Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of how prejudice is learned from the earliest stages of life. From the crib to the classroom, the narrator asserts that children absorb the biases they are exposed to, framing education itself as the root of social and racial division. This isn't just about individual ignorance; it's presented as a systemic issue, a "virus" that infects all races and justifies conflict. The central tension lies in the idea of "hereditary racist mould," suggesting that bigotry is not just taught but inherited. The lyrics describe this as being "breastfed and nurtured with ignorance and hate," creating a cycle where each "afflicted generation" perpetuates the problem. This inherited hate, the narrator implies, seals a grim future. The most striking craft element is the consistent use of disease and infection metaphors. Bigotry is a "virus," a "social affliction," and the adoption of racist views is described as a "mould." This language elevates prejudice from a mere attitude to a pervasive, almost biological contagion that spreads and corrupts. These lyrics hit hard because they bypass individual blame and point to a deeply ingrained, generational transmission of hate. The imagery of being "breastfed" with ignorance makes the learned nature of bigotry feel inescapable and profoundly disturbing, highlighting how societal flaws become personal inheritance.