Breed Apart by Sepultura Lyrics Meaning – Dissecting the Rebellion Against Conformity
Lyrics
Asphalt jungle piles of crust
Non sense thoughts inside the mind
What really means
What I want?
Open up your mind and go your own way
Open up your mind and go your own way
Open up your mind and go your own way
Open up your mind and go your own way
Straight old thoughts
To force you down
Raping rape
Breed apart
Open up your mind and go your own way
Open up your mind and go your own way
Open up your mind and go your own way
Open up your mind and go your own way
Open up your mind and go your own way
Open up your mind and go your own way
Open up your mind and go your own way
Open up your mind
Within the heavy guttural riffs and primal drumming of Sepultura’s ‘Breed Apart’ lies a rebellious heart, thumping with a demand for individuality and resistance against the oppressive forces of society. This track, from the band’s revered album ‘Roots’, isn’t just a musical assault but a philosophical manifesto, calling listeners to break free from the chains of conformity.
The raw energy of ‘Breed Apart’ transcends the boundaries of thrash metal, delving deep into the human psyche and the collective struggle to find meaning amidst chaos. Sepultura, known for their thoughtful approach to heavy music, have crafted a song that is both a battle cry and a puzzle, challenging their audience to find their own path while critiquing the mechanisms that suppress freedom.
A Journey into the Asphalt Jungle: Urban Decay and Its Metaphors
Sepultura paints a vivid picture of a decaying urban landscape with their opening lines. The ‘concrete and dust’ and ‘asphalt jungle’ are more than depictions of a city’s physical deterioration; they are symbols of a society that has lost its way, burying its natural roots beneath a pile of lifeless, artificial constructs. It’s a commentary on modernity’s suffocating effect on the human spirit, encouraging listeners to question the world they’ve grown accustomed to.
The feeling of disgust evoked by the ‘piles of crust’ hints at the band’s contempt for the superficial layers that civilization has accumulated. In Sepultura’s perspective, these layers need to be scratched away to reveal the true essence of being, a ‘Breed Apart’ from the decay that surrounds us.
The Insidious Nature of Thoughts: A Dive into Mental Entrapment
Sepultura’s critique extends into the mind’s inner workings, as ‘non sense thoughts inside the mind’ reflect the confusion and senselessness that plague the individual. The quest for meaning becomes a personal one, as the lyric ‘What really means / What I want?’ illustrates the struggle to discern genuine desire from the noise of societal expectation.
This line of inquiry encourages listeners to confront their internal dialogues, to sift through the debris of ingrained beliefs and psychological constructs that may not be their own. It’s a powerful reminder that freedom isn’t just a physical state, but a mental revolution against the forces that ‘rape’ the soul and promote a ‘Straight old’ conformity.
Uncaging the Mind: The Anthem of Self-Empowerment
The recurring command to ‘Open up your mind and go your own way’ resonates as the song’s core message. It’s a fierce proclamation urging self-empowerment and the rejection of preconceived paths. Sepultura isn’t just making music; they’re igniting a revolution that begins with a single, defiant act of opening the mind.
By repeating this line, the band underscores the importance of autonomy and the necessity to consciously choose one’s direction. It’s a call to action for the listener to embrace the unknown and to defy the ‘Straight old thoughts’ that strive to crush individuality.
Subtext and Symbols: Unearthing the Hidden Meaning
Beyond the surface-level invitation to think freely, ‘Breed Apart’ contains layers of meaning that reveal Sepultura’s deeper concerns. The repeated use of the word ‘rape’ conveys a violation far greater than physical; it is the intellectual and spiritual assault on individuality by a society intent on homogeneity.
The term ‘Breed Apart’ itself is a declaration of difference, an acknowledgment of those who step away from the masses to forge their unique destinies. The song becomes a soundtrack for the outliers, the thinkers, the revolutionaries who refuse to be swallowed by the ‘Asphalt jungle’.
Memorable Lines That Slash Through the Noise
Within ‘Breed Apart’, certain phrases cut sharply into the fabric of conformity. ‘Open up your mind and go your own way’ is more than a memorable line; it’s an indelible mark upon the consciousness of those who hear it, a mantra for those battling against mental and societal constraints.
Another potent line, ‘Raping rape / Breed apart’, in its raw aggression, demands attention. It serves to shock, to awaken, and to invoke the deep-seated human instinct to resist domination and to claim one’s rightful place as a unique and unassailable being.





