Hey scientist please save us from our rainy days

Because your counterpart in the magic art is manufacturing judgment day

There’s a fell wind blowing out of the east Bringing famine drought and plague

Well now at least that’s what they say

[chorus] Rain fell like judgment, Across my windowpane

Said it fell like judgment, But it was only rain

Well I know what’s wrong and I know what’s right

And I know that evil exists sure as day turns into night

When a man gets down on his knees to pray you know he’ll find what he is able

But chances are he’ll find it either way [chorus]

Oh Lord have mercy on a humble man Lost in the wilderness without a guiding hand [chorus]

This is a song by the band “Bad Religion” from their most recent album, The Dissent of Man which was released in 2010. They have been a very popular band in the United States, with a total of 15 albums dating back from 1981. Though they have changed various band members throughout their existence, their lead vocalist, Greg Graffin, has been consistent throughout. Greg is a self-proclaimed Naturalist, and with Preston Jones co-authored the book Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant?: A Professor and a Punk Rocker Discuss Science, Religion, Naturalism & Christianity (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2006).

The style of Bad Religion has always been to write intellectual lyrics, and that is seen in this song here. We begin with a petition for scientists to “save us” from “the rain,” because the scientists’ “counterparts” that use magic are claiming that judgment day is coming. These counterparts are obviously religious people proclaiming the end times are coming. The writer’s opinion of these end times is seen clearly by the following line, “at least that’s what they say” (“they” referring to the religious people). Then we go straight into the chorus with the continued motif of end-time judgments as rain, where the writer finalizes his opinion of the religious prophecies by saying “but it was only rain.” As in, there was nothing at all to be afraid of.

We see their point that coming judgments are not real and so we don’t need to be saved from them. This is further displayed in the next verse, where a man kneels down to pray, but when he gets up the lyrics show that his praying makes no difference—either way he would get the same result.

This song accurately portrays the band’s Naturalistic worldview, because they believe that through science we know that we don’t need to fear what religion claims we should fear. It is a knowledge opposed to belief, without any tendencies towards the despair and absurdity of Nihilism. Our rational capabilities are enough to move beyond the superstitions that previously held us captive.

—Ben F

Since I first heard the song “Why I Am” by one of this generation’s most popular artists, Dave Mathews Band, I was intrigued both lyrically and musically. The song is the fifth track on the band’s newest album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King which was released on June 2, 2009. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 424,00 copies in its first week.

The song is a tribute to LeRoi Moore, a founding member of the band as a saxophonist. Moore, who died in August 2008 was an exceptional musician but also struggled with the glory of fame and the rock and roll lifestyle. Dave Matthews, commenting on the song noted, “the song is definitely about death,” and also hints at the “urgency of living.” Mixed into the song are several personal references to Moore and his relationship with the rest of the band.

Like many of the band’s songs, “Why I Am” is complex in its meaning and interpretation. From the start the song jumps into world story ideas, “I grew from monkey into man,” with obvious implication of evolution and naturalistic/atheistic theories of the origin of man. The second line of the song “Then I crushed 15 million with a wave of my hand,” definitely recognizes the great power of man for destruction, as has been witnessed throughout the centuries under cruel dictators such as Hitler and Stalin.

Throughout the various themes in the song a nihilistic world story comes into view in the repeated refrain halfway through the song

It’s the lose and the win of the world,

Wrong and right, us and them of the world,

The you and the me of the world,

Only one way out of the world.

The last line “Only one way out of the world,” ties together a major theme in the song, that no matter how you live in this life, whatever impact you make for good or for bad, there’s still only one exit. All of life, for better or for worse, ends in death and it’s only in that context in which you can understand the morality of wrong and right as well as the competition of us versus them. All in all, the song is by no means clear and to the point, as is customary with the Dave Matthews Band. However, in this song as well as all their other works, there is sufficient reason and support to conclude a nihilistic world story underlies their message.

