Red Hot Chili Peppers – Shallow Be Thy Game

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  My Interpretation:Are RHCP defenders of "The Way"?
  
  This is definitely anti-catholic church. However I think it may actually be powerfully pro Christian! Here is the most interesting part of the song: "A rival to the way you see, The bible let him be" Now, if you listen to the cadence of the song, I interpret it as "A rival to The Way, you see the Bible, Let him be" In the early books of the new testament, they say "The Way" when referring to the message of Christ (see Acts) which is the message of love. I think they mean do not use Jesus (whose message is love) to spread a message of fear!

  Flag Gaujoon May 21, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:I hate those mainstream characteristics of RHCP. Dude, please be honest and if you think there's no god, go ahead and tell it like Maynard. (it's obvious that anthony is trying to tell us something that he cannot really dare, ah yes he would never say something like "there's no frikkin god") You gotta tell us something we don't know, everyone knows organized religions, christianity, islam, etc. whatsoever are based on classifying people and make the rich richer, and fear is the best way to control crowds. They're all true but what about "loving god" crap? or what about "I might be a monkey", read some books pleaaase, evolution people are not saying money is the ancestor of human beings.
  
  It's obvious that Anthony is a rebel against his own god (I bet his god is christian).

  Flag revengeofthekatzeon February 11, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:This song is a denunciation of all organized religions, but especially Christianity.
  
  In this song, Anthony clearly states that he believes in a pantheistic, non-judgmental god... Specifically with regard to the lines about nature's law, traditional spiritual cultures and being a monkey when it comes to being holy.
  
  I believe he also states that he does not believe in a humanistic, sentient god when he talks about not being created in the image of a fraud, humans not being the center of the universe, and again nature's law.
  
  To acknowledge that the laws of nature reign supreme is to deny the existence of some sort of sentient, judgmental god-mind.
  
  This does not mean that one cannot have faith in god if they hold these beliefs.. Just that their faith is in the universe, which is ultimately always seeking balance, and the universe is god.

  Flag Noxonon October 17, 2009   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:This song is a denunciation of all organized religions, but especially Christianity.
  
  In this song, Anthony clearly states that he believes in a pantheistic, non-judgmental god... Specifically with regard to the lines about nature's law, traditional spiritual cultures and being a monkey when it comes to being holy.
  
  I believe he also states that he does not believe in a humanistic, sentient god when he talks about not being created in the image of a fraud, humans not being the center of the universe, and again nature's law.
  
  To acknowledge that the laws of nature reign supreme is to deny the existence of some sort of sentient, judgmental god-mind.
  
  This does not mean that one cannot have faith in god if they hold these beliefs.. Just that their faith is in the universe, which is ultimately always seeking balance, and the universe is god.

  Flag Noxonon October 17, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:Isn't this song called Shallow Be Thy NAME? You know, like the line in the Lord's Prayer ("Hallowed be thy name")?
  
  Anyway, I really, really love this song. It says alot about how I feel about religion (Catholicism). This is what I make out of the some of the lyrics:
  
  
  "I was not created
  In the likeness of a fraud
  Your hell is something scary
  I prefer a loving god"
  
  Here, what comes to mind is how people say that God is wonderful and great and loving, but then turn around and say how if you don't follow/believe in him or religion's rules, you will burn in hell for all eternity. The concept of being sent to hell when God is supposed to be a loving god is contradicting. Why would a being who is described as peaceful and loving and forgiving send you for hell for not believing in him? That‘s just cruel. I think he is saying, "I prefer to believe in a god who would not send people to hell solely because of beliefs. If God would do that, then I am not created from that God."
  
  "I do not serve
  In fear of such a curse"
  
  To serve a God simply because you fear going to hell isn't a very good reason to serve God.
  
  "Shallow be thy name
  2000 years look in the mirror
  You play the game of shame
  And tell your people live in fear
  A rival to the way you see
  The bible let him be"
  
  It's all religion here. 2000 years is, as someone already said, referring to Jesus Christ. A man who preached love and forgiveness. But look what religion does - it plays off of shame and fear. I was raised Catholic, and I have experienced this - it's always "You're not good enough", "You need to repent", "You need to feel sorry for simple human emotions and urges", "God will not love you unless you do [this]", "God doesn't like [that]", "You will burn in hell unless you do all [this]", "Anyone with different views than [this] is going to hell", "OH GOD FORGIVE USSS" etc. etc. It's maddening. Anthony seems to be calling the dogma of religion out and saying, "Look in the mirror and look at what you're really doing." It's in stark contrast to a loving God and a forgiving Jesus Christ.
  
  "I'm a threat to your survival
  And your control company
  You'll never burn me
  You'll never burn me
  I will be your heretic"
  
  Control company = religion. They control people's lives and minds very often (and it seems that they want to control government too...but that's neither here nor there.) Anthony is saying, "I will rebel against you. This is one more person who will not follow your rules and lead to your downfall."
  
