Amen!

Album: Post Human: Nex Gen (2023)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Amen!" is an electrifying track that showcases the distinctive howling growl of Bring Me The Horizon frontman Oli Sykes. Rock fan and rapper Lil Uzi Vert and hardcore vocalist Daryl Palumbo from Glassjaw bring additional energy.
  • The song serves as a scathing critique of religion, like how religious zealots impose their beliefs on others. Sykes and Palumbo sing from the standpoint of zealous believers who pass judgment on the wicked. The pair lace their lyrics with sarcasm and mock those who hastily label and categorize others.

    Lil Lil Uzi Vert, on the other hand, delivers his verses from the perspective of a "sinner." He wishes to be left alone without facing constant scrutiny and judgment for every action he takes.
  • In the early Middle Ages, when accusations of witchcraft and heresy ran rampant, a twisted form of justice emerged. Trial by ordeal was a practice steeped in religious conviction that was used in medieval Europe as a way of determining guilt or innocence.

    One of the ordeals was the swimming test, where the accused was bound hand and foot and thrown into the water. If they sank, they were considered innocent; if they floated, they were considered guilty. The theory behind trial by water was that the innocent would be protected by God and sink, while the guilty would be condemned by God and float.

    As the first verse unfolds, Sykes exults in the eternal damnation that awaits witches and infidels, be it through the merciless trial by water or the fury of battle. The punishment knows no end, and he revels in their demise, celebrating the retribution that claims their souls.

    I hope you have fun rotting in hell
    Swim the witch, slay the infidel
  • In the chorus, Sykes and Palumbo raise their voices with anticipation, eagerly awaiting the cataclysmic finale, the end of the world. It's the long-awaited moment when the world as we know it crumbles and divine justice reigns supreme. The time when evildoers and nonbelievers receive their rightful fate - the ultimate reckoning they've long deserved.

    So tell all your friends
    This is the end of everything
    Too late to repent
    The wicked will reap what they sow
  • Sykes, an unwavering atheist, reaffirms his stance throughout the song. He previously laid bare his beliefs on BMTH's Sempiternal track "The House Of Wolves."
  • BMTH debuted "Amen!" on June 1, 2023, at the band's show in Budapest, where it was the set opener. They released it as a single on the same day.
  • "Amen!" started with Sykes talking about why he'd been pulling away from posting online, but it evolved into a track about the cancel culture our volatile society has made.

    "It starts online but it's seeping into the real world," he told NME. "Everything's black or white and you're either a soy boy or a bigot. There's no room for conversation. Even our Prime Ministers and our Presidents are so quick to say whatever it is to appease their followers."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Howard Jones

Howard JonesSongwriter Interviews

Howard explains his positive songwriting method and how uplifting songs can carry a deeper message.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."