There's a boy in crimson rags with a grimace and a spoon
And a little sullen girl face-up staring at the moon,
And there's no one around to hear their lonesome cries,
Then they pass away alone into the night.
Why do we pity the dead?
Are you churned by emotion from voices in your head?
Look at all the living and you'll ask yourself why,
Oh, why do we pity the dead?
Pity the dead!
Well, you've seen the disease, suffering and decay,
And you whisper to yourself blissfully "it's okay"
And you still refuse the possibility
That the dead are better off than we.
Why do we pity the dead?
Are you scared of the logic that swirls within your head?
Look at all the living and you'll ask yourself why,
Oh, why do we pity the dead?
Pity the dead!
Tell me what you see, tell me what you know.
Is there anyone who lives a painless life?
If there is show me so.
The destitute and famished,
Demonic and the banished,
Dejected and the ostracized,
The brainwashed and the paralyzed,
The conquered and objectified,
The few who see the other side,
Tell me what you see!
It's a mortal wretched cacophony.
In the end you may find there's no guiding subtle light,
No ancestors or friends, no judge of wrong or right,
Just eternal silence and dormancy
And a final everlasting peace...
Version | Length | Release | Catalog ID | Country | Format | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Album version | ||||||
2:56 | The Gray Race | United States | 12" | 2022 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | United States | 12" | 2022 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | United States | 12" | 2022 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Europe | 12" | 2021 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | United States | 12" | 2018 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Europe | 12" | 2018 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | United States | 12" | 2018 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Europe | 12" | 2013 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | 6996-1 | Europe | 12" | 2013 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | Europe | 12" | 2013 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | 6996-1 | United States | 12" | 2010 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 6996-2 | Europe | CD | 2008 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 88697101822 | Germany | CD | 2007 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | Japan | CD | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | 82870-4 | United States | MC | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | United States | MC | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 4 | Spain | MC | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | Turkey | MC | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Europe | 12" | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | 82870-1 | United States | 12" | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 483652 1 | Europe | 12" | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | Europe | 12" | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Canada | CD | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Australia | CD | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Canada | CD | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 2 | Europe | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 2 | Europe | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 483652-2 | Australia | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 82870-2 | United States | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 2 | Europe | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 2 | Europe | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 483652 4 | Indonesia | MC | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | Russia | MC | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Poland | MC | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Europe | MC | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | 483652 4 | Australia | MC | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 483652-4 | Europe | MC | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | n/a | United Kingdom | MC | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 82870-4 | United States | MC | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 483652-2 | Thailand | MC | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 623 | Russia | MC | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | Russia | CD | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | n/a | Germany | MC | 1995 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 3L4A3 2981063 | United States | CD | 1995 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 752.319/2-483652 | Brazil | CD | 1995 | |
Live | ||||||
2:59 | Tested | EPIT-69952 | Europe | CD | 2008 | |
2:59 | Tested | DRA 486986 1 | Germany | 2x12" | 1997 | |
2:59 | Tested | DRA 486986 2 | Germany | CD | 1997 | |
2:59 | Tested | Esca 6658 | Japan | CD | 1997 | |
2:59 | Tested | 486986-4 | Turkey | MC | 1997 | |
2:59 | Tested | DRA 486986 4 | 485019 4 | Poland | MC | 1997 | |
2:59 | Tested | DRA 486986 4 | Netherlands | MC | 1997 | |
2:59 | Tested | Germany | MC | 1997 | ||
2:59 | Tested | Russia | MC | 1997 | ||
2:59 | Tested | Spain | MC | 1997 | ||
2:59 | Tested | DRASAMPCD39522 | Germany | CD | 1997 | |
2:59 | Tested | 486986-2 | Australia | CD | 1997 | |
2:59 | Tested | 758.329 / 2-486986 | Brazil | CD | 1997 | |
Live from Aragon Ballroom 1996 | ||||||
The Grey Race - Video EP | Europe | DVD | 2003 | |||
Live Loreley Festival 1996 | ||||||
The Grey Race - Video EP | Europe | DVD | 2003 | |||
Not specified | ||||||
2:56 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 9 | Germany | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | A2 82870 | United States | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 82870-2 | D 111751 | United States | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 82870-2 | United States | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | 82870-2 | United States | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 9 | Germany | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | United States | MC | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Russia | MC | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Russia | MC | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | DRASAMP 3144 2 | Europe | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | DRASAMP 3145 2 | Europe | CD | 1996 | |
2:56 | The Gray Race | Mexico | CD | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Poland | CD | 1996 | ||
2:56 | The Gray Race | Europe | CD | 1996 |
Matt Savvy
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
There's something else here that no one seems to have mentioned, so I'll briefly touch on it. Pity the Dead hints at how selfish we really are. If someone is a great guy, really friendly and made a lot of people smile, when he dies, they don't so much pity the guy who died as they do PITY THEMSELVES. Think about it, whenever you mourn the loss of a loved one, how do you think ''Jim'll never be able to see another sunrise...(or anything that they enjoyed)', and then erupt into tears? Never. You always think 'I'll never be able to see Jim smile again,' and the fact that YOU miss Jim, the fact that he'll never be able to make your day that much better, THAT'S what makes you burst into tears. It's totally different when someone eventually loses a long bout to a fatal disease. 'At least grandma won't suffer anymore...' They're not worried that grandma won't be able to do the things she loved, but suddenly they feel happy that she's able to rest. Our speech even revolves around the the survivor. 'WE LOST a loved one.' Not 'She died.'
