“Baby Annihilation” by Fall Out Boy

“Baby Annihilation” is terse, but sometimes, as in this case, such pieces can be the most poetic and difficult to interpret. For instance, at first it reads as if “Baby Annihilation” may revolve around the vocalist lambasting the addressee. 

However, as the lyrics progress, it becomes apparent that Patrick Stump is using the opportunity to (also) criticize himself as well as his compadres or associates. Or as seems more to the point, it may be that he’s criticizing the entire human race, as the vices he appears to be speaking to can be considered universal ones.

For instance, amongst the shortcomings which appear to be mentioned in this track are insincerity, fickleness, “self-sabotage”, self-deception and perhaps drug abuse or in any event having the tendency to prefer fantasy over reality. 

And again, it’s such that you really can’t tell who the vocalist is applying these characteristics to, though he does mention “us”, meaning that he has not removed himself from the equation.

So we can safely presume that “Baby Annihilation” is along the lines of being a social commentary, though one that is painfully indirect. For example, there is no telling what the title of track is actually supposed to mean.

“Self-sabotage at best, under your spell
But you know what they say
‘If you want a job done right, you gotta do it yourself’
This palace was crystal, but the world was a cruel joke
What is there between us, if not a little annihilation?”

The Team Behind “Baby Annihilation”

This song, which was written by Andy Hurley, Patrick Stump, Joe Trohman and Pete Wentz (aka the members of Fall Out Boy) was first teased about a month before it was released on 24 March 2023. 

And it was done so via Fueled by Ramen and DCD2 as part of Fall Out Boy’s album “So Much (for) Stardust”.