The song "Babe" by Glassjaw is a track from their album "Material Control" released in 2017. The lyrics explore themes of self-destruction, addiction, and the destructive nature of fame and Hollywood culture. The opening lines, "I exclude light and wash my hands of you, By larger being devoured, leaving only me to improve," suggest a desire to distance oneself from a toxic relationship or situation. The narrator feels the need to remove themselves from someone or something that is negatively impacting their life. The chorus states, "Eyes don't fucking weep, Your weak eyes cry tears of the meek." This can be interpreted as a rejection of vulnerability and a refusal to show weakness, condemning those who cry or express emotions as being weak. The following verses depict a person who is addicted to alcohol ("expectant to the bottles") and manipulative ("shot glass seems to hog your soul"). The lyrics highlight the individual's ignorance towards their destructive behavior and their own selfishness. "Weep. Catch up with the sheep. It's a sacrilegious ceremony. New flavor of the week," refers to conforming to societal expectations and trends, following the crowd mindlessly without questioning or thinking for oneself. The repeated line "Soulless that you're made into" suggests that the person being addressed has lost their individuality and become consumed by emptiness. "You're raptured by a guilty stifle down" is a phrase that implies feeling trapped or limited by one's own guilt. The phrase "I wash my hands of you" in the last section signifies the narrator's final detachment and disassociation from the person or situation they have been discussing. The final lines, "And what I'll do is mess you up and lie to you. Look at you, you know it's true. It's a field trip to Hollywood Babylon. But I'm not coming," convey a sense of disillusionment and cynicism towards the superficiality and decadence of Hollywood. The narrator acknowledges their own role in the deception and expresses a refusal to participate in the destructive lifestyle. Overall, the lyrics of "Babe" explore themes of detachment, addiction, self-destruction, and the rejection of societal norms. The song captures a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the destructive aspects of modern culture.