07/17/2004 at 02:26
There's something else here that no one seems to have mentioned, so I'll briefly touch on it. Pity the Dead hints at how selfish we really are. If someone is a great guy, really friendly and made a lot of people smile, when he dies, they don't so much pity the guy who died as they do PITY THEMSELVES. Think about it, whenever you mourn the loss of a loved one, how do you think ''Jim'll never be able to see another sunrise...(or anything that they enjoyed)', and then erupt into tears? Never. You always think 'I'll never be able to see Jim smile again,' and the fact that YOU miss Jim, the fact that he'll never be able to make your day that much better, THAT'S what makes you burst into tears. It's totally different when someone eventually loses a long bout to a fatal disease. 'At least grandma won't suffer anymore...' They're not worried that grandma won't be able to do the things she loved, but suddenly they feel happy that she's able to rest. Our speech even revolves around the the survivor. 'WE LOST a loved one.' Not 'She died.'
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Samhain138
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
I believe that when you observe all the pain and suffering in the world that causes death by starvation, disease or whatever it may be, you should not feel sorry for the lost individuals. On an individual basis, with death comes peace and they no longer suffer. I believe that the only thing that we should pity is the whole group's general direction in which they are heading, for if this pain and suffering was to never get better but only to worsen then that would be a pity. I think this is the message that Greg is trying to put across with this song. 'In the end you may find there's no guiding subtle light, no ancestors or friends, no judge of wrong or right just eternal silence and dormancy and a final everlasting peace.
07/17/2004 at 02:26
I believe that when you observe all the pain and suffering in the world that causes death by starvation, disease or whatever it may be, you should not feel sorry for the lost individuals. On an individual basis, with death comes peace and they no longer suffer. I believe that the only thing that we should pity is the whole group's general direction in which they are heading, for if this pain and suffering was to never get better but only to worsen then that would be a pity. I think this is the message that Greg is trying to put across with this song. 'In the end you may find there's no guiding subtle light, no ancestors or friends, no judge of wrong or right just eternal silence and dormancy and a final everlasting peace.
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The Headless Monkey
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
I think what Greg is saying in this song is that in this day and age, with the fighting and turmoil of the world, it may be better to just escape these troubles through death, than to deal with them in life. the statement that shows this is 'you see the disease, suffering and decay, and you whisper to yourself blissfully its ok, and you still refuse the possibility that the dead are better off than we. Who knows if this is what he was trying to express, we all have different opinions.
07/17/2004 at 02:25
I think what Greg is saying in this song is that in this day and age, with the fighting and turmoil of the world, it may be better to just escape these troubles through death, than to deal with them in life. the statement that shows this is 'you see the disease, suffering and decay, and you whisper to yourself blissfully its ok, and you still refuse the possibility that the dead are better off than we. Who knows if this is what he was trying to express, we all have different opinions.
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BladeRunner
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
Just to add on to Bad's idea... Greg also mentions to look at people who are living, and is almost saying why is dying such a bad thing, when someone is finally at peace?
07/17/2004 at 02:25
Just to add on to Bad's idea... Greg also mentions to look at people who are living, and is almost saying why is dying such a bad thing, when someone is finally at peace?
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Bad Aeronuts
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
This is definitely that shows Greg's atheist feelings. He questions religious practices and how we feel toward the dead. He shows a contradiction in our society. According to Christianity, the dead are going to a better place called 'Heaven,' but we mourn them and wish they could still be with us--why do that? Is it, like Greg writes, that we 'are you churned by emotion from voices in [our] head[s] or scared of the logic that swirls within [our] head[s]?' Possibly. Greg goes on to say that maybe they are better off this torture called 'life' on a primitive Earth. But then again, life is the greatest treasure offered to us by the complex combinations of molecules made up of heavy elements, such as carbon, phosphorus, oxygen, and sulfur, made in supernovae explosions and a little of luck to form the right combination. Greg then makes a statement that I'm sure angered more than one religious person, 'in the end you may find there's no guiding subtle light, no ancestors or friends, no judge of wrong or right just eternal silence and dormancy and a final everlasting peace.' Most probably, but I don't want to ruin the Vatican's binge on the faithfuls' generous donations or the calm mind of the avid prayer. I can't make conclusions, as we're free to believe in whatever we want. I just hope you got the right answer, because I, as a scientific person, can't find a meaning to religions.
07/17/2004 at 02:25
This is definitely that shows Greg's atheist feelings. He questions religious practices and how we feel toward the dead. He shows a contradiction in our society. According to Christianity, the dead are going to a better place called 'Heaven,' but we mourn them and wish they could still be with us--why do that? Is it, like Greg writes, that we 'are you churned by emotion from voices in [our] head
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