Break the Silence

As I live and breathe
I'm watching, watching the world die
We greet this with apathy no longer

Consumed by self
We walk through each day
With no mind to deprivation and moral decay

We must destroy and rebuild
We must destroy and rebuild
For the sake of all, it starts with one
With one

As I live and breathe
I'm watching, watching the world die
We greet this with apathy no longer

If we cant break the silence (how can we survive?)
Search inside yourself (and know that you're alive)
We must break the silence
Now we are alive
Silent no longer

Make this world, take notice
The change is in our hands
The battle has just begun
We are not defeated

If we cant break the silence (how can we survive?)
Search inside yourself (and know that you're alive)
We must break the silence
Now we are alive
Silent no longer

With all that I am
I will lift my voice
To start this revolution
It starts today
And it starts with me
Time is no longer

With all I am
I will lift my voice
With all I am
It starts with me

Break the silence [3X]
We are alive
Break the silence [3X]
We are alive


When people think of metal music, they immediately associate it with senseless screaming and suicidal tendencies. Many people lack to see the passion and the messages that many of the artists who fall into this genre of music are pushing for. All the mainstream listeners think of are death and despair when they hear the throaty roar that is metal. Killswitch Engage is a band that many would take five seconds to listen to and then immediately classify it as unnecessary damage to the vocal chords. But Killswitch Engage does not focus on the preconceived notions that metal music holds. In their song “Break the Silence”, Killswitch Engage uses the strength of their music and vocals, engaging diction, and imagery to call out for social reform.
The opening stanza of “Break the Silence”, lays out the whole problem that Killswitch has a problem with. They feel that a feeling of “apathy”, has taken over the mind of humans as “we watch the world die”. Before these lines are even spoken, an upbeat rhythm is played, giving the listener the feeling of anticipation, as if some kind of message approached the ears. For these first three lines, the words are screamed at the ears of the listeners. These words are almost unrecognizable to the untrained listener, much like the problems of the worlds pass by all those who are apathetic to the problems of the world.
In an idea that bears similar connotations as apathy, the people of the world go on living “consumed by the self”. This ties into the idea of apathy as the people of Earth has no feelings for the others around because they cannot look beyond their own problems. Killswitch also refers to how we “walk through each day with no mind to the deprecation and moray decay”. There are many messages within these lines. The first is obvious, that we do not heed the problems of the world and nor do we face it. The other is far subtler, with the choice of the word walk. No one who is living life with the intentions of helping others walks through life. Life is a struggle, no matter how small the struggle may seem. To walk brings images of a leisurely stroll from start to finish. If we were dealing with these problems we would not be walking through life, but there would be no need to call out for social action, as action would already be taking place.
In the next few lines, images of destruction are brought to mind. Much as an old building must be destroyed to make room for the new one. The old establishment of apathy and selfishness must be torn down for new roots in justice and equality. This line “We must destroy and rebuild”, is repeated twice in a row; therefore, signifying its importance as a message to the listener. The next line has one of the most important of all that Killswitch is trying to say and that it only takes “one”. This is the first line in the song that is sung with complete clarity relative to the other lines. The absence of the harsh voice does not take away from its meaning, but rather enhances it as all listeners have full capabilities to understand what is said. This idea of “one starting a “revolution” becomes a recurring idea from this point on.
The refrain of “Break the Silence”, Killswitch asks us how we can be alive knowing that there are such great problems in this world, yet still acting apathetic. The refrain is a call to action as it tries to have the listener reaffirm their own humanity and for the good of all humanity, rise up to the occasion. At this point, the title of the song comes into play, asking us to “Break the Silence”.
It is at this point that the connection between the title of the song and message of the song becomes clear. We, the listener, are to become the ones who are no longer apathetic and to “lift our voices. We must “take into our own hands” the ability to be the change within this world.
In conclusion, Killswitch Engage reveals itself not as the metal band it appearance at first glance. With Christian allusions in many of their other songs, “Break the Silence” becomes another addition the endless list of those who call for social reform. While it is true that no specific problems are mentioned such a starvation, social justice, etc, it is true that Killswitch has pointed out the root contributor for the continuation of all the world’s problems. We must not longer side on the sidelines and watch as our fellow man suffers, but rather we must throw aside our selfishness and aid our brothers and sister even as other do not, and hopefully we shall set the blaze the trail for more to follow.

