The age of man is over
A darkness comes at dawn
These lessons that we’ve learned here
Have only just begun”
‘The Human Condition’ is a phrase that is used widely in the study of Religion & Philosophy. Today we will have a think about what it means and try to work out what 30 seconds to mars are suggesting about it.
For homework you will need to find another song which offers something in this area as well as an answer unpacking what you think the writer is saying. Best of luck.
Remember ‘prove it from the text’ just like you would in English.
Man in the Mirror
Michael Jackson
At the start of the song it talks about changing things to make them better. It talks about homeless children and then says “who am i to be blind, pretending not to see their needs.” It is saying that most humans will just pretend not to see the suffering in the world, or shy away from it so they do not have to actively do something. It feels safer just to cacoon yourself into your own bubble and not bother about people in need. The line about: if you want to make a change start with the man in the mirror, is talking about yourself. Don’t just expect someone else to do it, or blame it on someone else. The message of the song is that if you want to make the world a better place then start with changing yourself, don’t be selfish.
The human condition in this song is about “standing up”, and actively making a change to make the world a happier place. Humans are prone to feeling other peoples problems are not related to them. When actually making their lifes better will happen by changing your own. Don’t ask other people to change, ask yourself. Don’t be blind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUmupxl-IGM
Forced conversation, hidden agenda,
You think we’re stupid, how dare you!
The rug has not been pulled over our eyes you fool,
We can see right through.
Tip-toeing villain, eyes in the ceiling,
Your false intentions have worn thin
But we’ve been in your room, and in your closet too,
We’ve got one on you!
Lies make it better
Lies are forever
Lies to go home to
Lies to wake up to
Lies from the altar
Lies make you falter
Lies keep your mouth fed
Lies till your death bed lies
Inside an office a fallen angel,
A smiling Buddha with snake eyes,
Creates the latest trends, and I just can’t pretend,
Don’t call me your friend!
When all these
Lies make it better
Lies are forever
Lies to go home to
Lies to wake up to
Lies from the altar
Lies make you falter
Lies keep your mouth fed
Lies till your death bed
Lies, they make it better
Lies, they are forever
Lies to go home to
Lies to wake up to
Lies from the altar
Lies make you falter
Lies keep your mouth fed
Lies till your death bed… lies!
Lies will come back to haunt you…
Bullet-proof your limousine
Lies will come back to haunt you…
Hit and run a broken dream!
Lies make it better
Lies are forever
Lies to go home to
Lies to wake up to
Lies from the altar
Lies make you falter
Lies keep your mouth fed
Lies till your death bed
c
This song says that lying is a part of human nature(as everybody tells them) and that, that will never change and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. This is shown by the chorus “Lies, they make it better
Lies, they are forever
Lies to go home to
Lies to wake up to
Lies from the altar
Lies that make you falter
Lies keep your mouth fed
Lies till your death bed
Lies”.
Hurricane, 30 seconds to mars
No matter how many times that you told me you wanted to leave
No matter how many breaths that you took, you still couldn’t breathe
No matter how many nights that you lie wide awake to the sound of the poison rain
Where did you go? Where did you go? Where did you go?
As days go by, the night’s on fire
Tell me would you kill to save a life?
Tell me would you kill to prove you’re right?
Crash, crash, burn, let it all burn
This hurricane’s chasing us all underground
No matter how many deaths that I die I will never forget
No matter how many lives I live, I will never regret
There is a fire inside of this heart in a riot about to explode into flames
Where is your god? Where is your god? Where is your god?
Do you really want?
Do you really want me?
Do you really want me dead?
Or alive to torture for my sins?
Do you really want?
Do you really want me?
Do you really want me dead?
Or alive to live the lie?
Tell me would you kill to save a life?
Tell me would you kill to prove you’re right?
Crash, crash, burn, let it all burn
This hurricane’s chasing us all underground
The promises we made were not enough
The prayer that we prayed were like a drug
The secrets that we sold were never known
The love we had the love had we had to let it go.
Tell me would you kill to save a life?
Tell me would you kill to prove you’re right?
Crash, crash, burn, let it all burn
This hurricane’s chasing us all underground
Do you really want?
