Shhh quiet might piss somebody off
Like me motherfucker you've been at it for too long
While you feed off others' insecurities
You stand in front of me and bite the hand that feeds

Self-righteousness is wearing thin
(lies inside your head, your best friend)
Heart bleeds but not for fellow men
(broken glass, your fake reflection)

I've had enough
It's time for something real
I don't respect the words you're speaking
Gone too far
A clone

So how does it feel to know that someone's kid
In the heart of America has blood on their hands
Fighting to defend your rights
So you can maintain a lifestyle
That insults his family's existence
Well, where I'm from we have a special
Salute that we aim high in the air
Towards all those pompous assholes
Who spend their days pointing fingers
(fuck you)

Shhh quiet might piss somebody off
Like the heartbeat of this country when antagonized too long
I'll be damned if you count me in as part of your generous hypocrisy
Collecting enemies

Tabloid gossip queen worthless man
(there's no need for us to bury you)
Selfish agenda once again
(right this way you've dug your own grave)

I've had enough
It's time for something real
I don't respect the words you're speaking
Gone too far
A clone

All the way from the east to the west we
Got this high society
Looking down on their very foundation
Constantly reminding us that our actions
Are the cause of all their problems
Pointing their fingers in every
Direction and blaming their
Own nation for who wins the elections
They've never contributed a fucking thing to the
Country they love to criticize

Excuse the obscene, ignore the untrue
Depictions we see try and get through
Admitting mistakes can hurt
I'm not the last but I sure ain't the first

Shhh quiet might piss somebody off

Self-righteousness is wearing thin
(lies inside your head your best friend)
Heart bleeds but not for fellow men
(broken glass your fake reflection)

I've had enough
It's time for something real
I don't respect the words you're speaking
Gone too far
A clone



Lyrics submitted by lostprophet86

Track duration: 05:14

"Critical Acclaim" as written by Zachary James Baker, Matthew Charles Sanders, Jr. Haner, James Owen / Sullivan

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Critical Acclaim song meanings
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175 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song means a lot to me now more then ever. its an attack on all those people that just sit on their asses and nothing but complain and criticize. While others are fighting and giving their lives so these welfare jobs can do so.
    Flag Tourideron June 17, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I didn't agree with the war, but I'm sure as hell not going to blame the troops. The troops got fucked harder than ANY of us and deserve respect for doing their jobs. I'm a Progressive and even I believe the ones who insult the troops deserve nothing more than a beatdown.

    That said, I might not agree with the band's politics, but I LOVE A7X and definitely agree with the pro-troop sentiments of the song.
    Flag NightfallGeminion May 02, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:yup, i'd just like to dedicate this song to all those jackasses in the world that decide that they're so much better than the rest of us or that the way some live their life is to be condemned by society when it hasn't harmed anyone. glaring fuckin' bullets straight through Westboro, guys. how 'bout you?
    Flag DakkThulon December 19, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Okay, this song is simple... It's A7X's response to all those pompous assholes who spend there days pointing fingers! :D
    Flag Smytheice123on August 01, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:i'm thinking this song may be , in part, a bout the westborro baptist church. Fro those of you who don't know this church sets up outside the funerals of fallen soldiers with signs that say 'God hates fags, Iraq is our punishment' and 'fags killed your son'.

    So how does it feel to know that someone's kid
    In the heart of America has blood on their hands
    Fighting to defend your rights
    So you can maintain a lifestyle
    That insults his family's existence
    Well, where I'm from we have a special
    Salute that we aim high in the air
    Towards all those pompous assholes
    Who spend their days pointing fingers
    (fuck you)

    Shhh quiet might piss somebody off
    Like the heartbeat of this country when antagonized too long
    I'll be damned if you count me in as part of your generous hypocrisy
    Collecting enemies

    Tabloid gossip queen worthless man
    (there's no need for us to bury you)
    Selfish agenda once again
    (right this way you've dug your own grave)

    I've had enough
    It's time for something real
    I don't respect the words you're speaking
    Gone too far
    A clone

    All the way from the east to the west we
    Got this high society
    Looking down on their very foundation
    Constantly reminding us that our actions
    Are the cause of all their problems
    Pointing their fingers in every
    Direction and blaming their
    Own nation for who wins the elections
    They've never contributed a fucking thing to the
    Country they love to criticize

    at the end here syn's voice takes on the cadence of a preacher but through the ehole thing he's very clear that he's all for free speech but these fucker's crossed a line and are now disrepectful of the men who died to defend thier rights to degrade them in death.
  • +2
    General Comment:Love the band, Love the Song ... and I just saw them perform on the "Buried Alive" tour Nov. 23rd in Estero, Florida and "Critical Acclaim" was the 2nd song in the set.

    Until a few minutes ago, I too thought this was a "two sided" song with lyrics that could be interpreted as critical of BOTH the President (who, at the time the song was written in 2007, was George Bush) and Democrats (or, frankly, people of ANY political party who merely complain and gripe about the government but are too lazy to do anything about it).

    Unfortunately for me (since I'm a registered Democrat - but more "middle of the road" than 100% Liberal) ... Shadows has said that the song is COMPLETELY pro-Republican, and solely aimed at criticizing Liberals and Democrats. In the link below to YouTube video of a radio station interview (where he's accompanied by Synyster Gates), Shadows makes it crystal clear that he has a lot of animosity toward Liberals (and he also implies that this is the position of the band as a whole).

    I'm a bit surprised to hear this ... but it's still a great song.

    Here's the link to the video:

    youtube.com/…
    Flag christoqon November 29, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:A7X is self-admittedly pro-Republican band (though they're simply not politics-focused). I definitely read these lyrics as a criticism of the antiwar/anti-Bush movements that were absolutely raging when this song came out. In fact, it's more than a criticism, it's a bloodthirsty, vicious attack. And it's specifically focused at the antiwar/anti-Bush crowd. I don't know how anyone can take anything else from this song.
    Flag TheDistantPanicon August 30, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I can definitely see the political meaning, but i feel like this song's directed more towards religious/political groups like Westboro Baptist Church and the Fabian Society.

    the line:
    "So how does it feel to know that someones kid in the heart of America has blood on their hands fighting to defend your rights so you can maintain the lifestyle that insults his family's existence?
    Well where I'm from we have a special salute waved high in the air towards all those pompous assholes who spend their days pointing fingers!
    FUCK YOU!!!"
    really fits my feelings toward the WBS quite well.
    Flag kirkhammettforprezon August 12, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is most definitely criticizing both sides of the argument it doesn't favor one or the other. completely unbiased shadows is criticizing the people who bash the war/president without adding anything constructive and taking this country for granted and criticizing the flag wavers for pretending that this war had a reason. but like shadows said "whether or not you believe in the war, our soldiers would still be out there fighting because that's what they do". pretty musch First verse: Bashing Republicans. Second Verse: Bashing democrats
    Flag Hipno702on January 20, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The lyrics to this one seem really naive to me, to be honest, basically suggesting that dissent and conflicting opinions are detrimental and that people opposed to the war, or to the policies/actions of their leaders, shouldn't be allowed to express their views - they should just shut up and respect their country's decisions no matter what. Musically it's one of my favourite A7X songs, but I just find the lyrics laughably simplistic.
    Flag stygimolochon November 19, 2010   Link

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