Despite that he saw blatant similarity,
He struggled to find a distinctive moiety.
All he found was vulgar superficiality,
But he focused it to sharpness
And shared it with the others.
It signified his anger and misery.
Them and us,
Lobbying determined through a mire of disbelievers,
Them and us,
Dire perpetuation and incongruous insistence,
That there really is a difference
Between them and us.
Hate is a simple manifestation
Of the deep-seated self-directed frustration.
All it does is promote fear and consternation.
It's the inability
To justify the enemy
And it fills us all with trepidation.
Them and us,
Bending the significance to match a whimsied fable,
Them and us,
Tumult for the ignorant and purpose for the violence,
A confused loose alliance forming
Them and us.
I heard him say
We can take them all.
But he didn't know who we were
And he didn't know who they were.
And there wasn't any reason
Or motive or value to his story,
Just allegory, imitation glory,
And a desperate feeble search for a friend.
Them and us,
Lobbying determined through a mire of disbelievers,
Them and us,
Dire perpetuation and incongruous insistence,
Tumult for the ignorant and purpose for the violence,
A confused loose alliance forming
Them and us.
We can take them all...
Version | Length | Release | Catalog ID | Country | Format | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Album version | ||||||
2:50 | The Gray Race | United States | 12" | 2022 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | United States | 12" | 2022 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | United States | 12" | 2022 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Europe | 12" | 2021 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | United States | 12" | 2018 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Europe | 12" | 2018 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | United States | 12" | 2018 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Europe | 12" | 2013 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | 6996-1 | Europe | 12" | 2013 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | Europe | 12" | 2013 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | 6996-1 | United States | 12" | 2010 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 6996-2 | Europe | CD | 2008 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 88697101822 | Germany | CD | 2007 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | Japan | CD | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | 82870-4 | United States | MC | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | United States | MC | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 4 | Spain | MC | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | Turkey | MC | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Europe | 12" | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | 82870-1 | United States | 12" | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 483652 1 | Europe | 12" | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | Europe | 12" | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Canada | CD | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Australia | CD | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Canada | CD | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 2 | Europe | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 2 | Europe | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 483652-2 | Australia | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 82870-2 | United States | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 2 | Europe | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 2 | Europe | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 483652 4 | Indonesia | MC | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | Russia | MC | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Poland | MC | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Europe | MC | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | 483652 4 | Australia | MC | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 483652-4 | Europe | MC | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | n/a | United Kingdom | MC | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 82870-4 | United States | MC | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 483652-2 | Thailand | MC | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 623 | Russia | MC | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | Russia | CD | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | n/a | Germany | MC | 1995 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 3L4A3 2981063 | United States | CD | 1995 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 752.319/2-483652 | Brazil | CD | 1995 | |
Live Loreley Festival 1996 | ||||||
The Grey Race - Video EP | Europe | DVD | 2003 | |||
Not specified | ||||||
2:50 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 9 | Germany | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | A2 82870 | United States | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 82870-2 | D 111751 | United States | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 82870-2 | United States | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | 82870-2 | United States | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | DRA 483652 9 | Germany | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | United States | MC | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Russia | MC | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Russia | MC | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | DRASAMP 3144 2 | Europe | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | DRASAMP 3145 2 | Europe | CD | 1996 | |
2:50 | The Gray Race | Mexico | CD | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Poland | CD | 1996 | ||
2:50 | The Gray Race | Europe | CD | 1996 |
vna000
Incomplete
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen Status: Offline Posts: 10 |
In my opinion, this entire album is deeply related to the racial prejudice that is noticeably trite in USA and in the whole world. I could make this interpretation just by seeing the title of this song. "Them and Us". Shows a lot of reluctance, that was the fuse to write a lot of songs coming from "The Gray Race", I think
06/30/2010 at 19:19
In my opinion, this entire album is deeply related to the racial prejudice that is noticeably trite in USA and in the whole world. I could make this interpretation just by seeing the title of this song. "Them and Us". Shows a lot of reluctance, that was the fuse to write a lot of songs coming from "The Gray Race", I think
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droogiedroogie
Incomplete
![]() ![]() Status: Offline Posts: 1 |
I'll go ahead and weigh in by saying that I think this song is about Democrats who delude themselves into thinking that their party can effect true change. There's no difference between the GOP and the Dems, and no real reason for the true progressive to vote Democratic (2004 election excluded), but through often unjustifiable rhetoric, the Democrats can make themselves seem righteous, all the while realizing deep down that they've sold out.
