People
Unveiling the Echoes: A Reflection on Humanity in David Bazan's 'People'
Lyrics
When I was young
Reflecting on the speaker's youth.
I saw people helping people all the time
Observation of people helping each other regularly.
Because you were people helping people in your prime
Recalling a time when people were actively supportive in their prime.
I thought that people loving people were the norm
Belief that love among people was commonplace.
Because you were people loving people before the long dark storm
Highlighting a past era of love before difficult times.
But now you're selfish and mean, your eyes glued to a screen
Commentary on contemporary selfishness and obsession with screens.
And what titillates you is depraved and obscene
Critique of modern interests being morally questionable.
And I know that it's dangerous to judge
Acknowledgment of the danger of judging others.
But man you gotta find the truth
Encouraging the pursuit of truth despite the danger.
And when you find that truth don't budge
Emphasizing the importance of holding onto discovered truths.
Until the truth you found begins to change
Insistence on staying true even as truths evolve.
And it does, I know, I know
Acknowledgment of the inevitable change in perceived truths.
And when you love the truth enough you start to tell it all the time
Promotion of truth-telling as an expression of love.
And when it gets you into trouble you discover you don't mind
Acceptance of trouble resulting from honesty.
'Cause if good is finally gonna trump
Advocacy for choosing good over adversity.
Then man you gotta take stock and you gotta take your lumps
Encouragement to endure hardships for a greater cause.
Or else they trickle down into someone else's cup below
Warning about the consequences affecting others if one avoids hardships.
You know
Reflection on the downstream impact of personal actions.
I wanna know who are these people blaming their sins on the fall
Curiosity about those attributing their faults to a fall or decline.
And who are these people
Well if I'm honest with myself at all these are my people
Admitting a connection to those who blame their sins, acknowledging shared humanity.
Man what else can I say
Expression of belonging and shared identity with others.
You are my people
Affirmation of a collective identity.
We're the same in so many ways
Recognition of similarities with others.
But then your eyes turned green and you broke the machine
Observing a negative change in someone, potentially due to technology.
That when handed to you was still kinda functioning
Breaking a machine symbolizing a disruption in a functional system.
And I know that it's dangerous to judge
Reiteration of the danger in passing judgment.
But man you gotta find the truth
Reiterating the call to seek the truth despite the risks.
And when you find that truth don't budge
Emphasizing the importance of standing firm once truth is found.
Until the truth you found begins to change
Reassurance that discovered truths will inevitably change.
And it does, I know, I know
Acknowledgment of the inevitability of truth evolution.
When you love the truth enough you start to tell it all the time
Repetition of the idea that love for truth leads to frequent honesty.
When it gets you into trouble you discover you don't mind
Acceptance of trouble as a consequence of prioritizing truth.
'Cause if good is finally gonna trump
Stressing the importance of choosing good over adversity.
Then man you gotta take stock and you gotta take your lumps
Reiteration of enduring hardships for the greater good.
Or else they trickle down into someone else's cup below
Warning about the impact on others if personal sacrifices are avoided.
You know
Reminder of the downstream effects of individual actions.
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