Bad Influence

By Jack Rootes

On Jekyll & Hyde

Released on September 27, 2015

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[Intro - sampled from Michael Moore's 'Bowling For Columbine']

Jason Janz: "Some will be so brash to ask, if we believe that all who hear Manson tomorrow night will go out and commit violent acts. The answer is no. But does everybody who watches a Lexus ad go and buy a Lexus? No. But a few do."


[Static]

Jason Janz: "If Marilyn Manson can walk into our town and promote hate, violence, suicide, death, drug use and Columbine-like behavior, I can say, not without a fight you can't."


[Verse 1]

Now I'm not an expert on this kind of matter

But you've got to agree that there's nothing sadder

Than a bunch of 'Gangsta Kids' running around

Using profanity and racist words on the playground

And you blame hip hop? That's where you flop

It's the parents that raised them to be a rotten crop

Speaking of which, what is it with rap these days?

Talking about money, weed and blowing people away

It's all the same subject matter, mostly lust and greed

No wonder your kid's chasing money and smoking weed!

Do you really think your teachings for your kids are strong?

How come you never told them doing those things is wrong?

Of course a shooting came along, with bodies on shelves

They blame Manson 'cause they can't blame themselves!

If I made a track about gun crime and kids die

Will you all turn around and say I'm the bad guy?


[Hook]

Is it another case of

Scapegoats in the media

Or are these parents

Really incompetent?

'Cause now it's got me sitting

And it's also got me thinking

Who's really

The bad influence?


[Verse 2]

Look at all these 12 year old little squeakers

Locked in their bedrooms, violence in their speakers

With all their Call of Duty and their Halo games

They could get the violence stuck in their brains

And parents playing video games? Fuck their score streak!

You had a toddler dying at home across the street!

And you blame video games when things get hectic

I mean Daniel Petric? Should've stuck with Tetris

Then Manhunt becomes linked to a horrific killing

As if violence on the news isn't any more thrilling(!)

But regardless, I also play video games too

Injustice, Left 4 Dead, Saints Row, just to name a few

But the difference between squeakers and I

Is that I don't scream at the game when I die

But I'm rambling now, so before it all gets worse

You can blame video games, just look at yourself first


[Hook]


[Verse 3]

With all that in mind, who's really the bad influence?

Who’s really helping and who’s really incompetent?

Just look at ISIS and all the people they slew

And don't get me started on the Jackass crew!

People say censorship can help us rest our head

Did you forget when Budd Dwyer shot himself dead?

He was on live Television when he did that shit!

If you don't want such an effect on kids, don't let them watch it!

Unless you want Natural Born Killers down the street

Killing strangers and loved ones, till blood is soaking their feet

And attitudes to media's sour like lemons in your nostril

When kids slice each other's achilles heels like Hostel

So with all that said, who's more to blame?

That violent video game you let your kids play at 8

Or you as a parent for allowing them to do so?

Let's use our brains for once. Let's give that idea a go


[Hook]

(Now it's got me sitting

And it's also got me thinking

Who's really

The bad influence?)


[Outro - sampled from Michael Moore's 'Bowling For Columbine']

Michael Moore: "If you were to talk directly to the kids at Columbine or the people in that community, what would you say to them if they were here right now?"

Marilyn Manson: "I wouldn't say a single word to them. I would listen to what they have to say, and that's what no one did."