Metal songs that tried to be profound but were actually ignorant?

What examples would you give for metal songs that had extremely ignorant lyrics that tried to be deep but failed hard (with you at least)? The obvious one that comes to mind is One in a Million by Guns 'n Roses but of course with so many differing viewpoints I'm sure some will disagree.

GnR also had some absolute hits in that area. "Estranged" comes to mind as one that worked.

Derping for the moment on other songs that were aiming for philosophy and ended up in the gutter though. I tend to blot out memories of songs that made me cringe, so that's going to hurt a bit.

Actually, though not "metal" per se, Queen had a few "Won't somebody think of the children" songs like "Is This the World We Created?" that aimed for this deep, compassionate view and just came off like a bunch of rich dudes writing a fiction about what poverty must be like. It felt like a cheap shot in execution. Listening to people with more money than God lamenting the plight of the poor (presumably so all the "little people" could go out there and be all charitable) always rubbed me the wrong way, but I'm going to guess that's not quite what you were going for.

I would think listing examples that actually worked would be a much shorter list than the ones that didn't work.

Anything by Bon Jovi after 1986 that espoused the trials and tribulations of "the working man".

Most of them!

One that stands out to me was the quickly-abandoned pro-environment songs that 80s thrash bands had like "Greenhouse Effect".

Actually I just thought of another that was worse. All those stupid anti-PMRC songs. You'd think it was worse than apartheid the way the bands talked about it.

Most songs written by Kerry King. Don't get me wrong... I'm a Slayer fan. But the guy is just so closed minded and hostile all the time. He likes to point out some obvious flaws in religion but doesn't bother to see any of the positive elements.

Most of Hetfield's more recent stuff, from the oh so dull recovery stuff to the frankly preposterous claim that he's the table! 

Temple of Blood wrote:

Actually I just thought of another that was worse.  All those stupid anti-PMRC songs.  You'd think it was worse than apartheid the way the bands talked about it.  

Some bands managed it pretty well. A smile works its way onto my face every time I hear "Parental Guidance" by Judas Priest. Only loosely related, but Ozzy's "Miracle Man" is also pretty solid on that front.

Not all anti-PMRC songs are bad... Hook In Mouth by Megadeth and Hard On You by Flotsam & Jetsam are great IMO.

Lest we forget: "The Morality Squad" by Gwar is always good for a laugh.

Any song that touches on politics is usually horrible and stupid. They become immediately dated and address complex issues with simple nostrums. One of the reason I enjoy heavy metal is it's lack of profundity and it's almost complete rejection of politics as lyrical fodder.

Aerosmith's 'Janie's Got a Gun' and 'Living on the Edge' always struck me as extremely ham-fisted and awkward. They built their career on sleazy rock n roll. Don't try and make some deep statements on the state of the world, ok? Stick to walking this way and being the Lord of thighs.

Motley Crue's 'Time for a Change' fits into that category too. Noone want to be preached down to from Nikki Sixx.

Witchfinder wrote:

Any song that touches on politics is usually horrible and stupid.  They become immediately dated and address complex issues with simple nostrums. One of the reason I enjoy heavy metal is it's lack of profundity and it's almost complete rejection of politics as lyrical fodder.  

I do not agree with this, Dylan has written political lyrics, but the mistake he does not make is tie it to certain personality and makes a bit more universal.

Springteen is hit or miss in this area.

As far as metal bands, I enjoy Warrior Soul's political rantings against everything, Rage Against the Machine wrote semi-intelligent lyrics when it comes to politics, thou I disagreed with a lot of it, I am pretty liberal when it comes to my politics but those dudes made me seem like Ted Cruz in comparison

I love a good political song myself. War Pigs, Children of the Grave, Disposable Heroes, Kill the Poor, Peace Sells, Paradise City. Politics is life and life is politics, take that away from metal and all you've got is Satan, humping and dragons

Making the message universal seems to be the trick.  I know Floyd fans who'd throw their shoes at me for this, but I LOVE "The Final Cut" both as a record and in the way it approaches being "anti-war."  

