Graffinius wrote: I'm pretty sure it says "expose the culprits and beat 'em to the children". Makes more sense.

How? Beat in what sense? I'm pretty sure it's feed as in feed the culprits to the starving children.

I'm pretty sure it says "expose the culprits and beat 'em to the children". Makes more sense.

"Your actions speak so loud, I can't hear a word you're saying." is a direct play on words from a very famous Ralph Waldo Emerson quote "What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."

Basically, I feel he's saying he wants to overcome the problems of the world, utterly and unmistakably. Of course, this is an unrealistic desire, but a heartfelt one nonetheless. The "Brother Christian," the "Sister Bleeding Heart," etc, are some examples of how even the people who are supposedly attempting to make the world a better place are just as flawed and have a similarly unrealistic disposition in their tasks. Any and all attempts to aid the less fortunate seems pointless in the grand scheme of things, because the grand scheme is that everything is disorderly and everyone is perfidious.

I think that they are recognizing how many times people complain about the world and say they could do better if they were in charge. But in fact, when they do what they believe is right only they see the world as perfect. You cannot please everyone, and 90% of the time the world is in compromise in one way or another. In the end, people are always wanting change when, in the end, there was no point of doing anything because it would end up in chaos in just a matter of time.

I believe that this song points out the flaw of being human. Achieving imperfection in search of perfection. Meaning that everyone (diplomats, soldiers, religious', heart throbbers, etc.) has their own vision of the 'perfect' world and they all try to create this world.

However that fact is that not everyone else has the same view of the 'perfect' world, so their is conflict which ultimately leads to the world being worse than it already was. For example, in the song they talk about the 'soldier', the 'soldier' believes in honor and their country and such. The 'soldier' believes (in my mind) that in order for the world to be at 'peace', one nation must rule all, or a group of nations (the UN) or something, otherwise there will be conflict.

But not everyone in the world agrees with this 'soldier's' country, or the UN group he/she is a part of. So therefore there can be no 'peace', which is what the soldier wanted in the first place.

The chorus shows us that even though the band realizes that no ones perfect world is in fact perfect for everyone, they still have their own views of perfection, they are not above this flaw either. There is a lot of sarcasm as well, saying that if he ruled the world he could end all the suffering, when that is impossible.

It has been said that the best government possible is a 'benevolent dictatorship'; unfortunately it does not exist. It is a sad but true assumption that the general public cannot come to logical discussions for the betterment of the world because things like ignorance, greed, pride, and fanatical religious belief gets in the way.

Since the people cannot think for themselves, they need some completely unselfish, logical thinking, wise individual to think for them. It does not and perhaps cannot exist in the sense that the original goal of solving the plethora of problems that plague the world would succumb to pride (megalomania i.e. "Mr. Diplomat") or idealistic crusades (i.e. "Brother Christian", "Sister Bleeding heart", & "Mother Mercy"). However, there is an important distinction in interpreting this song is that doesn't mean one stops trying. You cannot help, much less save the world without being a part of it in some way (i.e. "Man of Science").

By all means if you are pragmatic and wise enough, try to save the world. To say the world doesn't need you is quite frankly irresponsible; because the world sure does need somebody.

The crucial part to remember lyrically is "with a quick wink of the eye and a 'god, you must be joking!'' Much like man with a mission, the title of the song is made to put across a comedic irony. The phrase is associated with something we all can relate to, the human desire to conquer, and superlatively, the world. However, with the addition of that lyrical line which is usually overlooked, it can be seen as irony. It is expressing the mindless obsession of wanting to be the 'one' or speaking in terms of sexual politics to be the 'man'. To be the leader, and have others validation, to command, and be the one that can lead everyone out. There's nothing worse than being a blind follower, than having a savior complex.

The "wink of an eye" evokes imagery of an infomercial salesman who snaps his fingers and just 'poverty reduced, the whales saved, see all you needed was me'. Solving problems isn't that simple. The desire to conquer the world may fulfill your needs, but you are not necessary to solve the problems of the world. If you as in the 'I' want to conquer the world you're not thinking about it realistically in terms of solving poverty, etc. While adding fuel to solving such problems will lead to bettering the situation, your role in any type of movement is not 'necessary' though desired. The world doesn't 'need' you. You need the world.

Further, the "my god you must be joking" nails the coffin shut on expressing the sentiment of how silly the comic book wish to conquer the world is. The black and white egotism of swooping down and solving the worlds problem, the outcast redeeming himself now that you finally have the chance, is foolish self-absorption.

If you look at the verse lyrics, they all talk about various types of people who try and 'conquer the world' with the belief too that if the 'man of science', 'mister diplomat', 'brother Christian' had their way and could just have unilateral control, poof like magic all problems would be solved.

And its laughable that such attempts at charity and good intention is anything but the desire to say it was you who did it, made it happen, and have that achievement be reflected on your glory, or whatever ideas you swear loyalty to. Ambition is not uniformly virtuous.

The desire to 'conquer the world' will always be for personal gain as long as the 'I' is within earshot.

I Want To Conquer The World delivers a message of peace. It talks (in my opinion) about the world being better if we could get rid of those in command and put uncorrupted people in charge. So, it can mean if it was me in charge, but only if I can consider myself uncorrupted without misunderstanding of my own mind. Because if I conquered the world, I would decide to put an end to poverty, uncleanliness and toil, and I would promote equality in all of my decisions.

"Show me a man who can conquer that which can't be tamed, and if that man could speak would the words evoked be sane . Ask me the reasons for misery and shame. / I'll give you reasons for the wind and for the rain." - That's really the core of the song. I don't think they're necessarily assigning blame or making fun of anyone, just pointing out the contradictions inherent in people's intentions, which are often well-meaning. The state of reality that creates a framework where no one can really be right without also being wrong is a complex system that won't be understood by any generation in the foreseeable future.

I relate to the idea that I if I were to have control over things, this mess would be straightened out once and for all. But then again, who doesn't feel that way, and I think that is the real point. It's sarcastic. Everyone thinks that they have the true solutions, yet everyone is isolating themselves from the full issues to pursue their finite interests.

The moral soldiers, the scientists, the diplomats, the bleeding hearts; all working as if they are the saviors, as they always have, yet things still just get worse. I think that the chorus is just the author's personal view of what is right, but it's also acknowledged that they are indeed no different from the rest. I think that's where the saving the whales line comes from, as well as replacing the idiot's religion with his own way of thinking. It's almost poking fun at himself for being so self-righteous.

The song at once addresses the allure of imposing your world view upon others, while acknowledging the reality that you're really no different from the rest.

The lines, "hey moral soldier you've got righteous proclamations and precious tomes to fuel your pulpy conflagrations" is calling moral soldiers (P.M.R.C., Concerned Parent Groups) book burners. The tomes are books, the pulp is paper and conflagration is the large fire.

I've always thought that the lyrics were absolutely loaded with sarcasm. You can practically hear it dripping from Graffin's voice as he intones lines like, "Do away with air pollution and then I'll save the whales, We'll have peace on earth and global communion..."
I kinda figured he was poking fun at the left wing liberals and condemning the right wing people who have made a mess of the world at the same time. It's obviously an angry tune, but I think the sarcasm makes it seem even angrier and more disenfranchised.

This song seems to be looking at all the problems of the world through the eyes of a concerned individual. They want to solve everything, all at once, instantly. Of course with the line "With a quick wink of the eye and a God you must be joking" refers to that and how easy it seems to accomplish but how impossible it really is. The title seems to refer to wanting to conquer the world for the reason that if this individual did then all of these things that they want to change would be possible if they did, it does not refer to 'conquering the world' for their own pleasure.