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"To me, this song is about how there's something deeper than what we all see. It's a different way of thinking manifested by the way the common man thinks. In the first verse, Graffin speaks of the dots and rows of worker drones working for the benefit of how we grow that weren't there yesterday and is only there is we ask questions. This also has something to do with the song Blenderhead on Against the Grain, where it talks of how people try to be so complex only by asking questions. Anyway, the Inner Logic is supposed to be a pessimistic way of thinking, and the antithesis of the way the common man ponders everyday, and how the answers of life aren't what we're assuming." -Bromley Of Little Effort
"Like most BR songs this is a play on how society is definitely fucked up. It begins by comparing the people in the world to ants in an ant colony. Calling them 'automatons' in business suits, or how they are just drones. Then after the first bridge and chorus, Graffin then speaks of how the people in society with power are also way fucked up. He is speaking of how the police and the government don't really care for the people, just enjoy their power, and enjoy exercising it unjustly." -John
"Inner Logic is (in part) about exclusionary social institutions: 'Old Boy's Clubs,' which exist to help the members get ahead in life, to the detriment of everyone else. ('No equality, no opportunity.') In particular, it is about: - People who control big businesses, and keep its inner workings secret from the people in general. ('Sequestering the blueprints of daily life') - Exclusive (and exclusionary) universities. Students at the expensive Ivy Leagues get a 'more valuable' degree than someone from State U., and have an opportunity to network with other people on their way up in the world. - Military Academies, where harmless kids learn to defend the people in power. (And again, get to be with people 'on their way up') The verses are intentionally in reverse order (someone would go to a military academy as a kid, an ivy league university as a young adult, and become a businessman after graduating); the writer is 'piercing the complexity,' figuring out what's behind it all, and is not satisfied with what he discovers." -Serge Monsoon
"I agree with some of the other points, but there's something missing from them. The song isn't really about how bad things are, but that were being mislead. We all go through our daily lives just wandering about...'like drone ant colonies to our office in the sky' without doing anything about it; just accepting the teaching given to us. 'I don't ask questions, don't promote demonstrations, don't look...' All the while, the people in power keep hidden from us the 'inner logic' of how the world works, 'there's no effort to reveal it...' and as long we don't find it, everything is just fine for them." -~Joker~
"This isn't really interpretation per se, but you may find it interesting. To form educated political and sociological views you must read many opinions, not just the opinions that fit your intuitive ideas, and not just the ones commonly advocated in Universities. 'Inner logic' is something somewhat commonly referred to in the writings of Ayn Rand. I'm not sure whether Greg has read Ayn Rand, but from what I know about him, it seems very possible. If he has, I know that he would not agree with her political ideas. I know I don't. What is striking to me is how Ayn Rand was so sure that she had 'the answer' (as Greg put it in 1991), despite her shallow knowledge. She had the inner logic figured out, and if couldn't see her 'light', then you were simply weren't rational. Ayn Rand has had a considerable impact upon corporate America (Allan Greenspan was one of her 'rightwing' disciples, for example). However, unlike someone interested in all opinions, Ayn Rand didn't want to hear anything that disagreed with her. I think that it is this 'we, the corporate bosses already know it all so what can you say?' element of corporate practice that upsets Greg the most. Though their logic is flawed, the money and power that they hold continually increases, the top "1%" are virtual despots." -Jwhite_tx
"When taken as a whole, Rand's philosophy may be rather distasteful, but some of her ideas are dead on. The idea that capitalist democracy is the only just socio-economic system and the assertion that no man should ever be made to live for the sake of another are both absolutely essential to the concept of a free society. I'd actually be interested in hearing Greg's response to this. He seems somewhat conflicted in his politics -- how do you marry punk distrust of institutions in general and government in particular to a liberal philosophy whose goals can only be accomplished through the use of centralized power, to the detriment of the individual? This problem is summed up (although certainly not solved) in I Want to Conquer the World (yes, I know the lyrics were written by Brett)." -jnw
"Could it be that the third verse: 'Decorated warriors...' is actually referring to Punk Rock bands (like Bad Religion) or any other type of band for that matter, as new generations search for more 'progressive' forms of authority that they can openly disagree with or differ with in order to evade the relentless bore of the 'I don't ask questions.. etc' process. It is typically cynical of them, to compare the influence punk bands have with university-style institutions or business corporations. This would fit in with them 'expecting redemption of character and self-growth'; qualities that could be a much more worthwhile alternative than being a digital boy who can't read with too many toys. Please someone disagree or agree with me, I would love to read what you have to say." -Pej
"Pej, in response to the line 'Decorated warriors drill harmless kids on pavement.' Since the organization of civilization there has been armies etc. I think this line is in reference to the die-hard high ranking officials that brainwash 'harmless kids' or recruits into joining a wing of national defense. I believe they are 'harmless' for many reasons. One is because of the propaganda that has been used around the world for ages. And these recruits can go to war and die for no reason at all." -Slick
"En mi opinión, creo que esta canción nos habla de como el mundo esta lleno de prsonas sometidas a este sistema: 'automatas graduados vestidos de terno', que lo único que hacen es seguir su diaria rutina, almacenando cada vez más y mas poder, sin dejarle espacio a las mentes alternativas; al las mentes que realmente estan tratando de hacer algo por este Jardin Atómico. In my opinion, I think this song tells us about how the world is full of people who are submissive to the system 'graduated automatons with business suits' and all they do is go on with their daily routine, harboring more and more power each day, leaving no room for alternative minds, for minds that are really trying to do something for this Atomic Garden." -J.P. Wasaff
"What this song says to me in a nutshell is use your own mind rather than accept everything the way it is presented to you." -Kristi
"I think the most important line in the song is "If I pierce the complexity I won't find salvation; just the bald and overt truth of all the evil and deception." From this, I think the point of the song is fairly clear: I can observe and attempt to explain what's wrong with the current society, (sacrifice of individuality, intellectuals who attempt to place themselves above and separate from their fellow citizens, the use of force to maintain an inequitable social order) but that doesn't mean I know how to fix the problem. Compare to 'I Want to Conquer the World,' perhaps." -McDeus
"This is probably way off but it's how I interpreted this bit of the song. In the part thats says "decorated warriors drill harmless kids on pavement.." I thought they were refering to school and/or the playground and how they root this "inner logic" at such a young age. "Simulating tyranny under red alert.." I thought it was talking about how we train children, in the school systems, to get used to and almost find comfort with this sense of order in being told what to do from the beginning of thier lives by putting them under authority in school." -Psycoticpixie |