Comments on: Annotated 47-31

By: Zak McKracken

Zak McKracken — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 19:50:20 +0000

I didn’t think you would interpret it that way, and neither do I. At the time, nuclear war was (still) a serious concern, and everyone was worried how responsible those in power were in that regard. The “too many men” line might well be a reference to overpopulation, which was a serious concern for many people.

Regarding Best’s song, I thought he was referring to the feeling of being among friends, and for the first time feeling accepted and accepting, not to the confrontation that lies ahead — which is what the song is about that he eventually sings. Also, his monologue makes it sound a bit like the text was referring to an actual RL song.

By: Abnaxis

Abnaxis — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 13:13:46 +0000

I mean, I only ever hear the Disturbed cover of that song in my head when it’s brought up, and I’m pretty sure they’re not interested in ethnic cleansing.

In that version at least, I feel it’s pretty clear that “too many men” is supposed to be an antecedent to “making too many problems.” The issue is that “there are too many men making too many problems as well as too many people making too many problems,” doesn’t really fit in a stanza

By: T

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 11:32:27 +0000

Ha!

By: T

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 11:32:20 +0000

Thanks, fixed!

By: T

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 11:26:27 +0000

That is…not an interpretation I would assign to “Land of Confusion,” originally a protest song for a time when fears of nuclear war were sharp. Sure, there are Klansmen who think “Make this a world worth living in” applies to their beliefs, but they’re wrong, and I don’t feel like indulging their point of view. The song speaks to my present-day anxieties and tempered optimism, and that’s all I can say without going on another political rant.

I do agree that the song doesn’t quite sync up with what Best’s composing in his head. It’s too anxious to have come from him in his current reflective mood, and it’s more about internal protest than this external rebellion.

We know what song Best is thinking of because the next few pages will show him singing it. Still, I do hear the influence of “Land of Confusion”‘s first line in Best’s “dreamt a million dreams,” and its overall revolutionary energy in the mobilization to which we’re transitioning.

(To your last paragraph, I can think of many songs of self-acceptance, though finding one that contains ALL the elements you mention might be a tall order. One self-acceptance song is found under the following page.)