The Hunter by Slaves Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Urgent Socio-Environmental Call to Arms
Lyrics
And the water is warm
And the ice caps are melting
What will happen when they’re gone
Will the experts look stupid
And invert the facts
Will they give you back your donations
Or keep the paper stacks
The feeling is mutual
You don’t like what we do
Because we say what we are thinking
And that shocks and frightens you
The lion in the jungle shows no shame, it shows no pride
It does what it needs to to stay strong and to survive, yeah
The hunter
The hunter
You can keep it
Don’t want it
Keep smiling through your teeth
Oh what is it
Your justice cut the hands of the thief
He was starving
His children were crying to be fed
And now they’re bawling
And dying
But at least you are ahead
Just be patient
Keep waiting
That’s what they always say
But you’re tired and you’re aching
And the pain won’t go away
So stand up and speak out
See that your needs are met
Oh the odds are against you
But please place your bet yeah
You keep it
We don’t want it
You keep it
We don’t want it (the hunter)
You keep it (the hunter)
We don’t want it (the hunter)
You keep it (the hunter)
We don’t want it
It’s useless
And worthless
We’re staring at the sun
Oh it is reckless
And pointless
But it’s also very fun
It’s useless
And worthless
We’re staring at the sun
Oh it is reckless
And pointless
But it’s also very fun
It’s useless
And worthless
We’re staring at the sun
Oh it is reckless
And pointless
But it’s also very fun
It’s useless
And worthless
We’re staring at the sun
Oh it is reckless
And pointless
But it’s also very fun
You keep it
We don’t want it
You keep it
We don’t want it (the hunter)
You keep it (the hunter)
We don’t want it (the hunter)
You keep it (the hunter)
We don’t want it
In the heart of modern punk’s fervent beats and the raw, unapologetic vocal delivery of Kent duo Slaves, lies ‘The Hunter,’ a piercing commentary masquerading as an audacious rock anthem. At first listen, it’s a thunderous call to the mosh pit, but scratch the sweat-stained surface and there emerges a manifesto for our environmentally ravaged and socially divided times.
The lyrics of ‘The Hunter’ deliver a gut-punch of social critique wrapped in the aggressive energy characteristic of Slaves’ brand of music. It’s a challenge to perceive beyond the pulsing rhythm and into the heart of a generation’s frustrations, fears, and the urging to revolt against a system that reeks of injustice and environmental negligence.
Melting Ice Caps and the Climate Crisis Commentary
The opening lines of ‘The Hunter’ waste no time, plunging listeners into the icy waters of climate change discussions. This isn’t just environmental commentary; it’s a battle cry against apathy. As Slaves highlight the ironies of freezing people and warming oceans, they question the future that awaits humanity when the last icebergs have dissolved into a forgotten blue.
The pointed question aimed at the ‘experts’ who might ‘invert the facts’ resonates with a generation skeptical of distorted truths served by authorities, and certainly doesn’t hold back in its criticism of the profit-driven motives that often underpin environmental discourses.
Stripped of Pretense: The Song’s Hidden Meaning
Beyond the initial blast of punk aggression, ‘The Hunter’ reveals a more profound rebellion—against the constructs of shame and pride, against the societal expectations that bind us like prey. Slaves, through lyrically transforming into the metaphorical jungle’s lion, emphasize the essence of primal survival and instinctual existence, offering an unsettling reminder of the fundamental disconnect between mankind and nature.
As the song progresses, this idea of inherent human instinct contrasts sharply with the artifice and superficiality that riddle contemporary life—mocking the notion that societal advancement equates to an improved state of being.
A Clash of Justice and Moral Paradoxes
With the visceral imagery of a thief whose hands are cut in the name of justice while his children starve, ‘The Hunter’ paints a raw picture of moral complexity. It questions a world where law and order stand high on pedestals, sometimes overshadowing the nuanced intricacies of human desperation and the dire circumstances that drive people to acts deemed criminal.
This stark look at inequality and the societal penchant for punitive measures over empathy and support is a scathing indictment of the underlying issues plaguing our communities today.
The Power to Speak, Stand, and Bet Against the Odds
As if yanking listeners out of their comfort zone, Slaves empower with an almost deceptively simple directive: stand up, speak out, and make demands. The urge to take action against the weariness, against the pain of stagnation and the voiceless wait for change, echoes as a defiant, punk-laden push toward self-advocacy and personal agency.
The gamble of taking a stand, defying the odds, resonates as a potent metaphor for societal uprisings and personal revolutions against the shackles of silent suffering that ‘The Hunter’ vehemently disdains.
The Futility and Joy of Existential Recklessness
There’s a poignant cyclicality in ‘The Hunter’s’ lyrics about staring at the sun—pointless, yet undeniably alluring. It signifies a generation aware of its dance with the vast expanses of pointlessness that characterize human experience, and yet, there’s a certain exhilaration found within that reckless abandon.
Slaves ingeniously juxtapose meaninglessness with the inherent joy of simply being alive—it’s a daring embrace of the inherent absurdity of life and perhaps, a middle finger to the existential dread that tries to eclipse our moments of unadulterated contentment.
