For nearly 25 years, punk band Bad Religion has been acclaimed for its ability to combine socially relevant lyrics with accessible melodies, anthemic choruses, and consummate musicianship. The band's new CD, "The Empire Strikes First," continues this trend.
Lead singer Greg Graffin talks about one song on the new album, "God's Love," that's particularly representative of the band, both musically and, especially, lyrically:
"'God's Love' is one of the songs that helps to form the foundation of the political issues that this album talks about in the other songs," he says. "It's the idea that we can live in the world of suffering, and that God's love somehow manifests itself in human misery and suffering. And the song suggests that we can change our mind and come up with a better interpretation of human suffering than the cop-out of calling it God's love."
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Click below to hear "God's Love," from Bad Religion's new album, "The Empire Strikes First."
"God's Love" 2.8 MB
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Lyrics to "God's Love," written by Greg Graffin and Brett Gurewitz, from Bad Religion's album, "The Empire Strikes First."
Striking at mental apparitions
Like a drunk on a vacant street
Silently beset by the hands of time
And elegant in its fury
An aberrant crack as skeletons yield
To unrelenting gravity
While viruses prowl for helpless victims
Who succumb rapidly
[Chorus:]
(Tell me!) Tell me, where is the love?
In a careless creation
When there's no "above"
There's no justice
Just a cause and no cure
And a bounty of suffering
It seems we all endure
And what I'm frightened of
Is that they call it "God's love"
Well we twist in torment and make believe
There's a truth and we all submit
"Believe my eyes," my brain replies
To all that they interpret
[Chorus]
I know there's no reason for alarm
But who needs perspective when it comes to pain and harm
We can change our minds; there's a better prize
But first you've got to:
[Chorus]
They call it God's love
My pain is God's love
