Broken : Happiness in Slavery
The Lyrics:
slave screams he thinks he knows what he wants
slave screams thinks he has something to say
slave screams he hears but doesn't want to listen
slave screams he's being beat into submission
don't open your eyes you won't like what you see
the devils of truth steal the souls of the free
don't open your eyes take it from me
i have found
you can find
happiness is slavery
slave screams he spends his life learning conformity
slave screams he claims he has his own identity
slave screams he's going to cause the system to fall
slave screams but he's glad to be chained to that wall
don't open your eyes you won't like what you see
the blind have been blessed with security
don't open your eyes take it from me
i have found
you can find
happiness is slavery
i don't know what i am i don't know where i've been
human junk just words and so much skin
stick my hands thru the cage of this endless routine
just some flesh caught in this big broken machine
(Pre 5-12-98)
First, I this song is somewhat obvious in its basic meaning. What it's saying is that there are so many blissfully ignorant people out there.. and they are the ones who have it made. It's better to be blind to the cold truth of the world, than to see and be aware of the harsh reality ("Can this world really be as sad as it seems?").
"Slave screams he thinks he knows what he wants"
Trent is talking about your average ignorant American. The consumer. He thinks he knows what he wants..he believes that he makes decisions about his life when really it is corporate America and the media telling him what he wants and what he needs.
"Slave screams thinks he has something to say"
He thinks what he has to say counts. That it's important. That it makes a difference. It feels good to feel important.
"Slave screams he hears but doesn't want to listen"
It's easier for him to ignore, to block out all the negatives of the world around him than to actually face them.
"Slave screams he's being beat into submission"
I believe this is Trent commenting on the "slave"'s condition. He's being beat into submission.. being molded. The line isn't literal. The slave doesn't even realize that he's being shaped into what he is by the media, by capitalism, by politics. He is taught to live in his own comfortable little place in society and not make any trouble and he will live a happy little meaningless life.
"Don't open your eyes, you won't like what you see"
This is kind of the twist to the song. Trent is saying to the slaves, don't open your eyes to the truth. Just sit there ignorantly enjoying your happy little life. If you were to open your eyes and see reality, you would realize that you have no voice. That you are a slave to your job. They set your hours, they tell you where to be and when to be there. That you are a slave to commercialism. You can only buy what they sell you. That you're a slave to the media. They'll "tell you all you need to know." It can also relate to government, in a sort of George Orwell kind of way. The lyrics "they don't gotta burn the books, they just remove them" come to mind. You are made to believe that you have power when really this is not the case.
"The devils of truth steal the souls of the free"
The free.. these are the people who know the truth. This line is just a fancy way of saying that the truth hurts...it's hard to accept.. "the free" have lost faith in humanity.
"Don't open your eyes, take it from me. I have found you can find happiness in slavery"
Trent is saying, look I've been there. I was once the slave. I opened my eyes to the truth and it isn't pretty. He's advising you to live your ignorant life, almost envying those who do. "You can find happiness in slavery.." This slavery is better than the alternative.
"Slave screams he spends his life learning conformity"
We return to Reznor discussing the slave once more. This line is quite obvious. Since birth, we are taught conformity. For some, it is the hardest of lessons. They tell you to be happy, you must fit in. You must do what you are told. Don't try to break the mold..don't cause any trouble, and you will find happiness. It's somewhat ironic that Trent agrees with this.
"Slave screams he claims he has his own identity"
The slave thoroughly believes he is an individual. He believes his is unique.. important. When really he is just another number.. another guy in the factory. Another person to profit from.
"Slave screams he's gonna cause the system to fall"
This line gives me some trouble. I think it may be refering to the last line, saying that the slave thinks he can make a difference. So when Trent says "he's gonna cause the system to fall", in the slave's mind, he feels he can do this..that he has that power as an individual. We are told that our vote counts, that one person can make a difference. This is what the slave believes.