SESTINA

One day I wake up and it's time.
I've got to catch them all, Pokemon!
I've got a choice; Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander
But I've woken up late so it's Pikachu!
Off I set on my journey
Oh wait I need my trusty pokedex.

Oh wait there's a Rattata, time for the pokedex,
send out Pikachu, it's go time!
After the end of Rattata, resume the journey.
After the taste of battle, I want more Pokemon,
Let's go catch them all Pikachu!
You're so much better than a Charmander.

Pikachu evolves into Raichu, which is greater than Charmander too!
Let's check out Pikachu's stat's on the pokedex,
It says what is the best pokemon?...PIKACHU!
Ok enough dilly-dallying, it's time
i want to catch all 150 pokemon
I need all the help I can get on this journey.

To become the best trainer, the path is long, on this journey
now I've got Pikachu, Pidgeotto, and a Charmander!
I've got three now only 147 more pokemon!
Professor Oak will be so happy with my full pokedex
The gym is in sight, it's time.
I need my first gym badge let's go Pikachu!

My oppnent is Brock, uh oh, ground type, return PikachuI
I need to beat his onix to continue this journey
Ugh I should've found squirtle, then it would've been Onix's time
to fall. but instead I got distracted and caught that Charmnader.
Let's see if Charmander knows good moves, Pkedex!
Fire Blast!?! Ok let's take down his pokemon.

The throw down begun, all his pokemon
were fighting mine. Let's go Charmander, Pidgeotto, and Pikachu!
Oh No, it's Onix! Let's scan it pokedex.
Whatever I need to win, I need to continue my journey.
Let's go, Use Fireblast Charmander!
I've won my badge and now is the time!

My Pokedex is filling with Pokemon,
It's time to go Pikachu.
He'll help me along my journey and so will my Charmander!

found poem

They think I’m only a waitress,
Little do they know in contradiction I’m like
Hugo boss. I run a chapel of love
Where I only let those sterling silver roses
Close to me. I make heartbeat’s race,
Like truck’s filled with diesel fuel.
Im like a flash of fuchsia on the face
Of a grinning young lass.
I’m like a one man show,
You can’t ever forget me
Like the pink diamond from pink panther.

Voodoo is my essence,
I confuse and confound all.
The luminous moon hangs above,
Lighting the way for a taxi
To reach me. There is no recovery
If I deem you unworthy. You’ll be
Sent to paradiso inferno, destined
To watch the wild thing just out of your reach.
Do you know what I am?
‘Cause I sure as royal Copenhagen don’t

C'mon children, don't mosey along now

No kvetching please, mommy isn't here to cosset you.

Its time to wash those squalid hands, its time to bake a cake!

Cake, cake, cake, cake, luscious cake!

Now it might seem retrograde

to teach a 5-year-old how to bake,

but I've been called a capricious person.

Impatience is my vice.

Now children don't hold me in a gaze of animosity,

it mars your exquisite face.

Now let's get started with,

a pinch of sugar, a dust of flour, an egg here and there.

Now for the final touch, some tincture 

for a bit of color. Yes a bit of color.

Delectable, sterling, and just excellent.

Yes children you are wonderful.

animosity- feeling of strong dislike

capricious- impulsive

luscious-delicious

sterling- excellent, mint

retrograde-backward

squalid- dirty or rough

tincture- a substance that dries into color

cosset- to coddle like a pet or small child

kvetch- to complain 

mosey- meander 

System of a Down "Chop Suey"

In my opinion the band “System of a Down”, has longed deserved the recognition they are about to receive for its politically active song lyrics. These lyrics include the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, the War on Drugs, Religion and Censorship. The band’s front man Serj Tankian co-founded with Tom Morello the Axis of Justice, an organization for musicians who have banded together with their fight for social justice.

System of a Down was formed in 1994 in Glendale, CA. The band consists of four members; Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian, and John Dolmayan. SOAD has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, and has won one. System has diverse roots, with all of the band members having previous bands in which they played for prior to forming, Tankian and Malakian coming from a band called Soil, and the others from other places. All the members have a common love for classic heavy metal such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, KISS, Slayer, and Metallica. Malakian, System’s songwriter, attributes his biggest influence of his lyrics to that of The Beatles and Peter, Paul, and Mary. I can honestly say that I do not believe I have ever heard a band with the likes of System of Down since its creation; With their unique guitar tunings and radical song lyrics, System of a Down has created a class of its own.

