Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: grindcore
Song Meaning of “Submit to Authority” by Barra Xul
Submit to Authority paints a bleak and dystopian picture of a society where the individual is constrained and controlled by a powerful authoritarian force. The protagonist in the song is pleading for freedom, yet at the same time aware that doing so is futile in this oppressive and restrictive environment. The chorus serves as a bleak reminder of the power of conformity, and the idea that “submission” is the only way to cope with this disturbing reality:
“Submit, submit to authority,
It’s easier to just follow what they say
Conform, conform to their beliefs,
Or else you’ll be the one to pay.”
The song can also be seen as a warning against the dangers of blind obedience to authority, and serves as a call to stand up for one’s own beliefs and values. By submitting to authority, the protagonist warns, one loses their humanity, freedom, and ultimately their life. The song ultimately warns of the dangers of sacrificing oneself in order to conform and survive.