Blinded in Chains

Blinded in Chains is the third of eleven tracks on Avenged Sevenfold's 2005 album, City of Evil.

Lyrics

And we're at it again, I turn around another fucking war, man

I don't know where to begin, but I'll start with the radical leaders

Their steps we're followin'

Running, don't go back and fight, too many you'll lose

(And as clowns you follow suit behind the blood between the red and white and blue but it's too deep for you to see and everyone eventually will take the step cause it's in sight you take the left I'll take the right I fell the hate you've built for me and I say pay attention baby)

As they thank the Lord the blind can't see

Like a plague fed to the brain deadly disease

But it wasn't a sin, a sorry life in judging every action

And as they're feeding your mind with this shit you forgot

How to speak how to ask all the questions

The business at hand tonight, make the people choose

(I see another side in you but there's not much more I can do from on the outside looking in your government is listenin' to push you on the story of immortal father mortal son give them your mind and all your wealth the cycle will rebirth itself)

If they had it their way I'd burn in Hell and your future's a fuckin' disaster can't you see

Don't give them all the power when your future's in desperate trouble baby

As they thank the Lord the blind can't see

Like a plague fed to the brain deadly disease, I'd run away tonight with my mind still intact you gotta make it alright

Easier said than done with no place to hide and having no place to

Running away from condition, I see you but you're running away from

Your scared seductive system

Most would claim I live a lie when pointing out it's easy to predict these things

Every color has its side, they live together vote but most won't read between these lines

Please help us, please save us of course they have control we're all the same

Up on the cross, crucified their problem drove the nail and let Him rot

Family and friends, it won't matter in the end I'm sure they'll understand

Now look at the world and see how the humans bleed

As I sit up here and wonder 'bout how you sold your mind, body and soul

Looking at the fields so green I know this sounds obsceneI see you're living for tomorrow but decisions you have made will leave you empty

As they thank the Lord the blind can't see

Like a plague fed to the brain deadly disease

I'd run away tonight with my mind still intact you gotta make it alright

Easier said than done with no place to hide and having no place to run

You've fallen asleep in denial

Look at the way we're dyin'

How it ends I'll never know

Just live your life blind like me

Meaning

The song can be interpreted as a criticism American politics or an observation of inevitable political radicalization through the American political system.

The core message is that the American political system corrupts its citizens, who in the songs words become blind. "As [the politicians] thank the Lord the blind can't see | Like a plague fed to the brain deadly disease" "And as they're feeding your mind with this shit you forgot | How to speak how to ask all the questions"

It paints the politicians as destroying your future to take your money "... give them your mind | And all your wealth the cycle will rebirth itself" "If they had it their way I'd burn in Hell | And your future's a fuckin' disaster can't you see | Don't give them all the power | When your future's in desperate trouble baby"

The politics are compared to a disease "Like a plague fed to the brain deadly disease", that you can not escape "With no place to hide and having no place to | Running away from condition".

Avenged sevenfold does not take a side - republican or democrat - in this song, but rather argues that the growing hostility between sides is part of the problem. "And everyone eventually will take the step | 'Cause it's in sight you take the [political] left I'll take the [political] right | I fell the hate you've built for me and I say pay attention baby" "Every color[republican or democrat] has its side | They live together vote | But most won't read between these lines[see the bigger picture, beyond blind hatred]"

The song suggests a single person can not change this especially when not part of politics "I see another side in you but there's not much more I can do | From on the outside looking in" and ends on the pecisimistic note that the singer does not know an answer to the problems either and you just have to accept it "How it ends I'll never know | Just live you life blind like me".

Video

Blinded In Chains