Do you really want me?
Do you really want me dead?
Or alive to torture for my sins?
Do you really want?
Do you really want me?
Do you really want me dead?
Or alive to live the lie?
Song- Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead
Her green plastic watering can
For her fake Chinese rubber plant
In the fake plastic earth
That she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber plans
To get rid of itself
It wears her out, it wears her out
It wears her out, it wears her out
She lives with a broken man
A cracked polystyrene man
Who just crumbles and burns
He used to do surgery
For girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins
And it wears him out, it wears him out
It wears him out, it wears…
She looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love
But I can’t help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run
And it wears me out, it wears me out
It wears me out, it wears me out
If I could be who you wanted
If I could be who you wanted
All the time, all the time
This song is saying that humans fake nature to make life easier and better but nature wins in the end:
‘A cracked polystyrene man
Who just crumbles and burns’
Plastic (un-natural stuff) just burns and gets destroyed.
‘He used to do (plastic) surgery
For girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins’
He used to try and make girls look better but gravity (nature) wins.
Humans try to make everything easier for themselves as part of their nature, but when they make it artificial they can’t see that nature will win.
There’s a still in the street outside your window
You’re keepin’ secrets on your pillow
Let me inside, no cause for alarm
I promise tonight not to do no harm
I promise you babe,I won’t be no harm
And we’re caught up in the crossfire
A heaven and hell
And were searching for shelter
Lay your body down…
Watching your dress as you turn down the light
I forget all about the storm outside
Dark clouds roll their way over town
Heartache and pain came pouring down like
Hail, sleet and rain, yeah
They’re handing it out
And we’re caught up in the crossfire
Heaven and hell
And were searching for shelter
Lay your body down…
Tell the devil that he can go back from where he came
His fire he airs all through their beating vein.
And when the hardest part is over we’ll be here
And our dreams will break the boundaries of our fears
Boundaries of our fears
Lay your body down(6x)
Next to mine….
This song is all about how there is a constant battle of good and evil and how we a caught up in the middle of it. The explaination of the human condition here is quite a good one and is a good metaphore. Nobody in the world can just be good or bad, we all do good and bad things. The crossfire that is mentioned are not actual weapons but are actions. One day you may be hit by a handful of good actions the next day bad ones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9tJW9MDs2M
Ohh Ohh Ohh .. and I pray
I just cant sleep tonight.
Knowing that things aint right.
Its in the papers, its on the tv, its everywhere that I go.
Children are crying.
Soldiers are dying
Some people don’t have a home
But I know there’s sunshine behind that rain
I know there’s good times behind that pain, hey
Can you tell me how I can make a change
I close my eyes and I can see a better day
I close my eyes and pray
I close my eyes and I can see a better day
I close my eyes and pray
I lose my appetite, knowing kids starve tonight.
And when I sit up, cause my dinner is still on my plate.
Ooo I got a vision, to make a difference.
And its starting today.
Cause I know there’s sunshine behind that rain
I know there’s good times behind that pain, hey
Haven`t tell me how I can make a change
I close my eyes and I can see a better day
I close my eyes and pray
I close my eyes and I can see a better day
I close my eyes and pray
For the broken-hearted.
I pray for the life not started
I pray for all the ones not breathing.
I pray for all the souls in need.
I pray. Can you give em one today.
I just cant sleep tonight
Can someone tell how to make a change?
I close my eyes and I can see a better day
I close my eyes and pray
I close my eyes and I can see a better day
I close my eyes and I pray
I pray ..
I close my eyes and pray .
he Killers- Human
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIZdjT1472Y
did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
And sometimes I get nervous
When I see an open door
Close your eyes
Clear your heart…
Cut the cord
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance,
They always did the best they could
And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye
Wish me well..
You’ve gotta let me go
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
Will your system be alright
When you dream of home tonight?
There is no message we’re receiving
Let me know is your heart still beating
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answer
You’ve gotta let me know
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we human
Or are we dancer?
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
Are we human
Or are we dancer?
one tribe – Black eyed peas
This song is about peace and unity. How it doesn’t matter about your race, colour, where you are from.