—Dawson

 ©2008

Death Cab For Cutie is one of the better known indie-rock bands of the 21st century. Their 2008 album Narrow Stairs was the band’s first full-length album to follow their widely popular 2005 album Plans. Although this album didn’t receive as much attention as Plans, it stayed true to the band’s melancholy and melodic style, especially in the sense of its lonely and reflective lyrics. “No Sunlight” as the title suggests, is a song on this album that presents a nihilistic view of the world through an oddly, up-beat sounding song.

When I was young, lying in the grass

I felt so safe in a warming bath of sunlight Of sunlight

Fast open sky could do no harm

Like an embrace of a mothers arms in sunlight

With every year that came to pass

More clouds appear until the sky went black

And now there's no sunlight, no sunlight.

And now there's no sunlight, no sunlight anymore.

It disappeared with the same speed, the idealistic things I believed

The optimist died inside of me, no sunlight [4x] No sunlight anymore.

As can be seen, this song opens on a positive note with lyrics that give the listener a pleasant picture of life. However, as the song moves into the third verse the lyrics quickly turns to a darker tone and the theme of the song comes out, “And now there's no sunlight, No sunlight.” The chorus is sung, repeated, and the song wraps up to the repetition of “No sunlight, no sunlight anymore.”

If you give this song a quick listen you probably wouldn’t pick up on its darker message because of its upbeat sound, but when attention is given to the lyrics it’s easy to see the nihilistic message. When we are young and innocent life is good and seems to be full of sunlight, but as life goes on more problems appear. The sky gets darker as ideal beliefs fade and the optimist inside dies. Life is dark, there’s is nothing to believe in, and soon, there is, “No sunlight anymore.”

—Matt A

With Teeth Interscope Records, ©2005

In a recent reinvention of his ever changing music empire, Trent Reznor, the creator of Nine Inch Nails took his album, With Teeth to a new level. A more radio-acceptable album than his last, Trent got labeled as a sell-out from his die-hard fans because of his music’s mainstream reversal. It is Trent's underground, angst-filled, anti-everything music, and the message that it portrays, that created such a fan-base. When it became mainstream it lost its appeal to those who were drawn to its raw undertones. Nine Inch Nails has been releasing music since 1988, and had managed to remain almost entirely underground until the release of this 2005 album. Trent has made history as the leader of NIN not only because of his sexually and politically charged lyrics, but because he is the only member of the band. Trent writes, produces, and plays all the music for his albums. He only uses an actual band when he is touring or shooting public appearances. It is through this vessel that Trent is able to produce his music in a pure way that reflects him in every single aspect.

“Right Where it Belongs is one of the songs on the With Teeth album. Others include: “The Line Begins to Blur,” “The Hand That Feeds,” and “Beside You in Time.” While the majority of Trent's lyrics focus on more passionate avenues, they all portray the same undertone and message, that there is no meaning to life except the meaning that I make for it. This section of “Right Where it Belongs” focuses on the meaninglessness of life. Life is nothing but a figment of our imagination. We build ourselves up for nobody’s purpose but our own, because in all honesty no one really matters but us.

“What if everything around you isn't quite what it seems?

What if all the world you think you know is an elaborate dream?

And if you look at your reflection, is that all you want to be?

What if you could look right through the cracks?

Would you find yourself... find yourself afraid to see?

What if all the world's inside of your head? Just creations of your own...

Your devils and your gods and the living and the dead And you really are alone

You can live in this illusion You can choose to believe

You keep looking but you can't find words Are you hiding in the trees?”

Trent is showing his audience how he views life. The lines that seem to best verbalize Trent's worldview is the part that says, ”What if all the world's inside of your head? Just creations of your own...Your devils and your gods and the living and the dead and you really are alone”. Trent is saying that we make up life. The meaning that we put into our lives and religion is absurd. We build ourselves up for no reason, and we create gods and devils as a way to deal with that reality. And without it where would we be? Nowhere, because it is through these things that we thrive. A life recognizing that there is nothing of ultimate meaning is nihilistic; a life with artificially created meaning is existential. Because creating a meaningless meaning at least gives us some meaning, everything remains "Right Where it Belongs."

—Heather

I backed my car into a cop car the other day.
Well he just drove off, sometimes life's OK.
I ran my mouth off a bit too much, oh what did I say?
Well you just laughed it off, it was all OK.

