Muse Exogenesis Symphony Lyrics & Interpretation
Looking At The Final Tracks On Muse's New Album The Resistance
Sep 27, 2009
Muse, which is known for riffs and rocking out, decided to try something different on their newest album. Frontman, Matthew Bellamy spent years composing and working on the "Exogenesis Symphony," a three-part symphony which closes Muse's 2009 album, The Resistance.
Muse fans around the world were salivating when they heard that their favourite band would be including a rock symphony on their newest album. "Exogenesis" has garnered positive reviews among fans, who are still trying to figure out what Bellamy and company are trying to say.
When viewed as a whole, "Exogenesis" is a narrative which tell the story of Earth. The word exogenesis is defined as something external or a disease. In the case of "Exogenesis Symphony" it is the idea that mankind didn't originate on Earth. Humans travelled from another planet to Earth, when their own world was destroyed.
Ultimately, however, humans are the disease. They come, they corrupt and they destroy.
Part I: Overture
Aping my soul
You stole my overture
Trapped in God's program
Oh I can't escape
Who are we?
Where are we?
When are we?
Who are we?
Who are we?
Where are we?
Why Why Why?
I can't forgive you
And I can't forget
Who are we?
Where are we?
When are we?
Who are we in here?
The lyrics in the first movement, "Overture," are barely audible. The storyteller here is questioning everything: "who are we" and where did we come from? Did humans actually originate on Earth, or are they descendants from another galaxy?
If this is indeed true, then the world is Nihilistic. Either God exists, and there is no escape for humanity from the damage they caused (trapped in God's program). Or humanity originated someplace else, and thus hope may exist somewhere else in the universe.
Part II: Cross-Pollination
Rise above the crowds,
And wade through toxic clouds,
Breach the outer sphere,
The edge of all our fears,
Rest with you,
We are counting on you,
It's up to you
Spread our codes to the stars,
You must rescue us all,
Spread our codes to the stars,
You must rescue us all,
Tell us, tell us your final wish
Now we know you can never return,
Tell us, tell us your final wish
We will tell it to the world
For the second movement, Muse depict a futuristic, apocalyptic world, in which a group of astronauts must save humanity by re-populating another planet. It is up to them to "rescue us all." The toxic clouds suggest a nuclear holocaust and that civilization on Earth may soon end.
"Tell us your final wish, we will tell the world," is an interesting line. What is the final wish for humanity? A wish of world peace, free of corruption and wars? To start over again?
The final movement, "Redemption" suggests just that.
Part III: Redemption
Let's start over again
Why can't we start it over again?
Just let us start it over again
And we'll be good
This time we'll get it...
We'll get it right
It's our last chance to forgive ourselves
In the final movement, the heroes of the story are searching for a new planet. They are searching for a second chance to "start over," promising to "be good" and to "get it right." By forgiving themselves and mankind as a whole, there appears to be hope for humanity.
At the same time, what if history is only repeating itself? What if mankind wasn't started on Earth? Perhaps humans populated Earth after destroying their own planet. Will this time be any different? Or are humans at heart always corrupt?
Then again, maybe the current generation shouldn't be blamed or compared to previous generations. Maybe humans are slowly progressing and learning from their mistakes? Maybe there is progress and this time mankind will be good, live in peace and do things right.
Maybe each new generation needs a chance to start over?
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