Ακόλουθος (Akolouthos)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a world steeped in irony and moral confusion, where sacred texts are treated as mere books and natural laws are dismissed. The narrator observes a societal shift where the blessed become shepherds and educators, while others abandon faith for realism. This disillusionment is personal, too, with the narrator reflecting on a mother's unheeded financial advice and a father's departure, noting a cyclical pattern of behavior that extends to a distrust of romantic partners. The core tension seems to be navigating a landscape where divine commands clash with earthly realities and personal failings. The song directly confronts the seven deadly sins, listing "ΒΟΥΛΙΜΙΑ!" (Gluttony), "ΑΠΛΗΣΤΙΑ!" (Greed), "ΟΚΝΗΡΙΑ!" (Sloth), and "ΑΛΑΖΟΝΕΙΑ!" (Pride) in a forceful bridge. This enumeration highlights a pervasive moral decay that seems to underpin the narrator's observations. The refrain, "Εντολές, ιερές, αν τα κά(νω) / Δεν το, δεν το δεν το λες... Αν τα ακολουθώ ρωτάς? μια όχι και μια ναι," reveals a conflicted relationship with divine instructions, suggesting a selective adherence or outright defiance that goes unacknowledged. This internal struggle is amplified by the external chaos described, from financial woes and conflicts to global crises like Ebola and Covid-19. The craft of the lyrics shines in its juxtaposition of the sacred and the profane, the personal and the societal. The narrator notes how "Με χρήματα, δημιουργούνται τα, αισθήματα, συναισθήματα" (With money, feelings, emotions are created), linking material wealth directly to emotional states and societal problems like "Χωρισμοί, σκοτωμοί, πόλεμοι" (Separations, killings, wars). This materialistic worldview is further illustrated by the depiction of gamblers wasting money and economists clinging to stinginess, all while people "Κρύβουν και αλλάζουν χαρακτήρα σαν μεταμφιέσεις απ' τον David Bowie" (Hide and change character like disguises from David Bowie), suggesting a deep-seated inauthenticity and manipulation. The outro escalates this, referencing "σκάνδαλα του Berlusconi" (scandals of Berlusconi) and a desire for public attention, even if it means embracing a scandalous persona. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they capture a feeling of being adrift in a world where traditional moral frameworks are crumbling, yet the struggle to adhere to them, or at least acknowledge their absence, persists. The narrator's ambivalent stance towards "Εντολές" (commands), oscillating between obedience and disobedience, mirrors a broader societal confusion. The vivid imagery of greed, deceit, and the corrupting influence of money creates a potent, albeit bleak, portrait of contemporary life, leaving the listener to ponder the consequences of such moral ambiguity.