And we'll all float on OK. And we'll all float on OK.
And we'll all float on OK. And we'll all float on anyway.

Well, a fake Jamaican took every last dime with that scam.
It was worth it just to learn some sleight of hand.
Bad news comes, don't you worry even when it lands.
Good news will work its way to all them plans.
We both got fired on exactly the same day.
Well we'll float on, good news is on the way.

And we'll all float on OK. And we'll all float on OK.
And we'll all float on OK. And we'll all float on.
Alright already, we'll all float on.
No don't you worry. We'll all float on.
Alright, already. We'll all float on.
Alright, don't worry. We'll all float on.

And we'll all float on.
Alright already, we'll all float on.
Alright, don't worry even if things end up a bit too heavy.
We'll all float on.

Alright already, we'll all float on.
Alright already, we'll all float on OK.
Don't worry, we'll all float on.
Even if things get heavy, we'll all float on.
Alright already, we'll all float on alright.
Don't you worry, we'll all float on.
We'll all float on.

After reading a book called The Mark on the Wall in which the author describes the working middle class as “modest, mouse colored people” Isaac Brock of Issaquah Washington decided upon a name for his band “Modest Mouse” in 1993. Not finding much success with their early music Modest Mouse was off to a rough start, but in 2000 they released their first major CD after several years of trying to release a hit. After the release of a few records and hit singles, in 2004 Modest Mouse found success in the release of their newest album “Good News for People Who Love Bad News.”

This record had two hit singles “Float On” and “Ocean Breathes Salty.” Of these two songs I found that the song “Float On” was simple but seemed to have a lot to say. In an interview Isaac Brock spoke about all of the garbage that was going on in the world. He voiced strong opinions about politics, and his opposition of the president. Modest Mouse decided because of the pain, violence and hurt that they wanted to make a CD that was easy to listen to and was light hearted.

The words of this song are very simple and repetitive, yet they still covey a strong postmodern message. The first line of the song says, “I backed my car into a cop car the other day. Well he just drove off, sometimes life's OK.” This is followed by the description of several other bad situations in life, but if any of these things happen to you, don’t worry, just float on with your life this is the essence of the chorus, just float on. It really does not matter in the end.

Even if you get ripped off and have every last dime stolen from you, just float on, move on with life as though nothing has happened to you. Another line states, “We both got fired on exactly the same day. Well we'll float on, good news is on the way.” No matter what there is which is bad in your life, don’t worry good news will follow.

Modest Mouse’s earlier music seems to be more depressing, and has somewhat of a nihilistic tone to it. This record seems as though it might be an existentialist attempt at finding the good in life, because no matter who you are there will be things in your life which don’t go your way.

[writen by] Alycia

Three Days Grace’s second, and newest, album One-X is an intensely personal album that the band wrote in the seclusion of a cabin in Ontario, the home province of the band. All of the songs on the album carry the message that anyone who feels like they are the only one who feels like they do (lonely, enraged, pain-filled, rejected, judged, etc) is not really alone. The album and respective band members represent an existential perspective. They believe the world is full of hurt and things are unpleasant, but everyone should just go on with life because there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Adam Gontier, the lead vocalist and lyricist states in one of the songs, “Pain,” over and over that, “Pain, I like it rough, ‘Cus I’d rather feel pain than nothing at all.” Even pain is something to do as opposed to “feeling numb.”

The lyrics on this album are very raw and bring up many “adult issues,” laced with profanity. But the main message of the album is that everyone feels let down and needs to recognize that everyone else feels the same way.

“Riot,” the sixth song on the One-X album, portrays this perspective by stating plainly that if you feel “angry,” “stepped on,” “let down,” etc., then you should do something about it because “you’re not the only one, so get up, let’s start a riot.” Rage, like pain, is another way to deal with the fact that this life is what it is and we must respond.

Other songs on the album:

“It’s All Over”
drugs to deal with what life gives
but they do not help the problem
because it’s all over anyway

“Animal I Have Become”
raw lyrics that deal with the nightmares
of the band members:
that they are just animals
and that is reality

“Never Too Late”
suicide and being unable to
help those around you
because no matter
what you say, ultimately it’s
up to the person with the problem

[writen by] Adina C.

