I'm a lefty, liberal sort, entirely opposed to the death penalty, and this is a song that really challenges my beliefs and prejusices. Originally I always took it to be a satirical attack on rightwing bullshit, particularly the ironic use of the opening sample - if only God has the right to take life, how can you support execution? The centre of humanity might be cruelty, but retribution only continues this.
Then, I changed my mind, and decided Richey actually meant it all, that rapists should be sterilised and murderers torn apart; it's about facing up to reality and adopting a consistent, stern and unflinching view of the world, and so in fact an attack on a Western liberal concensus that ducks the issue by believing people are inherently good but commit evil acts due to society.
Now, I'm not sure it's as simpe as either saying it's ironic or not. The song clearly detests serial killers, but also in a strange sense respects them, suggesting that violent retribution is somehow paying a tribute to them. But Richey includes far right politicians like Zhironovsky and Terre'Blanche in his litany, who espouse the same sort of discourse as the song.
So actually message is that whatever position you adopt on these matters should be rigorous, should stand up to scrutiny, shouldn't be hypocritical and shouldn't ignore difficult truths. He's against the right and the left, the fascist and liberal and the communist in equal measure.
So, this is a song I've spent more than ten years trying to understand, and there are still vast complexities that I don't get. I think that's an amazing tribute to Richey as a lyricist, and demonstrates just how good The Holy Bible is.
I'm a lefty, liberal sort, entirely opposed to the death penalty, and this is a song that really challenges my beliefs and prejusices. Originally I always took it to be a satirical attack on rightwing bullshit, particularly the ironic use of the opening sample - if only God has the right to take life, how can you support execution? The centre of humanity might be cruelty, but retribution only continues this.
Then, I changed my mind, and decided Richey actually meant it all, that rapists should be sterilised and murderers torn apart; it's about facing up to reality and adopting a consistent, stern and unflinching view of the world, and so in fact an attack on a Western liberal concensus that ducks the issue by believing people are inherently good but commit evil acts due to society.
Now, I'm not sure it's as simpe as either saying it's ironic or not. The song clearly detests serial killers, but also in a strange sense respects them, suggesting that violent retribution is somehow paying a tribute to them. But Richey includes far right politicians like Zhironovsky and Terre'Blanche in his litany, who espouse the same sort of discourse as the song.
So actually message is that whatever position you adopt on these matters should be rigorous, should stand up to scrutiny, shouldn't be hypocritical and shouldn't ignore difficult truths. He's against the right and the left, the fascist and liberal and the communist in equal measure.
So, this is a song I've spent more than ten years trying to understand, and there are still vast complexities that I don't get. I think that's an amazing tribute to Richey as a lyricist, and demonstrates just how good The Holy Bible is.