The Factory

"What am I doing wasting my time, playing music, not taking part in society's plan?
It must be hard to understand why all I want to do is hang out with my friends.

Because they are there when I need them, there when I need them most.

In sports and school I never found a home.
The only place I found acceptance was going to shows.
And the story goes on...
Where we dance all night to our favorite songs.

Because they are there when I need them, there when I need them most.

We can stand by everything that we believe.
We don't need their mold to succeed.
We can find our strength through the the ones we love, throughout our lives as we move along.

You can't touch me...

Because they are there when I need them, there when I need them most."



The song I chose to analyze is titled "The Factory" by the band Battery. Battery was a band active in the mid to late 90's who played out of Washington DC. The band adhered to the straight edge principles, which meant each member of the band made the personal decision to reject alcohol and drugs in order to better themselves and pursue more fulfilling lives. Battery played a loud, fast, and intense style of music known as hardcore. Hardcore stems from the underground musical and cultural movement known as punk, but it is faster, more extreme and "hardcore kids" are not generally concerned with the fashion that comes along with the punk lifestyle.

I chose to analyze "The Factory" because it tells the story of what most the story of what most of those who associate themselves with this scene experience. Like any music-based subculture, hardcore is more than just a sound. It is a community, a feeling, and a way of life. "The Factory" is about friendships, but most importantly the friendships made within the hardcore scene. Those drawn to this scene are generally misfits, outcasts and oddballs. They are drawn to the scene because they are merely looking for a place where they can feel accepted. These kids become friends with each other start bands, book their own concerts, write, record, and engineer their own songs. The same 200-300 people attend the concerts on a regular basis and strong friendships are made. This song tells a tale about how these therapeutic, sauna-like rooms filled with those they call friends are there when they are needed most.
    
The band consists of one guitarist, a bass player, a drummer and a singer. The song is fast and appears to have no breaks in between chorus and verse. The guitar riffs are simple and only consist of 4 or 5 basic power chords. The bass parts are not complicated, they are simple following the guitars leads. The drums seem to follow one fast, consistent rhythmic pattern throughout the whole song. The singer is definitely not singing, he is shouting like a madman as his friends join in doing gang vocals. The lyrics are what makes the song. Although the lyrics are straight forward and easy to understand it sends the powerful message that in this word that has rejected you, there is a scene that will embrace and accept you with open arms. The choice of words makes it easy for one to follow. This song was not written for the masses. It was written for those oddballs who seek and find acceptance in the hardcore scene.
    
I like this song because I found acceptance in this scene. Some of my closest and long lasting friendships have been made within this scene. I feel as if this song tells the story of my life.