment, a forced empathy with something unpleasant that leaves a lasting negative impression. The repeated pre-chorus, with its stark pronouncements like "What you know, what you trust / You should always suspect" and "What you think, what you see / You should always resent," creates a pervasive atmosphere of distrust and cynicism, implying that even fundamental beliefs and perceptions are suspect. The central tension arises from a feeling of being overwhelmed by external forces and internal doubt. The narrator questions the rationale behind going "to war" when "We don't know who we're fighting / We don't know what we're fighting for," highlighting a sense of purposeless conflict and a lack of clear understanding. This confusion is amplified by the iconic samples from *Network*, particularly the repeated cries of "I'm mad as hell," which serve as a visceral expression of collective frustration and outrage. The chorus then broadens this feeling of societal decay by drawing parallels to historical periods of decline and oppression, like "Nazis back in '39" and "Romans on the verge of decline." The most striking aspect of the lyrics is the juxtaposition of historical parallels with contemporary questioning. The chorus directly asks, "How is this supposed to make America great?" after referencing these dark historical moments, directly challenging a popular political slogan with a sense of disillusionment. This rhetorical question, coupled with the narrator's assertion that "the truth is hiding / Beyond the walls of the USA," suggests a profound disconnect between nationalistic rhetoric and the perceived reality of the situation. The insistent repetition of the *Network* samples, especially the final "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore!" coupled with the call to "get up," transforms the initial disgust and suspicion into a potential, albeit desperate, call to action. Ultimately, these lyrics resonate because they tap into a deep-seated feeling of societal malaise and the frustration of being caught in cycles of conflict and distrust. The craft lies in its ability to evoke this feeling through stark imagery, relentless repetition, and pointed historical comparisons. The ambiguity of the narrator's position—walking in others' shoes, questioning war, suspecting trust—mirrors a common experience of feeling lost and angry in a complex world. The final, urgent plea to "get up" offers a sliver of hope, or at least a demand for acknowledgment, against a backdrop of overwhelming negativity.

Ministry - Rock, In English

AmeriKKKa

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[Intro Sample: Network] "I want you I want you To get up To get up To get up To get up" [Verse 1] Well, I walked a mile today In someone else's pair of shoes I came home tired and disgusted Just walking home from Hatred Avenue [Pre-Chorus] What you want, what you feel You will never forget What you know, what you trust You should always suspect What you say, what you do It makes you regret What you think, what you see You should always resent [Sample: Network] "I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell" "Mad as hell Mad as hell Mad as hell" [Verse 2] Well, I heard some news today I guess we're going to war We don't know who we're fighting We don't know what we're fighting for [Pre-Chorus] What you want, what you feel You will never forget What you know, what you trust You should always suspect What you say, what you do It makes you regret What you think, what you see You should always resent [Sample: Network] "I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell" "I'm mad as hell (Mad as hell) I'm mad as hell (Mad as hell) I'm mad as hell (Mad as hell)" [Chorus] It's like the Nazis back in '39 Like the Romans on the verge of decline [Guitar Solo] [Refrain] "I'm mad as hell (Mad as hell) I'm mad as hell (Mad as hell) I'm mad as hell (Mad as hell)" [Chorus] Like the Russians back in '68 How is this supposed to make America great? [Verse 3] Well, I guess the truth is hiding Beyond the walls of the USA This is exciting Don't have to listen to anything you say [Pre-Chorus] What you want, what you feel You will never forget What you know, what you trust You should always suspect What you say, what you do It makes you regret What you think, what you see You should always resent [Sample: Network] "I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell" "I'm mad as hell (Mad as hell) I'm mad as hell (Mad as hell) I'm mad as hell (Mad as hell)" [Chorus] It's like the Nazis back in '39 Like the Romans on the verge of decline Like the Russians back in '68 How is this supposed to make America great? Listen to me! [Sample: Network] "I want you to get up I want you to get up (I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell And I'm not gonna take this anymore!) I want you to get up I want you to get up (I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell And I'm not gonna take this anymore!) I want you to get up I want you to get up (I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell And I'm not gonna take this anymore!) I want you to get up I want you to get up (I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell I'm mad as hell And I'm not gonna take this anymore!)" [Guitar Solo] [Pre-Chorus] What you want, what you feel You will never forget What you know, what you trust You should always suspect What you say, what you do It makes you regret What you think, what you see You should always resent [Outro] Well... I guess I don't know what to expect... Well... I guess that's all we got... "I want you To get up I want you To get up I want you To get up I want you..."

Credits

Writers: Al Jourgensen

AmeriKKKa

AmeriKKKa

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