MONSTERS MONKEYS AND DEMONS

As discussed previously in the song Illusions, Monsters, Monkeys and Demons picks up on the idea of society having made the self the end-all and be-all. If we believe we have been liberated from an objective moral law and we are only confined by fear of being punished under a particular societal code then what else can be the result other than viewing ourselves as "royalty."

"All hail - we're all kings, bask in our royalty. It's up to you, do what you choose. We get to make up our own rules. No one's in charge but we're all in control, just like we wanted, we're on our own. New era - welcome to hell where everyone bows down to themselves."

There are plenty of things to think about woven into the lyrics here too:

"New Prince" is a reference to Machiavelli's novel the Prince in which the main idea for a ruler is that the ends justify the means. It seems to take for granted that immoral acts are justified if they can help achieve political glory.

"Mach/mock one….." not only the beginning of Machiavelli's name, but mach one is the speed of sound, and I like to think in this context it is the speed of the sound of keys clicking and information spreading. Taken as "Mock" one it is to "tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous manner."

"...with your two cents/sense." Your two cents, of course, is slang for your opinion, and sense being "sound mental capacity and understanding." Either way, two is not much but we all put it out for everyone to see. Everyone enjoys their anonymity while at the same time having their "privacy set to public."

"Tear down walls just to build new ones, not understanding all the nuance." Are walls good or bad? The Berlin Wall comes immediately to mind. The Great Wall of China. In the United States the existing and proposed wall on the Mexican/US border comes to mind. Pope Francis said "Builders of walls, be they made of razor wire or bricks, will end up becoming prisoners of the walls they build" and that 'builders of walls' sow fear and divide. So what about that giant wall around your home Vatican City, Francis? A quick internet search will show you 50 countries that have border walls with even more proposed. Most people who have gotten their information at Mach/Mock one definitely don't understand all the nuance. Especially when that nuance comes to the walls we build around our hearts,

"New republic" references Plato's Republic in which he "attempted to design an ideal society and government that were free of injustice and conflict" which would bring with it happiness.

"Get your play-doh/Plato." Plato, obvious. Play-doh is my bewilderment at college campuses introducing "Post-Election Play-Doh Events." Look it up.

Get... "Your bastard children and let's go." Think back to nations and walls. The bastard children are the proxies of the world powers, the "Bones in our closets." And more: "the curse's mark" - The mark Cain received after committing murder.

"What's done in the dark..." - Luke 12:2-3, Genesis 4:10. "Steel curtain" - I hate to reference the Pittsburg Steelers, but defense was the key to their dynasty. "Iron fist" - strict and harsh rule.

Is this what the age of reason has led us to? "Re-programmed living memes, hard wired well oiled machines. What's next? Who knows? In a world where anything goes.