Skinny Puppy – Tin Omen

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Send "Tin Omen" Ringtone to Cell

every truncheon hit
misguided the peoples army
divided united stance
amped out war dance
what a ride
inner thought of non violent rebellion
outside dare to die stand and fight
show faith
return all the weapons
government says use them
right fixed action
set in motion
doubting amnesia potion what to hide
red carpet ride
guessing right
the jokes on dark corner
the square
you bath once a week
distorted the viewpoint
seldom seen
wayback in 68
ohio kent state
was nothing so great
have of have not
forcing the point
shot in the back
take it back down
trod soldier away
flower power within
kill me kill this
way of life and be known
one by one they'll be coming down
altogether
sister machine gun
automatic high
what a ride
what a trip
tripped over the candlestick
tanks arrive
fire wall
got to keep the camera alive
tell the world whats going on here
warning shots are fired at the stomach
chest wound
coed falls
amped out amped out
changing guns for brooms
the guards change to clean up crews
way back in 68
every thing was so great
no way
wrong date
keep up the trade
balanced charade
close circuit truth
used to remove
keep the camera alive

Send "Tin Omen" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by evan_111, edited by gothic_hobbit

Track duration: 04:38


Tin Omen song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +1
    Song Meaning:Every post so far has focused on the wrong year.
    Kent State = 1970.
    Tienanmen Square = 1989. (mind you Tienamen square also has significance in 1968, see below)

    Yet the song keeps referencing 1968 - had you bothered to look up why it would jump out at you.


    The Red Guard (populist student uprising movement) was used by Mao in 1966 and 1967 to further Mao's Cultural Revolution. When they became even more radical and threatened Mao's power base he unleashed the People's Liberation Army ("a people's army") on them in 1968.

    This violent betrayal by Mao led to much bloodshed and riots which nearly tore the country apart. China came much closer to a full-on revolution at the end of the 60's than the USA ever did.

    Kent State was a kitten's tea party by comparison. Americans spent the late 60's playing revolution from the safety of their parent's trust-funds while the Chinese actually did it.

    THAT is what the song is about. Pointing out that American "revolutionaries" were too busy trying to get laid, get stoned, and listen to music in the 60's to do more than pay lip-service to what was really going on.
    Flag Cleansoapon December 15, 2009   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:It's not just about Kent State... it's also about how the working class is exploited by the media so that superficial differences cause them to eat one another, and also that this generation has forgotten about the GI rebellion and how it wasn't just the protesters on campuses ending the war- it was also largely ended by the men and women in the army who refused to fight. There's also the issue of denying agent orange syndrome, and there's a sense of challenging the concept of "the good old days".
    Flag c0intelpr0on October 27, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's about Tiananmen Square, but it makes parallels with Kent State. Tin Omen = Tiananmen.
    Flag Fidleyon September 09, 2008   Link
  • -3
    General Comment:Yeah it's about the Kent state massacre.

    SUCH a good song.
    Flag hilarysayshion April 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Another incredible song by the most intelligent band...ever. Tin Omen is about BOTH Kent State and Tiannanmen Square. Look them up if you aren't familiar with those two events in history.
    Flag jejhon January 09, 2008   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:Tin Omen refers to (I think) the song Ohio by some artist, and the other song sings about tin soldeirs... This song is obviously about the kent state massacre...
    Flag Empathyon April 24, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Al from Ministry plays guitar on this song !
    Flag gothic_hobbiton June 24, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:"Tim Omen" is a pun on Tiananmen Square, the site in China where, in 1989, the People's Army attacked peaceful protestors, much like Kent State. "Keep the camera alive" refers to the urgency in both cases to get the information out to the media.
    Flag xodon March 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:what does the song title mean ? Tin Omen ?
    Flag Messedupon January 28, 2005   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:This song has alot to do with the 1970 Kent State Massacre. Calling it an attack on a lifestyle/point of view. Saying the frustration of Vietnam effected the US so much to attack and kill it's own people.
    Flag evan_111on May 26, 2002   Link

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