The song title on the initial track of Bright Eyes’ 7th album I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, which was released simultaneously with Digital Ash in a Digital Urn (2005), fits the description of exactly what singer and songwriter Conner Oberst is trying to get to: the bottom of everything. What is at the bottom of everything? Ironically enough, it seems as though Mr. Oberst is arguing his case that indeed nothing is at the bottom of everything.

The song starts out with a story being told about a young girl with a seemingly promising future, sitting on an airplane becoming extremely bored. Everything changes when some mechanical failure causes the plane and everyone in it to begin their premature descent toward their rapidly approaching death. Moderately concerned, the girl turns to the previously uninterested older man sitting next to here and asks him, “Where are we going?” He happily replies to her by saying, “We’re going to a party. Its a birthday party. It’s your birthday party. Happy birthday, darling. We love you very… much.” After the prelude of this beginning scene, the instruments begin and the song is underway.

The verses of the song seem to convey Conner mocking the patronized and somewhat meaningless actions of most people today. He cleverly plays on words and makes it quite clear that he believes that many of society’s frivolous actions are done because they are parts of a routine life. In other words, these actions are done because “we must” do them—they constitute who we are.

We must blend into the choir, sing as static with the whole;
we must memorize nine numbers and deny we have a soul
and in this endless race for property and privilege
to be one we must run, we must run, we must run.

In the first chorus, Oberst comments on the stereotypes of Mom and Dad and their roles, the fact that death supposedly brings you to “God,” and he ends with saying that death is just as commonplace as, and no more significant than, the sun returning to the lonely ocean.

Oberst is writing from a Nihilistic worldview, indicated further by the last chorus of the song,
Oh my morning's coming back, the whole worlds waking up.
All the city buses swimming past, I’m happy just because
I found out I am really no one.

It appears to me that Oberst is claiming sarcastically to have found happiness in the fact that he is no one, implying that nothing really matters. Overall, it is a catchy tune that ironically conveys an overriding message that is negative and hopeless.

[written by] Joe L

Although Death Cab For Cutie has been around for nearly 10 years, it is their 2005 release “Plans” that has gained more attention than ever.  Fans of DCFC appreciate their melodic indie-pop, combined with imaginative lyrics.  Lyrics, especially in this album paint the picture of an existential worldview.

One of the most recurring themes throughout this album is death.  In their single – “Soul Meets Body” there is an expressed fear of losing someone they love to death, and they declare “if the silence takes you then I hope it takes me too.”  Death is the end.  There is no afterlife.  It is “the silence.” 

We see this in even more detail a few tracks later in “I Will Follow You Into The Dark.”  Here, death is described as “The dark”, “the time for sleep”, and  “the blackest of rooms.”

There is an overall tone of hopelessness throughout the album, yet a resolve to go on anyway.  Their answer, most often seems to be love.  They sum this up in the song “What Sarah Says”:  Love is watching someone die.

[written by] Melanie G

Alkaline Trio is a band with measured success throughout its long career. In this most recent release, they combine their very punk roots with a cloud of poppy-ness. It seems a wise move for the three: it retains the blacks and reds and crack melodic sense that old-timers are used to, but it's also much more accessible with its measured aggression, rich piano, and a new production team. Alkaline Trio has always had a knack at saying the profound and thoughtful. They are not afraid to say it like they see it. Crimson follows the same formula.

"Time To Waste" is the opening track, which once again proves that this distinctive indie-punk Chicago-based band really knows how to start off an album.

The ominous, sinister chords, performed perfectly on a piano, launch off what becomes a rocking, catchy tune that is definitely one of the best on the CD. Lyrically, however, things are much darker. “Time to Waste” hits on the topic of meaninglessness with lyrics like “All eyes fix on the death of tomorrow, and you found everything you need to make a life complete: completely revolting, and they have safety and relief for sale down the street”.

