Peace Be Unto Thee
Divine Reflections: Unveiling the Cryptic Messages in Bad Brains' 'Peace Be Unto Thee'
Lyrics
Dear god do you want to tear your knuckles down
Expressing frustration or anger towards a higher power, questioning if the deity desires self-inflicted harm.
and hold yourself
Suggesting a need for self-reflection and self-restraint.
Dear god can you climb up that tree
Possibly questioning divine abilities, using a metaphorical tree and meat shaped like a 'T' to convey complexity or confusion.
meat in the shape of a 'T'
Continuation of the questioning, utilizing imagery of meat shaped like a 'T' as a symbolic element.
Dear god the paper says you were the King
Referencing a portrayal of the deity as a powerful figure, possibly critiquing societal perceptions.
in the black limousine
Linking the deity to opulence and authority, mentioned in the context of a black limousine.
Dear John and all the King's men
Addressing a group including John and alluding to the inability to restore wholeness after a certain point.
can't put you head together again
Depicting the difficulty or impossibility of recovering from a traumatic or destructive event.
Before the bullets
Setting a temporal context, mentioning events before a violent incident or crisis.
before the flies
Continuation of the temporal context, alluding to potential decay or death.
before authorities take out my eyes
Expressing a sense of urgency or impending danger from authoritative figures.
the only smiling are you dolls that I made
Creating a contrast between inanimate, manufactured objects (dolls) and potential happiness.
but you are plastic and so are your brains
Challenging the authenticity or depth of emotions, suggesting artificiality in thought processes.
Dear god the sky is as blue
Describing the sky with a simile, possibly associating it with violence or harm.
as a gunshot wound
Extending the metaphor of the sky, emphasizing a violent or harmful impact.
Dear god if you were alive
Addressing the deity directly, expressing a desire to harm if the deity were alive.
you know we'd kill you
Asserting a hostile intent towards the deity if it were present.
Before the bullets
Repetition of the temporal context, reiterating events before a violent incident or crisis.
before the flies
Continuation of the temporal context, suggesting a need for vigilance before negative consequences.
before authorities take out my eyes
Reiteration of the imminent danger from authoritative figures, emphasizing the threat to sight.
the only smiling are you dolls that I made
Repeating the contrast between manufactured happiness and the artificiality of thought processes.
but you are plastic and so are your brains
Concluding with a statement about the artificial nature of emotions and cognitive processes.
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