Total Football by Parquet Courts Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Rebel Anthem in Today’s Turbulent Times

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Parquet Courts's Total Football at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

We are conductors of sound, heat and energy
And I bet that you thought you had us figured out from the start
We are conduits of clear electricity
Now you’re back on the pitch to take the apparatus apart

You’re an ancient now
You’re an ancient now
You’re an ancient now
On your own

Rebels
Teachers
Strikers
Sweepers
Better
Protected
Whenever
Collected

We are troubled by your soft curiosity
But delighted to be anti everything you were taught
Are you put off by our footloose fluidity
Have your hurt caucasian feelings left you so distraught?

Are you quite done now?
Are you quite done now?
Are you quite done now?
Not at all

Workers
Authors
Poets
Stoppers
Power
Resembled
If we are
Assembled

Only through those
Who stay awake
Can an institution
Be dismantled
It is dishonest
Nay a sin
To stand for any anthem
That attempts to drown
Out the roar of oppression

Hesse total football
Twombly total football
Tzara total football
Mina total football
Panthers total football
Kobra total football
Dada total football
Beatles total football

Swapping parts and roles
Is not acting, but
Rather
Emancipation
From expectation
Collectivism and autonomy
Are not mutually exclusive
Those who find discomfort
In your goals of liberation
Will be issued
No apology
And fuck Tom Brady

In an era brimming with political unrest and cultural upheaval, the song ‘Total Football’ by Parquet Courts stands out as a frenetic and powerful manifesto. With an undercurrent of post-punk energy and a heady mix of intellectual lyrical gestures, the track has become a beacon for those seeking meaning in the modern world.

The song’s title itself, a reference to the Dutch football strategy focused on versatile players and team cohesion, serves as the bedrock for an exploration of individuality versus collectivism, the dismantling of oppressive systems, and the role of the artist in society.

Cross-Pollinating Sports and Society – More Than a Game

At first glance, the ethos of ‘Total Football’ might appear to be about the game itself. Yet, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that Parquet Courts are drawing parallels between the fluidity and teamwork required in total football and the necessity for such dynamics in societal change. Each player, or person, while capable of individual brilliance, is part of a larger collective force.

The band’s comparison underlines the potential for societal roles to be interchanged and the power that comes with stepping out of predefined roles. This is an incitement to challenge the status quo and to strive for a more dynamic and interconnected society.

Cracking the Code – The Hidden Meaning of Electrical Metaphors

From ‘conduits of clear electricity’ to the dismantling of ‘the apparatus,’ the song employs electrical metaphors that resonate with a sense of urgency and the potential for transformation. By describing themselves as conductors and conduits, Parquet Courts suggest the role of artists as channels for energy, ideas, and change, harnessing the raw power of creativity to illuminate and disrupt.

The ‘apparatus’ in question can be interpreted as the machinery of society’s various systems, implying that dismantling oppressive structures requires an understanding of their inner workings and a collaborative effort.

Dialectics in Harmony – Collective Action and Individual Freedom

The song lyrically dances with the concept of collectivism versus autonomy, emphasizing that these ideas need not be at odds. ‘Collectivism and autonomy are not mutually exclusive,’ declares the band, as they call for a balance between personal freedom and the power of a unified group to enact change.

This sentiment reflects the track’s core philosophy: that true liberation is found not only in the assertion of one’s individuality but also in the mutual support and combined strength of like-minded comrades.

Speak Loudly, Stand Proudly – The Rallying Cry to Resist

Perhaps the most damning line of ‘Total Football’ is an outright rebellion against forced patriotism, encapsulating the band’s distaste for blind nationalism. The song’s scathing critique of anthems that ‘drown out the roar of oppression’ compels listeners to stay awake and to question and confront institutions of power.

The band’s bold statement serves as a wake-up call, reminding us that to make progress, passive acceptance is not an option – awareness and action must walk hand in hand.

Memorable Lines and Bold Declarations – When Music Spells Revolution

Among the most resonant and quoted lines is the defiant conclusion: ‘And fuck Tom Brady.’ While seemingly out of place in a song loaded with political and philosophical weight, this lyric punctuates the message with a rejection of traditional American icons of success and the structures they represent.

By juxtaposing cultural figures and movements through a chant-like roll call – from the art of Hesse and Twombly, the radicalism of Dada, to the activism of the Panthers – the band crafts an anthem resonant with those fighting against the grain of societal norms and expectations.