"Slave screams but he's glad to be chained to that wall"
The slave is happy in his slavery. That's it, pure and simple. He'll tell you that he wants to be an individual and he'll deny that he's a tool of commercialism.. he'll deny his "slavery", but really, he is happy where he is.
"..the blind have been blessed with security.."
That's a key line in the song. The blind are the slaves, those that do not see the truth. They are blessed with security, they are told they are important. They believe this in their ignorance, and they are happy.
"I don't know what I am I don't know where I've been
human junk just words and so much skin"
This is a slave opening his eyes, becoming "free". He realizes that he does not matter. Just some more "human junk", no different from anybody else.
"Stick my hand through the cage of this endless routine
just some flesh caught up in this big broken machine"
He goes on to see his slavery and how he has no control over his life.. his environment. He loses hope. His soul was stolen. He is just some flesh caught up in the big broken machine that is our society, and there is nothing he can do about it. He'd be happier as a slave, when he felt important.
-me
(Pre 5-12-98)
I read your interpretation of Happiness in Slavery. It was good, but,
if all the everyday normal people are the "slaves", the who are the big
time people like Bill Gates or even Trent Reznor? If you think about it
he may be agreeing with the fact that people are happier being "slaves",
but he is not a "slave". He's off doing his own thing not being pushed
around by anybody. He's not just a normal person working in the factory
providing profit for his employer (except maybe Interscope Records).
So, is he saying he'd rather be a normal person or "slave"?
-Aden
(Pre 5-12-98)
What Aden says is true, Trent Reznor isn't exactly your average citizen. But... think about it, Broken was made during the TVT legal battle, which Reznor says was a heavy influence on the anger and intensity of the album. I wish I had the quote... well he said that it's a horrible feeling knowing someone else has control over your life, your art, your way of earning a living. I'm sure he felt like a slave to the system at that point in his life. He has since earned much freedom and control over his work.
Another thing I'd like to add is.. he has said many times that he had this dream of becoming a rock star and that he'd be happy and love his life. That dream has failed him. "Don't open your eyes, take it from me" could be relating to the fact that he sees the truth of the matter- his dream was a lie, and he no longer has that hope that he once had.
Well, just some ideas. Actually, I plan on adding another take on this song in the future.
-me
(Pre 5-12-98)
I think this also refers to the drive we all have to not "conform"...
and this in fact is conformity.
All these people talk about how they are going to change society...but they have to have their own little groups...
People who conform to little "non-conformist" groups..
like the skaters and the goths and the punks and the slackers and all the other little outcast groups, who in many cases, are JUST as cliquish as the groups that wouldn't accept them.
Anyway..it's something like that...
We are all chained and some are blind and don't think we are...and they are happy cause they think they are being unique and different and whatever.
And some of us, who have our eyes open, realize it's all a big lie and we fight or don't fight, and we are unhappy about the whole deal.
Something like that.
(Pre 5-12-98)
I very much agree with rhlannon. An example : If you're a "freedom-fighter" in today's society, and shun materialism and all that stuff. You believe that you are one of those uniqe people, not like the ignorant mass of lemmings making up the rest of the population, you're "going to cause the system to fall".
Aren't you really a slave too, to your own ethics and anti-this-and-that lifestyle. Maybe Reznor says (okay, a little far-fetched, but..) that anyway you shape your way of life, as long as it takes a certain point of view to the rest of the world, it's not freedom. Maybe freedom is "purest" as an ignorant slave, maybe that's what "the devils of truth steal the souls of the free" is all about. (this is just a point of view, not even my own, so bear with me..)