11/07/2004 at 10:11
I'll go ahead and weigh in by saying that I think this song is about Democrats who delude themselves into thinking that their party can effect true change. There's no difference between the GOP and the Dems, and no real reason for the true progressive to vote Democratic (2004 election excluded), but through often unjustifiable rhetoric, the Democrats can make themselves seem righteous, all the while realizing deep down that they've sold out.
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Rodrigo Vargas
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
in march of 2001 when they played this song in Santiago de Chile, Greg says "this is a song for a city like Santiago, you kow it?s all about them and us", so I can understand the as a metaphor of the struggle that we can see in every big city around the world. We live in comunity but often this comunity becomes "the enemy" in a word, "them", there?s a constant battle while we search a way to live in harmony but sometimes living in great cities leads to frustration guided by a constant (between the lines) violence.
07/30/2004 at 12:52
in march of 2001 when they played this song in Santiago de Chile, Greg says "this is a song for a city like Santiago, you kow it?s all about them and us", so I can understand the as a metaphor of the struggle that we can see in every big city around the world. We live in comunity but often this comunity becomes "the enemy" in a word, "them", there?s a constant battle while we search a way to live in harmony but sometimes living in great cities leads to frustration guided by a constant (between the lines) violence.
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Ralamo
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
The song talks about sectarianism. Although we share 99% of genes, we (humans) have this tendency to split up in groups. There's always an excuse (religion, political position, nationality, ethic group) so we or our government can justify the crimes committed against other humans. Nazism against Jews, communists and gays; Stalinism against capitalists; all religions against each other; American imperialism against third world countries. They all assumed they knew the absolute truth (save the world from ... - fill the blank) to justify their brutal acts.
07/17/2004 at 02:19
The song talks about sectarianism. Although we share 99% of genes, we (humans) have this tendency to split up in groups. There's always an excuse (religion, political position, nationality, ethic group) so we or our government can justify the crimes committed against other humans. Nazism against Jews, communists and gays; Stalinism against capitalists; all religions against each other; American imperialism against third world countries. They all assumed they knew the absolute truth (save the world from ... - fill the blank) to justify their brutal acts.
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NoPrayerInSchool
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
First of all, I just want to say that to truly be open-minded, you have to be willing to look at both sides of an issue. Similarly with interpretations. Everyone has a different interpretation. Anyone who would take the time to post a criticism against another interpretation obviously misses the point, Nichsnutz. To me, this song is about creating an enemy to justify ones own actions and beliefs. Islamic fundamentalists hate Americans because they feel we are 'corrupting' the world, going against every teaching in their religious texts. So they target us for their terror attacks. Millions of African Americans were captured and forced into slavery because a handful of Europeans deemed them less than human, far inferior to themselves. Homosexuals are constantly discriminated against by the religious conservatives. In order to limit their rights, the conservatives try to show homosexuals as AIDS-infested child molesters out to 'recruit' the youth of America. A varsity football player beats up a 'goth' because the kid is 'different.' A 'punk' kid decides to break a storefront window at a rally because the window happens to be part of a Starbucks, and Starbucks is a corporation and corporations are enemies to punks. Simply to justify an immature impulse to be destructive. I think what Greg is trying to say is that people tend to think they can get away with anything if they can create an enemy. The 'Them and Us' mentality is dangerous. Get a group of people to believe in the same enemy and anything can happen.
