Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a grim picture of a universe exploited by "greedy little hands," where conquest and "murder is the game" are presented as tools for "civilized" men. This initial scene establishes a cynical view of human nature and the justifications used for exploitation, suggesting a fundamental disconnect between proclaimed ideals and brutal reality. The "universe is a bulging purse" is a striking image, framing the world as a resource to be plundered rather than a place of shared existence. The central tension arises from the juxtaposition of violent conquest and religious fervor. "God was there, yes he was there / A flag held high his name" appears alongside the brutal actions, implying a twisted blessing or complicity. This is further amplified by the repeated refrain "And all men will be civilized / And murder is the game," which suggests that violence and subjugation are the true, underlying mechanisms of this imposed "civilization." The lyrics seem to critique how religious or ideological justifications are used to mask predatory actions. The most potent craft element is the ironic use of religious ritual and imagery to describe this exploitative system. The promise of "eternal grace" and sins being "erased" on "Sunday" is directly linked to the "blind, the deaf and lame" who will be present. This suggests that those who are marginalized or unable to see the truth are the ones who will be gathered by this system, perhaps as adherents or as victims. The "charge card church" and its ministers "prowl the TV screens" further cement this critique, equating modern religious institutions with commercialism and the continuation of old crusades. Ultimately, these lyrics hit hard by exposing the hypocrisy at the heart of conquest and religious justification. The repeated, almost chant-like structure of the chorus, especially the inclusion of the "blind, the deaf and lame," creates a sense of inevitable, perhaps even willful, participation in a system that promises salvation while perpetuating harm. The final image of "he's still there, yes he's still there / His head hung down in shame" offers a flicker of conscience, but the overarching message is that the cycle of "murder is the game" continues, masked by a veneer of piety.