-Rahvin
(Pre 5-12-98)
While so many chase the truth, their lives slip away. Their dreams of the other world replace that of this one, and they forget what life is. Everyone is a slave, and there is no true freedom. Even in a democracy, a "free country", you are bound by its borders, you are bound by a god, a lifestyle, your insticts, your own mortality and consciousness, etc... You know really nothing. It is the pursuit of Truth, in a meaningless existance, that wastes the energy of the seeker. Man assumes he has a meaningful relationship to the rest of the universe, while the universe replies "No". The pluralistic society has created a world of conflict for itself, where multiple sanctities refuse to share the same globe. Who wants to open their eyes to that? Who really wants to get caught up in all this bullshit (because "the devils of truth steal the souls of the free", right?)? The slave who can pull himself away from the search for an the abstraction "Truth", knows what life is. He realizes the absurdity of his existence and can then accept his condition. He does not worry about "Truth" and "Freedom", because there are no such things; they are merely dreams dreampt by man when confronted with the "human condition". The slave does not know what he is or where he's been, all that he knows is his own being, the endless routine, and the big broken machine his fellow men have constructed around themselves, hoping one day it might work. Slave knows it never will. As Camus tells us in The Myth of Sisyphus: "One must imagine Sisyphus happy."
(Pre 5-12-98)
This is going to be really basic im just going to type out either the last word or the beginning of the line cause well I'm just too damn lazy to type it all out. Besides it is pretty easy to figure out.
slave- young trent
wants- he walks into the record company with this dream of being rich and famous
say- he thinks his demo is really well done and well pass a message to other people if you will
hears but doesn't- the record company telling to change his shit or their not going to put it out
beat into- trent gives in
dont open your eyes....- the record company turning artist into what they think is good for america
conformity- trent dealing with the fact that the label has specific ideas on what it wants
identy- trent claims that he wants to use his ideas cause they are original
fall- trent decided to do what he wants no matter what the record company thinks
wall- he's glad to be the one changing shit
blind- people naive to the system get their false sense of security
I dont know etc to the end- trent conformed and realized that this isn't what he wanted and how fucked up and redundant the company is
thats what I think the song is about
-laura aka the artist formerly know as queenie
(Pre 5-12-98)
I strongly agree with the first interpretation here, and also with parts of the others. I believe Socrates said something about the hardships of seeking the truth. The truth is ugly, difficult to understand and accept. Finding the truth will destroy all the lies you have believed before. Most people are too lazy to seek truth, and that is why there are so few philosophers and thinkers in our society. Distractions such as entertainment, sex, violence, jobs, money, and day to day living keep us from finding the truth: that we are slaves to our society.
This song is Trent Reznor saying, its much easier and more comfortable to go on living as a slave. Breaking the shackles will confuse and probably destroy much of your life. Many who try are torn up in the unpausing and ruthless machine that is society. It is a warning against trying to see the way things really are. But, in a way, it is also a challenge to break free from ignorance and laziness. As Socrates said "The unexamined life is not worth living." Breaking free from slavery may not be as pleasurable and pretty as ignorance, but it is much more rewarding.
Personally, I am a slave. But I have tasted freedom, and I know that I could choose to seek the truth. Only my own laziness and delusions keep me from doing so, but it is a hard step to make. To have to think, be responsible, suffer sometimes, and simply live. As Thoreau put it (I don't remember the exact quote) to suck the marrow out of life, live to the fullest. Everyone has chances to break free, but most never take them.
(Pre 5-12-98)
I think that this song is really about TVT and their control over Trent(as is thw whole broken ep). I think it is more about him not stopping making music just because he was being "raped" (metaphorically speaking) by TVT. It was just about trying his trying to show the people trying to milk money out of him that he wasn't going to let it happen and that nothing could bring him down. Most record companies just want money fast, and they don't really give a damn about the artist or there freedom of expression. This was Trent lashing out to them, trying to gain control of the freedom he had left.