“don’t need no leader
That’s gonna force feed a
Concept that make me think I need to
Fear my brother and fear my sister
And shoot my neighbor
with my big missile”
Means basically there are leaders from every country who try to tell their country that something is wrong or that they need to support a war etc. We don’t need to listen to everything as if we think it is wrong you should not go along with it.
“it’s all one blood, don’t care about your face
The color of your eye
Or the tone of your skin
Don’t care where you are
Don’t care where you been”
Means we are all human no matter how you look or what you have done, Don’t care where you are, Don’t care where you been, means that whatever you have done good or bad everyone needs to unite together.
What’s wrong with the world, mama
People livin’ like they ain’t got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that’ll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin’
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you’re bound to get irate, yeah
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that’s exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y’all, y’all
People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurt and you hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’
Where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love
The love, the love
It just ain’t the same, always unchanged
New days are strange, is the world insane
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don’t belong
Nations droppin’ bombs
Chemical gasses fillin’ lungs of little ones
With ongoin’ sufferin’ as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the lovin’ really gone
So I could ask myself really what is goin’ wrong
In this world that we livin’ in people keep on givin’
in
Makin’ wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin’ each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin’ on but the reason’s undercover
The truth is kept secret, it’s swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love
Where’s the love, y’all, come on (I don’t know)
Where’s the truth, y’all, come on (I don’t know)
Where’s the love, y’all
People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurt and you hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’
Where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love
The love, the love
I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I’m gettin’ older, y’all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin’
Selfishness got us followin’ our wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Yo’, whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality
Instead in spreading love we spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity
That’s the reason why sometimes I’m feelin’ under
That’s the reason why sometimes I’m feelin’ down
There’s no wonder why sometimes I’m feelin’ under
Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found
People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurt and you hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’
Where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
– I think this song relates to the human condition as describes some of the bad things that occur in the world everyday. It then asks why there is so much love in the world yet why the world is not peaceful. `people say they are going to keep their word, however the song suggests that they don’t, with consequences.
When I was 7
They said I was strange
I noticed that my eyes and hair weren’t the same
I asked my parents if I was OK
They said you’re more beautiful
And that’s the way they show they wish
They had your smile
So my confidence was up for a while
I got real comfortable with my own style
I knew that they were only jealous cos
People are all the same
And we only get judged by what we do
My personality reflects me
And if I’m ugly then
So are you
So are you
There was a time when I felt like I cared
That I was shorter than everyone there
People made me feel like life was unfair
And I did things that made me ashamed
Cos I didn’t know my body would change
I grew taller than them in more ways
But there will always be the one who will say
Something bad to make them feel great
People are all the same
And we only get judged by what we do
My personality reflects me
And if I’m ugly then
So are you
So are you
People are all the same
And we only get judged by what we do
My personality reflects me
And if I’m ugly then
So are you
So are you
Everybody talks bad about somebody
And never realises how it affects somebody
And you bet it won’t be forgotten
Envy is the only thing it could be
Cos people are all the same
(The same, the same)
And we only get judged by what we do
(What we do, yeah, yeah)
My personality reflects me
And if I’m ugly then
(Yeah, you)
So are you
So are you
People are all the same
(Oh, oh, oh)
And we only get judged by what we do
(What we do, yeah)
My personality reflects me
And if I’m ugly then
(Yeah, so are you)
So are you
So are you
This song relates to the human condition by talking about equality and how people can only be defined by their personality and who they are on the inside and that looks don’t really matter that much, nobody’s really ugly on the outside.
Blck Eyed Peas – Where Is the love?
People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurt and you hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’
Where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love?
