Step Up by Enter Shikari Lyrics Meaning – Unpacking the Call to Arms Against Complacency
Lyrics
If our own lives aren’t directly affected
Then it don’t need to be corrected
Our fucking gift is our ignorance
Yeah, we’re really serious
As they’re paying for deliverance
We shut ourselves from the outcries
We blinker ourselves from the eyesores
‘Cause we know we’ve got greatness within us
We have greatness within us
Innovative, giving, determined
It’s time for the best in us to come out
And you can find imbalance
You can destroy imbalance
And you can change your values
Step up today
Yes, solid
Now let me get one thing straight, you know what?
Sometimes I do wish apples were our currency
So your hoarded millions would rot in their vaults
And that’d teach you to lay off the assault
That you’re barraging on the lands of the poor
And I know we’ve all got enough problems of our own
But, but they’re not show stoppers sitting on our throne in a home
Heated by a life unknown to the exploited
And it’s so frustrating, the fucking state we’re in
If our own lives aren’t directly affected
Then it don’t need to be corrected
Our fucking gift is our ignorance
Yeah, we’re really serious
As they’re paying for deliverance
We shut ourselves from the outcries
We blinker ourselves from the eyesores
And you can find imbalance
You can destroy imbalance
And you can change your values
Step up today
And you can find imbalance
You can destroy imbalance
And you can change your values
Step up today
Why is it that so many companies
Don’t deserve us and can’t get rid of us?
British Empire built free trade
Opportunistic, pushing
Serving as a megaphone for generational angst and societal discontents, Enter Shikari’s ‘Step Up’ thrusts listeners into a world where apathy is the greatest adversary. With relentless rhythm and a barrage of evocative lyrics, Enter Shikari does not gently suggest but demands action. This track, which seems to blend a sense of urgency with a well-articulated social commentary, invites a deep dive into its undercurrents, exposing the layers beneath the electric surface.
The band’s ability to distill the complexities of socio-political issues into energetic and compelling music is on full display in ‘Step Up.’ Viewed through the lens of a keen listener, each verse offers a stark reflection of our contemporary society, extended as a challenge to individuals mired in comfort and complacency. It’s not just music — it’s a call to arms.
Down the Rabbit Hole of Apathy: Are We Really Serious?
The frontal assault on bystander apathy ‘Step Up’ delivers is impossible to ignore. When the band sings ‘Our fucking gift is our ignorance,’ the sarcasm drips like acid, corroding the often self-imposed filters we’ve placed on our perception. Enter Shikari reprimands the tendency to remain inert until a crisis lands on our individual doorsteps — a behavior pattern symptomatic of a problematic global culture.
This opening salvo sets the tone for the entire song: it’s a linguistic scorched earth strategy against indifference. The choice of the word ‘gift’ is particularly infuriating, pointing out that we willingly accept ignorance, cloaking it as a present to ourselves, excusing our detachment from global issues.
The Anthem of Unleashing Greatness Within
Diving further into ‘Step Up,’ we uncover anthemic lines that assert the inherent potential within every individual. When Enter Shikari belts out that we ‘have greatness within us,’ it’s not just a feel-good line in a song. It’s a recognition that, as a species, we are capable of remarkable feats when we choose to step away from passivity.
The message is crystal clear: innovation, giving, and determination are qualities that can and should define us. It’s an urge to peel away the complacency that has become part of our routine existence and instead foster a world spun from the best threads of our human fabric.
Confronting Imbalance with Hard-Hitting Rhymes
‘And you can find imbalance/You can destroy imbalance.’ Enter Shikari isn’t just observing the problem; they’re providing a mantra for those ready to tackle society’s ills head-on. These lyrics double as a battle cry, hammering home the notion that action is within reach and that with resolve, the status quo can be upended.
It is this very acknowledgment of imbalance—economic, social, environmental—that pulses through the veins of ‘Step Up.’ The song, at its core, is about recognizing the disparities that riddle our world and fiercely committing to rewrite the narrative.
A Vision of Radical Economy: Redemption in Rotting Apples
Perhaps one of the most intriguing lines Enter Shikari unfurls is the whimsical yet impactful notion of an apple-based economy, a poetic envisioning of wealth’s impermanence: ‘Sometimes I do wish apples were our currency.’ Through this, the band contemplates a world where amassed fortune could decay, equalizing the playing field and highlighting the current financial system’s intrinsic flaws.
By juxtaposing accumulated riches with perishable fruits, Enter Shikari casts an unrelenting spotlight on the absurdity of hoarding wealth while others languish in poverty. This line could well be remembered as a rallying call for a more equitable and sustainable economic model.
The Memorable Lines that Cement a Legacy
‘If our own lives aren’t directly affected/Then it don’t need to be corrected’ — this particular line encapsulates the essence of ‘Step Up’ and the pervasive ‘not my problem’ mindset. It’s the incisive reminder that action is often deferred until personal comfort is compromised, reflecting a collective moral failing to preemptively address injustice.
Not only do these lines hook the ear with their candor and rhythm, but they also firmly engrain the song in the discussion of legacy — a legacy that pushes its audience to be better, do better, and most importantly, to ‘Step Up.’
