weapons of mass destruction

faithless new album no roots was out this week. i have loved all of their albums. god is a dj is a tune that we still play from time to time (in fact i think i played it as people came in to grace cathedral recently). this album is wonderful. it contains the single weapons of mass destruction with maxi jazz's stunning vocal naming wicked mind, greed, inaction, racism, fear... as weapons of mass destruction

Just how many centuries have we been
waiting for someone else to make us free
And we refuse to sleep
The people overseas are just like we
Mad leadership, amigos, unfettered and free
They feed one the people they're supposed to lead
I don't need it
We need to pray away
For the lord to make it all straight ...

Whether Halliburton or Enron or anyone
Greed is a weapon of mass destruction

We need to find courage, overcome
Inaction is a weapon of mass destruction...

there aren't many songs that i make a worship trick in their own right but this gets to be worship trick 90. the single and album have a copy of the video to weapons (i got a special edition cd so check that the version you get has got it) - this is equally powerful. i love the image of maxi jazz speaking to a brick wall...

there are other really good tracks on the album. i want more is brilliant - attacks greed and wealth and the whingeing of people that have so much stuff ending up focusing on the gift of life... the vocal on this is by lsk, a new addition to the faithless posse for this album. these are some of the lyrics...

hey friend your misery bewilders me
how come ya never satisfied or gratified
four walls n a roof, electricity
stable mind, wife and child
hot and cold water to run any time
but still you whine 'i want more'...

a bum could rummage through your bin
and live like a king
on just one crumb o ya cake
n'ya say your life needs fulfilling
some would give anything to live like you
shame your mind don't shine
like your possessions do
whining complaining all the time....

friend what is it that you seek
what is it that you're tryin to find
what is it that you're tryin to find
some day i hope you realised
it shined in you all the time
hills to climb sights to see seas to cross
friends to make hands to shake the world is yours
foods to taste sounds to hear love to feel
seeds to sow things to know fish to reel
space to quiz stones to lift
life's a gift...

Comments

[Darren]

I like part 2 where Maxi says...

"More oneness, less categories,
Open hearts, no strategies.
Decisions based upon faith and not fear.
People live right now and right here.
I want the wisdom that wise men revere."

Amen

[Mike]

Awesome - this is the first I've heard of them. Thanks for the link!

[Dave]

Agree absolutely with the comments about the album - it is excellent. Though I think Maxi is actually saying the opposite about the praying side of things:

"I don't need good people to pray and wait
For the Lord to make it all straight
theres only now
Do it right"

[jonny]

you may be right?....

[sijohnston]

well posted. at the risk of a pretentious namedrop, back in the days, I played warm up to Sister Bliss at a gig in Glasgow one night and felt like giving up afterwards (and it was one of the best sets I think I played). She's basically your dream girl (excepting Jenny and Emily obviously ;-)

[Craig]

Yeah, you're right about the lyrics Mike:

I don't need good people to pray and wait
For the lord to make it all straight
There's only now, do it right.
Cos I don't want your daddy, leaving home tonight

and also, he says:

And you ain't going to nirvana or farvana
You're coming right back here to live out your karma

Which seems to be suggesting something more along the lines of reincarnation.

Still, great song!

[Jamie]

I know this is an old thread/blog/whatever but just so you know, Maxi is a Buddhist, like myself, and believes firmly in reincarnation, nirvana etc... so his faith inspires his lyrics.

his references to religion and God, praying and beliefs are often due to the awkwardness of living in a place where your personal faith and direction isn't a key part to society.

anywho, i shall leave now. adios!

and Faithless rule!!