Scrutiny (from New Maps of Hell) | Discography | The Bad Religion Page - Since 1995
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Scrutiny
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Details
Written by: Greg Graffin
Released in: 2007
BPM: 154
Lyrics
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One - two - three - four - five - six - seven - eight!
Days go marching by
There and back I never wait for a confident reply
Truth is stark and leaves its mark as limited constraints
And the most difficult part is accepting what the future may bring

It seems like a lifetime of scrutiny
Wither the path, whether worth the fee
A lifetime of scrutiny
And it seems as though I can't be sure of anything anymore!

One - two - three - four - five - six - seven - eight!
Years go flying by
No one seems to hesitate or cast an earnest eye
Judgment comes in many forms but never scarce or shy
And the litany is long as the confidence is strong in their delight

It seems like a lifetime of scrutiny
Prejudicial waters wash over me
A lifetime of scrutiny
And the words just don't equate with sense or sanity anymore!

One - two - three - four - five - six - seven - eight!
The faces and the names
Shattered hopes and stolen dreams and no one left to blame
Is it possible to win this pointless mortal game?
'Cuz when death comes it's swift and my friend,
We end up all the same

It seems like a lifetime of scrutiny
Wither the path and whether worth the fee
A lifetime of scrutiny
And it seems as though I can't be sure of anything anymore!

Versions
Version Length Release Catalog ID Country Format Year
Album version
2:36 New Maps of Hell United States 12" 2023
2:36 New Maps of Hell 6863-1 Europe 12" 2019
2:36 New Maps of Hell Europe 12" 2019
2:36 New Maps of Hell 86863-1SMO (SMOKE) United States 12" 2015
2:36 New Maps of Hell 80803-1 United States 12" 2010
2:36 New Maps of Hell RAD 6005 Brazil CD 2009
2:36 New Maps of Hell 86914-2 United States CD 2008
2:36 New Maps of Hell 86914-2 Europe CD 2008
2:36 New Maps of Hell 86863-1 United States 12" 2007
2:36 New Maps of Hell 80803-1 Europe 12" 2007
2:36 New Maps of Hell Europe CD 2007
2:36 New Maps of Hell EICP-800 Japan CD 2007
2:36 New Maps of Hell 86863 2 United States CD 2007
2:36 New Maps of Hell EICP-800 Japan CD 2007
2:36 New Maps of Hell Australia CD 2007
2:36 New Maps of Hell 86863-2P United States CD 2007
2:36 New Maps of Hell n/a Russia CD 2007
2:36 New Maps of Hell MR 2667-2 Ukraine CD 2007
Info from 'The Answer'
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Song interpretations (3)
walder
Henchman
Henchman

Location: Moscow
Status: Offline
Posts: 112
Quote
06/11/2022 at 15:51
Guest wrote:

The line "we end up all the same" is probably a direct reference to Anxiety.

Definitely, that makes the song even more loveable. I think scrutiny is about ruminations which can be both prejudicial and beneficial.
whitelights9
Incomplete
Incomplete

Location: Laguna Beach
Status: Offline
Posts: 0
Quote
08/25/2009 at 15:23
Wel the tone i got from it, and the words more or less, is just that of the chorus

"A lifetime of scrutiny. Moreso-ever than now": through a lot of the history of time nobody even kept track of their age, or even in a time they did it was a far after though.
Now everything we do and say in this upbringing is morally chastised and ridiculed.. and.. scrutinized.. conceptualized in time constraints and age.
Pre-conceived judgments of us where ever we are and there literally are no sides of ourselves we can keep private anymore.
Cal
Guest
Guest

Location: Global Citizen
Quote
02/12/2008 at 21:33
The line "we end up all the same" is probably a direct reference to Anxiety.
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