Integral lyrics : I'm puzzled

[nekko]

I definitely don't understand those lines :

Long live us
the persuaded we
integral
collectively
to the whole project
it's brand new
conceived solely
to protect you

Is that meant to be single words/sentences ? Like : "Long live us", "The persuaded we", "Integral","Collectively".

But then, what does "the persuaded we" mean (they persuaded us ?)

BTW, album and remixes version sound like Neil says "It's brandS new"... Weird...

Thanks for any explaination.

[Very]

I think it's a phrase actually

[Posh Boy]

I understand it to be the words from someone in the government ("us", "the persuaded we") telling you that you should be happy that they have thought up this ID project ("a project to protect you")

[nekko]

I think it's a phrase actually

Long live us, the persuaded we, integral, collectively to the whole project,it's brand new, conceived solely to protect you.

which would mean :

Long term idea, for sure (we are persuaded ?), complete (?), let's gather around this whole project, it's brand new and conceived solely to protect you.

Something like this ? Still doesn't completely makes sense to me...

[BlueSwan]

The song is basically one long reference to fascism, the way I hear it. The whole concept of "if you've done nothing wrong you've got nothing to fear" is an old fascist/conservative idea that allows government almost unlimited control over its citizens. In the eyes of Neil Tennant, the concept of ID cards is one step towards a fascist society. At least that's the way I interpret it.

[Posh Boy]

The song is basically one long reference to fascism, the way I hear it. The whole concept of "if you've done nothing wrong you've got nothing to fear" is an old fascist/conservative idea that allows government almost unlimited control over its citizens. In the eyes of Neil Tennant, the concept of ID cards is one step towards a fascist society. At least that's the way I interpret it.

Agree.

[CDRDJ6620]

Long live us = Long live Animal Farm???

[redsock]

While we're on the subject of the meaning of the lyrics and the connotations of them, does anyone else feel that the chorus is such as strong statement, that it could be misconstrued as actually "supporting" the idea of a facist style government ?
Kind of in the same way that many companies took the lyrics of Opportunities at face value and often played the track at conventions and seminars as an anthem.

You've got to admit ...

If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear,
If you've something to hide, you shouldn't even be here.

Is a pretty bold statement that is actually hard to argue against in light of the current terrorist threat to this country.

Let the flamewar begin ....

[Syncratic]

I take it you understand satire?

[gregf]

I think Opportunities is more vulnerable to mis-understanding then Integral.

And I agree that Integral like the whole Fundamental album, is commenting
on a range of issues around Western civilisation as a whole,
gradually sliding into Fascism with a democratic face.

[beautyqueen85]

Long live us = Long live Animal Farm???

[redsock]

I take it you understand satire?

You didn't matey.

[pethead_anna1989]

"BTW, album and remixes version sound like Neil says "It's brandS new"... Weird... "

Neil always has a very strong diction in his words, that's why I always perceive him singing "Always on my mint"

[KW1]

So in otherwords,

Long live us ("Long live the Government and it's people")

the persuaded we ("The Government which has been persuaded that this new ID card project is awesome", the "we" implies that the government is speaking on behalf of it's people, but the song is against the notion of ID cards and as such is satire on over-controlling governments)

integral, collectively ("all of us, the people, together as one", meaning that the ID card is now integral to you as a person. "Collectively" implying that you are now a number and no longer are an individual - you exist collectively with everyone else.)

to the whole project ("What the government has been persuaded to do - namely ID cards")

it's brand new

conceived solely
to protect you (Satire of a over-controlling government's spin to attempt to influence it's people.)

[nekko]

Thanks, KW1, that's exactly what I expected

Rational, perfect !