07/17/2004 at 02:18
First of all, I just want to say that to truly be open-minded, you have to be willing to look at both sides of an issue. Similarly with interpretations. Everyone has a different interpretation. Anyone who would take the time to post a criticism against another interpretation obviously misses the point, Nichsnutz. To me, this song is about creating an enemy to justify ones own actions and beliefs. Islamic fundamentalists hate Americans because they feel we are 'corrupting' the world, going against every teaching in their religious texts. So they target us for their terror attacks. Millions of African Americans were captured and forced into slavery because a handful of Europeans deemed them less than human, far inferior to themselves. Homosexuals are constantly discriminated against by the religious conservatives. In order to limit their rights, the conservatives try to show homosexuals as AIDS-infested child molesters out to 'recruit' the youth of America. A varsity football player beats up a 'goth' because the kid is 'different.' A 'punk' kid decides to break a storefront window at a rally because the window happens to be part of a Starbucks, and Starbucks is a corporation and corporations are enemies to punks. Simply to justify an immature impulse to be destructive. I think what Greg is trying to say is that people tend to think they can get away with anything if they can create an enemy. The 'Them and Us' mentality is dangerous. Get a group of people to believe in the same enemy and anything can happen.
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L*mon
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
I think this song can be interpreted in many different ways. My view of this song was that Greg was referring to Jesus forming the religion of Christianity. 'despite he say blatant similarity, he struggled to find distinctive moiety.' basically, he just changed a couple of points from the old religions and called it his. I'm not too sure what them and us means, but maybe simply, believers and non believers. The song goes on to talk about how the religion can justify death by saying we are the good guys they are the bad ones. There's a lot more to it, but I'm lazy...
07/17/2004 at 02:18
I think this song can be interpreted in many different ways. My view of this song was that Greg was referring to Jesus forming the religion of Christianity. 'despite he say blatant similarity, he struggled to find distinctive moiety.' basically, he just changed a couple of points from the old religions and called it his. I'm not too sure what them and us means, but maybe simply, believers and non believers. The song goes on to talk about how the religion can justify death by saying we are the good guys they are the bad ones. There's a lot more to it, but I'm lazy...
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Nichtsnutz722
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
When I hear this song, I can't help but think of nationalism, and all of it's terrible consequences throughout the 20th century. There has been France, their hatred of Germans, Hitler and his hatred of Jews and Eastern Peoples, and the hatred continues to this day in conflicts of Eastern Europe. It is often the case, that when one group uses force of Power on a more vulnerable group, that forceful group is only acting out their perception of what has already been done to them. At some point we as people have to say, "Enough already!" Graffin is good at pointing out sociological problems and consequences. I think this is one his most powerful songs, lyrically.
07/17/2004 at 02:18
When I hear this song, I can't help but think of nationalism, and all of it's terrible consequences throughout the 20th century. There has been France, their hatred of Germans, Hitler and his hatred of Jews and Eastern Peoples, and the hatred continues to this day in conflicts of Eastern Europe. It is often the case, that when one group uses force of Power on a more vulnerable group, that forceful group is only acting out their perception of what has already been done to them. At some point we as people have to say, "Enough already!" Graffin is good at pointing out sociological problems and consequences. I think this is one his most powerful songs, lyrically.
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Samhain138
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
This song seems to be about how there isn't a clear difference between enemies in human existence. It takes a stance on how one person knows there is really no difference between him and his enemy and how he tries to explain this to the others. Greg further states that this may frustrate ignorant people thus forcing violent behavior towards the 'enemy.' This is shown in the line 'tumult for the ignorant and purpose for the violence.' Another important point made in this song is that the two sides will bend the truth about each other in order to justify that they are different thus allowing the fighting to continue. This point is seen in this line: 'bending the significance to match a whimsied fable.
07/17/2004 at 02:18
This song seems to be about how there isn't a clear difference between enemies in human existence. It takes a stance on how one person knows there is really no difference between him and his enemy and how he tries to explain this to the others. Greg further states that this may frustrate ignorant people thus forcing violent behavior towards the 'enemy.' This is shown in the line 'tumult for the ignorant and purpose for the violence.' Another important point made in this song is that the two sides will bend the truth about each other in order to justify that they are different thus allowing the fighting to continue. This point is seen in this line: 'bending the significance to match a whimsied fable.
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