Bad Religion – No Control

by Sophia Sheinin

 

No Control is possibly one of the best political punk albums of all time. Bad Religion’s eloquent commentary on political and social issues, along with intricate melodies and strong vocals, is something that’s rare in punk. They don’t just angrily shout about how the system is f*cked. Bad Religion’s lyrics are poetic and honestly kind of freakin’ brilliant sometimes. Take the title track “No Control”: 

 Culture was the seed of proliferation / But it has gotten melded into an inharmonic   whole / Consciousness has plagued us and we can not shake it / Though we think       we’re in control / Questions that besiege us in life / Are testament of our           helplessness / “There’s no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end” [Hutton] / When we all disintegrate it will all happen again, yeah.

“No Control” in its essence is about how as a society, we’re desperate to grasp for semblance of stability, power, and well, control. How we want to believe we do and can have control over our life, the universe, other people. While this theme is repeated throughout the album, it’s most obviously called out in this track.

If you came to conquer, you’ll be king for a day / But you too will deteriorate and quickly fade away / And believe these words you hear when you think your path is clear / We have no control / We do not understand.

Basically, it doesn’t matter if you manage to grab hold of power, or you think you’ve got the universe figured out. In the end we all die and the world keeps turning without us. We have no control in this universe or its plans — we’re all just along for the ride. These lyrics have actual substance. A meaning that you can actually take and examine. Digest and consider. Most punk bands don’t bother or simply can’t reach that level of thought. 

 

Bad Religion.  “No Control.” No Control.  1989. San Fernando Valley/Los Angeles, CA.

Hutton, James.  “Theory Of The Earth.” 1795. Edinburgh, Scotland.