☝️ Key Points
- The song addresses themes such as oppression, control, and manipulation.
- It criticizes authoritarian systems that attempt to manipulate and control young people.
- 'The Great Commandment' is possibly a symbol of authoritarian regulations or laws.
- Education and knowledge are presented as tools against oppression.
- The chorus emphasizes resistance against oppression and the fight for freedom and innocence.
Interpretation
The lyrics of 'The Great Commandment' by
Camouflage deal with themes such as oppression, control, and manipulation. The lyrics speak about how some people try to suppress others ('Some people suppress you') and how this leads to disaster. It also mentions 'reeducation' for the 'infants' who desire an 'innocent instance'. This could be a critique of authoritarian systems that try to manipulate and control young people. 'The Great Commandment' could be a symbol of a kind of law or rule used to oppress and control people. It shows that there is a gap ('Shows the contempt') between the world and its 'embarrassing plaster' (a metaphor that might represent society or the general situation in which people live). It also recommends believing the scholars and reading the readings ('Believe the scholars / Read the readings'). This could indicate that knowledge and education can be seen as tools to fight against oppression and control. The chorus 'The great commandment' is repeated several times and emphasizes the importance of standing against authoritarian control and fighting for freedom and innocence.