Tracks like “Mercy Me” and “Deathbed” tell the tales of self-hate and angst, the former done in an ironically bubbly fashion. The song “Sadie” tells of the real-life tragic tale of Charles Manson's family member Sadie Mae Glutz, who was brainwashed by Manson to assist in multiple murders. It is hard to keep your foot from tapping out the beat to this song, even as the lyrics get increasingly darker.

The pictures within the CD booklet offer testimony to the view of this band. A bird and a wolf are both displayed stuffed. There are also a plethora of skulls from various animals hanging on walls. This supports the lyrics which Alkaline Trio sings focusing on death. The entire ensemble presents a fairly melancholy, depressing picture.

Alkaline Trio is a group of young men who have seemingly just given up. A lot of things have disappointed them. They’ve grown tired of what they see here on earth, and therefore say “send us ‘Back to Hell’” (one of the tracks on the CD) This view is very pessimistic. They see a lot they don’t like in the world, and they do not have hope for anything better.

As bands go, the Trio is very talented. Their musical prowess is great, and their lyrics are profound. If only they were a bit more optimistic, I feel that they could have a positive impact into lives of those who listen to their music. Instead, the CD comes across like gift-wrapped toilet paper. At first glance it looks really well put together. When you really start looking at it, though, it’s quite a downer.

[written by] Peter G

“Slick”. “True genius”. “Profound”. “Gorgeous”. “Emotionally rich”. “An excellent album”. After just one listen to the album “Chutes Too Narrow” by Alternative/Pop musicans The Shins, most music lovers will want to add their own superlatives to the commentary surrounding this band. The Shins seem unable to produce anything but addictively beautiful music- crossing genres creatively and easily, and seeming to have a whole lot of FUN in the process.

FUN. I think that is the key word in regard to The Shins. Their music sounds fun. Their lives look fun (especially the time they all dressed up as superheroes and paraded through a shopping mall, see the picture). Even their worldview is centered around fun…

            Ah yes, their worldview. One word- existentialism. Existentialism. EXISTENTIALISM!

What is existentialism? Here it is in a nutshell: When some consistent atheists realized that their belief system condemned them to a life that was ultimately and utterly devoid of purpose, they got very sad. They then started calling themselves “nihilists”, a name that comes from the Latin word for “nothing”. However, you can’t really live as a nihilist forever because you don’t have anything to stay alive for. So the nihilists came up with a coping mechanism for their purposeless worldview- they would pick something that made them reasonably happy (that’s where the FUN comes in), and make that the purpose for their lives. And we now call that point of view existentialism.

Some existentialists chose painting for their purpose. Others chose trombone playing, social work, or comedy. The Shins apparently chose music.

Song to song, the nihilist/existentialist message comes through. Look at the lyrics from the song “Young Pilgrims”

“Young Pilgrims” by James Mercer

“A cold and wet November dawn, And there are no barking sparrows.
Just emptiness to dwell upon.

I fell into a winter slide

And ended up the kind of kid who goes down chutes too narrow.
Just eking out my measly pies.
But I learned fast how to keep my head up 'cause I
Know there is this side of me that
Wants to grab the yoke from the pilot and just
Fly the whole mess into the sea.
Another slow train to the coast
Some brand new gory art from way on high
I sink and then I swim all night.
I watch the ice melt on the glass
While the eloquent young pilgrims pass
And leave behind their trail
Imploring us all not to fail.
Of course I was raised to gather courage from those
Lofty tales so tried and true and
If you're able I'd suggest it 'cause this
Modern thought can get the best of you.
This rather simple epitaph can save your hide, your falling mind
Fate isn't what we're up against. There's no design no flaws to find.
There's no design no flaws to find.”
This is just one song- “Chutes Too Narrow” has 9 others. And each, in its own way says the same thing; that life is hopeless and meaningless, and that forward looking lust for life will help us cope with that.  Fun, huh? Not so much…

To wrap up, this album is a good listen, not just from a musical point of view (and it is incredible musically!), but also as a window into the hearts of people who are spiritually empty, and know it and don’t like it. It is definitely worth your time to hear what The Shins have to say, and how they say it.

[written by] Paul P