First, it makes war itself seem like some really stupid playground game.  No, "Oh the horror" from a guy who didn't serve.  So far, so good.

Then, even though it's pretty obvious it's "about" the Falklands War, the basic message isn't "Check out how stupid THIS war is," as much as it is, "Wasn't WWII supposed to end this $#@%?  What are we still doing here?"  And that second point is pretty much why it still applies and why it's still awesome.  Ditto for Roger Waters' "Amused to Death," even though neither it nor Final Cut are remotely "feel good" listens.

Now, my gushing about political messages in music out of the way, what's wrong with Satan, humping and dragons? Jesus, that sounds like a full life to me!

Boris2008 wrote:

I love a good political song myself. War Pigs, Children of the Grave, Disposable Heroes, Kill the Poor, Peace Sells, Paradise City. Politics is life and life is politics, take that away from metal and all you've got is Satan, humping and dragons

Thank you for this posting, all great songs and great quote about politics= life

Troublezone wrote:

Not all anti-PMRC songs are bad... Hook In Mouth by Megadeth and Hard On You by Flotsam & Jetsam are great IMO.

Yes, those are great songs ... in spite of the juvenile lyrical stances.

Boris2008 wrote:

I love a good political song myself. War Pigs, Children of the Grave, Disposable Heroes, Kill the Poor, Peace Sells, Paradise City. Politics is life and life is politics, take that away from metal and all you've got is Satan, humping and dragons

By politics, I am referring to songs that are explicitly political - as in calling out/promoting a particular politician, party, etc... not merely anti-war songs.

Metal has very few overtly political songs or bands.

I don't think all political slants in metal lyrics are juvenile but I am tempted to say that all the ones that thrash bands espoused in the 80s were.

Temple of Blood wrote:

I don't think all political slants in metal lyrics are juvenile but I am tempted to say that all the ones that thrash bands espoused in the 80s were.

For me, Sacred Reich is the perfect example of this.

Most metal lyrics suck. Just sayin'. You compare metal lyricists to Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Nick Cave, and Leonard Cohen, and there's no contest. On an objective level, while these mentioned names and the like adhere to and build on the influence of their contemporaries, most metal lyricists use a rambling form of poeticism that reflects more of a singular free-thought expressionism. On a subjective level, it's largely amateurish and quasi-intellectual. The music is the primary focus.

There are exceptions. Wasted Time by Skid Row. Space-Dye Vest and Voices by Dream Theater. Geezer did a solid job. Little Dreamer by Van Halen. These are examples full of poetic creativity.

Runicen wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Actually I just thought of another that was worse.  All those stupid anti-PMRC songs.  You'd think it was worse than apartheid the way the bands talked about it.  

Some bands managed it pretty well.  A smile works its way onto my face every time I hear "Parental Guidance" by Judas Priest.  Only loosely related, but Ozzy's "Miracle Man" is also pretty solid on that front.

PG is an embarrassment to that band and hard rock/metal. A desperate middle-aged rock band looking for a new audience. MM isn't about the PMRC at all.

Temple of Blood wrote:

Runicen wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Actually I just thought of another that was worse.  All those stupid anti-PMRC songs.  You'd think it was worse than apartheid the way the bands talked about it.  

Some bands managed it pretty well.  A smile works its way onto my face every time I hear "Parental Guidance" by Judas Priest.  Only loosely related, but Ozzy's "Miracle Man" is also pretty solid on that front.

PG is an embarrassment to that band and hard rock/metal.  A desperate middle-aged rock band looking for a new audience.  MM isn't about the PMRC at all.

Such a terrible song. Just horrifically bad.

Jon Schaffer's Sons of Liberty project in its entirety.

The music is great, but all the lyrics do is make me think of the Government Totally Sucks dude:

Lari wrote:

Jon Schaffer's Sons of Liberty project in its entirety.

AWESOME music.

The lyrics make it completely unlistenable. Gave my copy away. Has nothing to do with personal conviction, either. It just sounds f*cking stupid.