I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I’m gettin’ older, y’all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin’
Selfishness got us followin’ our wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Yo’, whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality
Instead of spreading love we’re spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity
That’s the reason why sometimes I’m feelin’ under
That’s the reason why sometimes I’m feelin’ down
There’s no wonder why sometimes I’m feelin’ under
Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found
Now ask yourself
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Beautiful by Christina Aguilera
Every day is so wonderful
And suddenly, I saw debris
Now and then, I get insecure
From all the pain, I’m so ashamed
I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can’t bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring me down
So don’t you bring me down today
To all your friends, you’re delirious
So consumed in all your doom
Trying hard to fill the emptiness
The piece is gone left the puzzle undone
That’s the way it is
You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can’t bring you down
You are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring you down
Don’t you bring me down today…
No matter what we do
(no matter what we do)
No matter what they say
(no matter what they say)
When the sun is shining through
Then the clouds won’t stay
And everywhere we go
(everywhere we go)
The sun won’t always shine
(sun won’t always shine)
But tomorrow will find a way
All the other times
’cause we are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes, words won’t bring us down, oh no
We are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring us down
Don’t you bring me down today
Don’t you bring me down today
Don’t you bring me down today
I think this song is saying that it is OK to be different and to be an individual. You don’t have to be perfect, which is what we, as humans, seem to think you should be. No matter what people tell you it is a good thing to be yourself. You shouldn’t listen to what people say about you, and you shoudn’t be scared of what people think of you, because , no matter how bad things get, it will get better, “tomorrow will find a way”. We are individual, which is one of the best things about being human, which is what I think this song is saying.
No Love by Eminem
This song illustrates several ‘Human conditions’ the need to be wanted/loved/acknowledged, but equally the emotion of fear/being threatened by someone who is different.
Black Eyed Peas-Where Is The Love
“But if you only have love for your own race, then you only leave space to discriminate and to discriminate only generates hate and when you hate then you’re bound to get irate. Madness is what you demonstrate ad that’s exactly how anger works and operates.”
Gloria by U2
I try to sing this song
I…I try to stand up
But I can’t find my feet
I try, I try to speak up
But only in you I’m complete
Gloria…in te domine
Gloria…exultate
Gloria…Gloria
Oh Lord, loosen my lips
I try to sing this song
I…I try to get in
But I can’t find the door
The door is open
You’re standing there
You let me in
Gloria…in te domine
Gloria…exultate
Oh Lord, if I had anything
Anything at all
I’d give it to you
I’d give it to you
Gloria…Gloria…
EVANESCANCE – BRING ME TO LIFE
how can you see into my eyes like open doors
leading you down into my core
where I’ve become so numb without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can’t wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I’ve become
now that I know what I’m without
you can’t just leave me
breathe into me and make me real
bring me to life
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can’t wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I’ve become
Bring me to life
(I’ve been living a lie, there’s nothing inside)
Bring me to life
frozen inside without your touch without your love darling only you are the life among the dead
all this time I can’t believe I couldn’t see
kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I’ve been sleeping a thousand years it seems
got to open my eyes to everything
without a thought without a voice without a soul
don’t let me die here
there must be something more
bring me to life
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can’t wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I’ve become
(Bring me to life)
I’ve been living a lie, there’s nothing inside
(Bring me to life)
Bruno Mars – Talking to the moon.
Talking to the Moon
Try to get to You
In hopes you’re on
the other side
Talking to me too
Or am I a fool
who sits alone
Talking to the moon
I’m feeling like I’m famous
The talk of the town
They say
I’ve gone mad
Yeah
I’ve gone mad
But they don’t know
what I know
The human condition by steph macloed . In the song it talks about how war affects people and what it means to be human and that the leaders who wage war are leading the humans towards extinction . Seph macloed is saying that he does not believe in war and he thinks that it is pointless to war with each other because we have nothing to show for these wars . He says that war is consuming the innocent people and he asks the question ” why do we fight my brothers ” . He thinks that that war will leave the world stripped of all beauty , because all man can do is pull the triggers of guns and kill men , women and children .
‘’Can you imagine a time when the truth ran free
The birth of a song and the death of a dream
Closer to the edge
This never ending story
Paid for with pride and fate
We all fall short of glory’’
‘’No, I’m not saying I’m sorry
One day maybe we’ll meet again
No, I’m not saying I’m sorry
One day maybe we’ll meet again
NO NO NO NO’’
The Sound of Silence- Simon and Garfunkel
‘And in the naked light I saw,
Ten thousand people maybe more,
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence.’
‘And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon God they made
And the sign flashed out it’s warning,
In the words that it was forming,
The words of the prophets written on the subway walls,
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sounds of silence’
hi 🙂