Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: industrial
Song Meaning of “Assimilate – Live in Warsaw” by Skinny Puppy
This dark and brooding track by Skinny Puppy takes a hard look at the effects of oppression and conformity in modern society. The song primarily uses an eerie electronic beat combined with distorted and repetitive vocals to paint a bleak and, at times, nightmarish portrait of human’s attempt to assimilate and survive in a world of control and manipulation.
The lyrics suggest that we of the “driven” and “afflicted” must bury and hide our real selves underneath layers of complacency in order to live on. We are expected to be “robots programmed to move in sequence”, sacrificing our creativity and uniqueness in exchange for the assurance of safety and security. The title ‘Assimilate – Live in Warsaw’ references the city of Warsaw, which suffered tremendous destruction and upheaval during the Second World War, where people were subjected to terrible oppression and control.
The song’s chorus presents a challenge to the listener to “break the walls of order” and create a new reality for themselves, where freedom and individuality are embraced despite the dangers of doing so. By shouting the line “assimilate” over and over again, the protagonist in the song is both pleading for change and conveying a sense of defiance.
This track is a powerful reminder that even in dark and oppressive times, we can still make our own choices and forge our own paths. By embracing our true selves and rejecting conformity, we can create a better world for ourselves and those around us.