Popular Consensus

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Details

Written by:	Greg Graffin
Released in:	2013
BPM:	111

Lyrics - Album version

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Some people are almost impossible to live with
Some people have faith in the craziest things
They follow outdated conventions that were recorded
But most of it to me all sounds insane

Maybe that's what you need to get you through the night
Maybe you've seen the light
But you know that popular consensus doesn't make it right

Nothing can go on while forever increasing
The universe expanding is a different thing
But to turn a nasty habit into a virtue
Can't replace the need for charity

Maybe it's what you need to help you through the night
Maybe you've seen the light
But you know popular consensus doesn't make it right

Like the seed of all creation or a doomsday scheme
The future might be bright or bleak
But you know popular consensus doesn't mean much to me

Versions

Version	Length	Release	Catalog ID	Country	Format	Year
Album version
	1:53	True North		United States	12"	2022
	1:53	30 Years Live		Europe	12"	2016
	1:53	True North	EICP-1569	Japan	CD	2013
	1:53	True North		United States	12"	2013
	1:53	True North	7228-I	Europe	12"	2013
	1:53	True North		Europe	12"	2013
	1:53	True North		United States	12"	2013
	1:53	True North	87228-1	United States	12"	2013
	1:53	True North		Europe	12"	2013
	1:53	True North	EPIT 7228	United States	CD	2013
	1:53	True North	87228-2	United States	CD	2013
	1:53	True North	7228-2	Europe	CD	2013
	1:53	True North	87228-2P	United States	CD	2013
	1:53	True North	059	United States	CD	2013
	1:53	True North	87228-2	United States	CD	2013
	1:53	True North	7228-2	Europe	CD	2013
	1:53	True North	EDC1-80476	Japan	CD	2013
	1:53	True North	EPIT 7228-2A	Europe	CD	2012

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Song interpretations (3)

Watcho! Billy Gnosis BrettOnTour #1 Supporter Status: Offline Posts: 840	Quote I like the song, but it's one of the more juvenile tracks on the record, lyrically. The idea that "popular consensus" somehow informs faith-based reasoning totally mischaracterizes that viewpoint. So of course, popular consensus doesn't make Jesus real, but then again, popular consensus isn't what makes gravity real either. If a Christian rock band wrote a similar song about some other discipline of understanding, we'd laugh at it. That DOCTOR Graffin does it here is no different IMO. Again, I like the song inasmuch as I don't have to think too much about what it's actually saying, but it's another entry in the late-era BR catalog that appears to be grabbing at really, really low-hanging fruit. 03/02/2013 at 10:06 I like the song, but it's one of the more juvenile tracks on the record, lyrically. The idea that "popular consensus" somehow informs faith-based reasoning totally mischaracterizes that viewpoint. So of course, popular consensus doesn't make Jesus real, but then again, popular consensus isn't what makes gravity real either. If a Christian rock band wrote a similar song about some other discipline of understanding, we'd laugh at it. That DOCTOR Graffin does it here is no different IMO. Again, I like the song inasmuch as I don't have to think too much about what it's actually saying, but it's another entry in the late-era BR catalog that appears to be grabbing at really, really low-hanging fruit.
Watcho! Billy Gnosis BrettOnTour #1 Supporter Status: Offline Posts: 840	Quote I like the song, but it's one of the more juvenile tracks on the record, lyrically. The idea that "popular consensus" somehow informs faith-based reasoning totally mischaracterizes that viewpoint. So of course, popular consensus doesn't make Jesus real, but then again, popular consensus isn't what makes gravity real either. If a Christian rock band wrote a similar song about some other discipline of understanding, we'd laugh at it. That DOCTOR Graffin does it here is no different IMO. Again, I like the song inasmuch as I don't have to think too much about what it's actually saying, but it's another entry in the late-era BR catalog that appears to be grabbing at really, really low-hanging fruit. 03/02/2013 at 10:05 I like the song, but it's one of the more juvenile tracks on the record, lyrically. The idea that "popular consensus" somehow informs faith-based reasoning totally mischaracterizes that viewpoint. So of course, popular consensus doesn't make Jesus real, but then again, popular consensus isn't what makes gravity real either. If a Christian rock band wrote a similar song about some other discipline of understanding, we'd laugh at it. That DOCTOR Graffin does it here is no different IMO. Again, I like the song inasmuch as I don't have to think too much about what it's actually saying, but it's another entry in the late-era BR catalog that appears to be grabbing at really, really low-hanging fruit.
simian Infected Avatar Nauseam Location: Baltimore, MD Status: Offline Posts: 1154	Quote I think this song is a typical Graffinesque critique of faith-based reasoning, and laments how frustrating it is that people whose opinions are informed by faith seem unable to confront the underlying problems of our civilization. The idea that growth (population growth and/or economic growth) can and should continue unchecked seems to pervade the thinking of some influential religious leaders and media figures. Clearly (to those whose thinking is rooted in naturalism, at least) this is an absurd idea. The lament of this song seems to me to be an extension of the ideas in "Finite" from the last album. [small]Edited by simian[/small] 02/12/2013 at 16:49 I think this song is a typical Graffinesque critique of faith-based reasoning, and laments how frustrating it is that people whose opinions are informed by faith seem unable to confront the underlying problems of our civilization. The idea that growth (population growth and/or economic growth) can and should continue unchecked seems to pervade the thinking of some influential religious leaders and media figures. Clearly (to those whose thinking is rooted in naturalism, at least) this is an absurd idea. The lament of this song seems to me to be an extension of the ideas in "Finite" from the last album. Edited by simian
Alex Guest Location: Global Citizen	Quote The song is pretty straight forward, so I'm just gonna throw one thing out there: Am I the only one seeing critique of (turbo) capitalism in the second verse? The reference to charity combined with the "ever increasing" modell of modern bank / interest systems seem suspicious to me. There already are two other songs related to that topic on the record, but downright questioning the whole structure of interest rates is... well, unexpected coming from BR. 01/20/2013 at 20:48 The song is pretty straight forward, so I'm just gonna throw one thing out there: Am I the only one seeing critique of (turbo) capitalism in the second verse? The reference to charity combined with the "ever increasing" modell of modern bank / interest systems seem suspicious to me. There already are two other songs related to that topic on the record, but downright questioning the whole structure of interest rates is... well, unexpected coming from BR.