(Pre 5-12-98)
happiness in slavery is about everyone's own battle to be free from society. let's plunge right in here (you know how i do it, quote then interpretation in [brackets]):
"he thinks he knows what he wants... something to say" [the "slave" is screaming out against what he feels is responsible for all the things bad in the world, society, and thinks he is expressing something new in this thought]
"he hears... into submission" [the change in tone here implies a change of view; society is trying to tell the "slave" that it is not all to blame- but finds that maybe the slave is somewhat justified for believing it although it is not completely true; the "slave" is being beaten]
"don't open your eyes... happiness in slavery" [this is a third-person p.o.v. this third person is saying "look, i'm on the other side, it isn't any better." especially "the devils of truth..."- it's trying to express the idea that we are better off just accepting society instead of fighting it-- because once we do overcome society, the mirage that society is to blame is ruined. we realize that we ourselves, which indeed make up society, are to blame. in this way, the "devils" or the truth, "steal the souls of the free," we are no longer free because we have no hope of being free]
"he spends... his own identiy" [he's been taught to do what everyone else is doing, but he rejects this idea, and by doing so thinks he is not conforming. but, in truth, how many people do you know who don't reject conformity? by refusing to conform, you are in fact conforming to a different set of guidelines(that should piss some people off). thus, the identity he claims to have is only the identity everyone else has, too-- that every other "slave" has]
"he's going to cause... chained to that wall" [society speaking again- "look, he's trying to start a revolution," "nah- without society to speak out against, he has no one to blame for his worthless life but himself."]
"blind have been blessed..." [basically what it says in relation to the rest of this interpretation]
::"i don't know what i am... machine" [ok, this is out there maybe, but consider this part the backbone of the song- it is all three identities of the song screaming out in unison-- after all, they're all just slaves to something]::
"i don't know what i am... where i've been" [the slave has lost his identity by finding the truth, society has lost its identity by losing its slave, the mysterious 3rd person lost its identity long ago and still feels the remorse]
"human junk... so much skin" [all three have cut themselves off from their emotions. i've heard it call disassociation syndrome or something-- something so bad happens that they cut themselves off from all feeling just to avoid the bad ones. additionally, none of them feel human anymore because none of them know who they are anymore]
"stuck my hands... broken machine" [too many people interpret the machine as being society, which is where the other interpretations go wrong (ok ok i know no interpretation is right or wrong, just an opinion, but i have a big ego). the machine is life itself- the three are saying "life shouldn't be messed with, look what it gets you." not to say that any of the three were truly thinking "outside of the box"; the slave was just trying to overcome something he held accountable for everything that was wrong (just like socrates and hitler, nothing new); society was and is just being to confident in the fact that it is well established, as it should be (the fall of rome, american revolution, again, nothing new). and the third person was just trying to warn both parties that nothing was ever going to change, and that any change would not be better (god).]
there. don't get me wrong--i don't support the active control of public thought any more than you do. but i don't think of myself as a non-conformist because of it. i consider myself a non-conformist because of what you have just read- i give people a different view on everything. enough about me. the text at the end of broken is the basis of this whole interpretation, and offers it the most support. so before you blow all this off as crap, remember:
the slave thinks he is released from bondage only to find a stronger set of chains
(Pre 5-12-98)
"Don't open your eyes/ You won't like what you see"
This reminds me of what one of my friends was explaining to me back in the days (daze) when I was in high school. We were discussing heaven and hell and different theories, and she told me that hell is just like earth, except you have no eyelids so you must always be looking at the pain and the suffering for all eternity....no sleep, no escape. That always scared me, but it wasn't until now that I realized maybe this song supports her theory.
(Pre 5-12-98)
Okay, not to burst everyone's little bubble, but I think it goes deeper than what you guys are saying. I think It goes more into the chorus - "Don't open your eyes, you won't like what you see, The blind have been blessed with security" line.. It seems to me he's showing the listener about what a hunk of junk the world is, and how he'd love to be free of it, but it's his world in which he's a slave... In some manners, I feel like he likes to be here (see the music vid... "cute") It just fits, you know?
-The Artist Currently known as Erika
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