Perhaps one of its more controversial songs of all time, Chop Suey, tells the horrors of drug abuse through that of a fictional account of a woman stuck in the cyclic horror of drug abuse. The first two words of the song are “Wake Up”, both a literal wake up for the druggie who needs to wake up from her fix and also it is an initial call for the listeners to wake up and start the fight on Drug Abuse. Daron Malakian said in an interview that the song is truly about how one dies affects the way someone thinks of that person. For instance if someone were to die of drug abuse, like in the song, someone might perchance think they deserved it. This comes into play at the line “I cry when angels deserve to die, the angels being the corrupted humans who will die if they continue along their path. Chop Suey also makes religious references with the lines “Why have you forsaken me?”, and “ Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”. Both are obviously references to Jesus Christ as he hung from his cross. I believe this was put in as a cry from those who are stuck in the cycle of drugs. At some point many of them do not want to continue, but like Jesus they find themselves having to suffer even though it is what they desire least. But unlike Jesus who we left upon the cross, we need to help these drug abusers so they do not have to commend their spirit to the father.

All in all, System of a Down is a radically aware group of men who want to use their talents and widespread publicity to do good. In a world of corruption, System stands out like a beacon of hope for all those who are represented in the words of their lyrics. While System of a Down is currently on hiatus while the members pursue side careers, even there the messages are the same. But one day System shall reform to lead to charge on social tyranny once again, and battle it out for social change.

PIZZA PIE

  This video suggests that consumption of a product is one of the most important things one can do and to do otherwise can end horribly. While death is not truly the end result of disobeying, it suggests heavily that your social life will die if you do not "eat your pizza pie". This does not just pertain to just the pizza pie in of itself, but of all consumer goods like iphones, McDonald's, etc; everything that reminds the viewer of Corporate America. Throughout all commercials of Papa Johns and Pizza Hut, it makes it seem like you are making a mistake if you do not eat the pizza they are advertising. This mistake can lead to becoming ostracized, not in the idea of pizza per-say, but if on does not keep up with the current trends they can become put off to the sides. Unfortunately many Americans judge by what they see and not what they now and they could assume the worst if you are not "eating the pizza pie". This also suggests conformity to a certain extent because while not required to "eat the pizza", it is strongly suggested by the second line "or you will die". No one ever truly has to do anything ever, but the consequences of not doing anything could end poorly. So in the end, the message is, just sit down, shut up, eat your piece of "pizza pie", and conform to the standards.

dramatic monologue

if John rode a horse this is who he'd be

Oh my fair Lenina!

Why must fate be so cruel

and cast us to opposite ends?

Why must you be the little 

strumpet that you are, you little whore?

One must walk the path of

righteousness  in order to fully

see the complexities of love. Oh hy

must love be so cruel? I feel passion

rising inside of my starting at my loins

and ending and the tipps of my ears. Every

part of me aches for you, all I want is

but a peck upon those succulent lips...

No! I must be strong, for you are a strumpet and not worthy. 

Alas! Why must I be so confused.

This Brave New world confound me to the point

of madness. Everywhere I turn all I see is bigotry

idolatry, promiscuousness, and idiocracy. Strumpets!

All the women here are strumpets I say and the men

no better. I have jumped from one kind

of hell to another. no one accepts me.

At the reservation, I stood, touched by God, alone.

Here, in this Brave New World,

I stand, touched by my birth, alone.

I have no one, now that Linda is in her 

self-induced "holiday". Pshht, what idiocracy is

this. This is not right! These pills, I ought to teach them of their addiction 

and cure them of their plague...

Oh so alone am I!

bernard is much to busy with his strumpets to

truly care of how I feel. how horrible

Bernard, I smite thee from those i feel as 

friends for no longer do you treat me as one.

"Sobs" Oh Lenina. If only I could let

you into my world, but you could never understand

my pain. You want me only for my body, I see

the lust within your eyes, you strumpet! My heart aches

for your love, my body aches for yours.

What shall I do?! Oh God I'm so alone...

could I just end it? Never, I must persevere,

But God it's so hard.

I'm so alone.