За всё надо платить (You have to pay for everything)

Song Meaning

This track immediately grounds itself in a cynical reality where wealth dictates everything, stating, "In a world of poor people, everything depends on money." The opening lines set a tone of grim acceptance, suggesting that even sophisticated arguments will lead to tears in a system driven by financial power. It paints a picture of a transactional world where creative endeavors are reduced to exploitative relationships and material gain, with a stark contrast between the effort put into acquiring wealth and the emptiness it brings, as seen in the phrase "We use plastic for a card, but the balance is nude." The central tension revolves around the inescapable cost of everything, whether it's personal ambition, societal structures, or even perceived freedom. The lyrics question the notion that happiness or power lies outside of material wealth, pointing out the allure of money and status: "Why is the smile so beautiful on a man with a badge?" This highlights a pervasive cynicism where even access and influence are commodified, turning once-accessible avenues like newsstands into predatory loan services. The most striking craft element is the juxtaposition of grand pronouncements about universal laws of payment with absurd or ironic imagery. The idea that "everything must be paid for" is immediately undercut by a scene of a crowd gathered for free, with "skirts lifted to a raised flag," suggesting that sometimes, perhaps through collective action or a shared moment, things appear to be gained without apparent cost. This is further emphasized by the idea that for every personal success, there's an equally precise and deep pitfall waiting, implying a constant, unseen balance being struck. The effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their unflinching, almost brutal, honesty about the perceived transactional nature of modern life. By linking abstract concepts like ambition and influence to concrete, often bleak, images like empty bank accounts and predatory loans, the song creates a powerful sense of disillusionment. The final lines, questioning whether a new album release is an announcement or a "protocol," encapsulate this, suggesting that even artistic expression might be dictated by underlying, unseen forces or obligations, reinforcing the core message that every action, every creation, has a price.