  "You can't contain me
  I am the power free
  Truth belongs to everybody"
  
  First two lines seem to be saying: "You cannot contain this brain by your restrictions and shame. I am free from your control, free from your power." The last line makes me think of when people say that their religion is the ABSOLUTE truth, that everyone else is wrong and they are going to burn in hell because they don't follow their religion. Truth belongs to everybody - not just one specific religion and group.
  
  "To anyone who's listenin'
  You're not born into sin
  The guilt they try and give you
  Puke it in the nearest bin"
  
  Original sin. The concept of original sin is the biggest shame of all (plus some added sexism!). Eve ate the apple out of pure human curiosity, and got Adam too as well, and it was shameful because God told them not to do it. Therefore, everyone is sinful because they were the first humans, and we are forever going to be trying to make up for their mistakes (in what world does that even make sense?). So, when everyone is born, we are all sinners, and the only way for us to repent is to accept Jesus. We are not complete, or good enough, until we do.
  Anthony is saying: REJECT THIS. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty over nothing.
  
  "Missionary madness
  Sweep up culture with a broom
  Trashing ancient ways
  Is par for the bourse
  It's fucking rude"
  
  The missionaries who go to other countries, "helping" out the poor and taking over countries in the name of their religion. A lot of the time, it was just to convert (reminds me of the missionaries who go and try to "help" the AIDS crisis by preaching abstinence to the poor and giving them religious lectures). They destroy the cultures already built - for example, the Native Americans. They were forced to take Christian names, and completely throw away their language and everything about their culture to be "assimilated" into ours. The underlined theme: "My religion and beliefs are superior to yours." It's fucking rude indeed.
  
  "To think that you're above
  The laws of nature what a joke"
  
  This makes me think of all those Christians who reject evolution and proven science and everything because "God Did It" and it's the only explanation for everything that ever happens.
  
  "Purple sashes feeding masses
  Smoke on which to choke"
  
  Purple sashes - the Pope's/priests' garments.
  Feeding masses - Double meaning: feeding the masses means, going along with the context and tone of the song, how religion (or the pope, ie purple sash) feeds its followers shame and fear and hate. It also refers to (or connotates) to the (several?) stories of Jesus feeding crowds of people. (The one I think of is the fish and bread story...he fed a mass of people out of very little.)
  Smoke on which to choke - The incense they burn in Church mass.
  
  
  Anyway, that's what I make of the lyrics.
  It's really one of my favorite anti-religon songs. <3

  Flag SophieKaijuuon July 07, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:The great thing about music, or any kind of art, is in it's subjective and connotative meanings. The words Anthony sings here will mean infinitely many different things for each and every person. For instance, @jware39: I strongly disagree with your zealous interpretation. You translate almost every line into a monotonous drone of "God loves you," which really pisses me off.
  
  I personally find that here, AK's words are striking a more universal tone, transcending our platonic conceptions of humanity, and saying that WE are not the center of this "funny universe," and that in this anomaly of life, no one is really sure of the answer. I especially like the lines, "To anyone who’s listenin’/ You’re not born into sin," because recently, I've noticed many and many people seem to all believe humans are "naturally" flawed.
  
  Anyway, just my two cents, and to conclude: The greatest and most powerful lyrical works have a unique connotative effect on every person; as can be observed from all these interpretations. I personally feel (and hope) that this song, while commentating on our main religious institutions (specifically catholicism), in the end has an even deeper and more universally susceptible semantic value.

  Flag heyimroroon January 25, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:This song is not necessarily about not believing in the God of the Bible but its more Anthony telling the people who want to convert him to their religon to fuck off. He will decide for himself. Its sorta the way I feel about life. Don't let other people decide for you what you believe.

  Flag boozer11on July 20, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:these lyrics are wrong:
  "And what is something worse"
  
  it should be "And what is worse", without the something.
  seriously, how would that fit? gah.
  
  this song is mind blowing and should be heard by all, especially the message of it. everything about this song is completely perfect.

  Flag alipeaon May 28, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:I don't agree with the statement that catholicism is based on fear. I've attended catholic church all my life and go to a catholic school (though I'm not sure if i consider myself catholic) and i have not detected this at all. The catholic church teaches that even those who are not Christian still go to heaven if they strive to do the right thing. In contrast, many fundamentalist protestant churches teach that people must be saved by baptism and that anyone who is not Christian is going to hell. Personally I don't believe in eternal hell.
  
  Either way, most people completely misunderstand and misinterpret Catholicism. It is not as harsh and brooding as many make it out to be. One thing that is completely true is that everything about it is boring as fuck.

  Flag electricmoose1on April 23, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:yea all the cool anti-religion stuff and all that shit
  
  ill add something i dont think anyone else said:
  "Missionary madness
  Sweep up culture with a broom
  Trashing ancient ways
  Is par for the bourse
  It’s fucking rude"
  
  i think thats about how the missionaries came and fucked up a bunch of cultures like hawaiians and the native americans since anthony has native american heritage/
  and i think the lines "I might be a monkey
  When it comes to being holy" might be something about evolution cuz the monkey thing

  Flag Junk_Fuckon December 11, 2007   Link

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