The song "Buried Monuments" by Job for a Cowboy is a dark and intense track that explores themes of manipulation, control, and the destructive power of society. The lyrics depict an individual who realizes that their mind and thoughts have been influenced and controlled by outside forces. The line "I recognize a blueprint for madmen has been inked" suggests that the person has become aware of a plan or design to mold them into someone who is mentally unstable or insane. This blueprint is metaphorically "inked" within their own skin, indicating that it has become an integral part of their being. The next line, "They've planted seeds and have been sewn into buried monuments," suggests that these external entities or manipulators have implanted ideas or ideologies into the person's mind. These ideas are buried within them, like monuments waiting to be discovered or realized. The song goes on to describe these buried monuments as "doomsday vaults resembling monstrous coffins." This imagery suggests that these implanted ideas are powerful and potentially destructive. They are like coffins waiting to unleash their destructive force upon the person. The lyrics also speak of a "mind bending experimentation" that aims to reshape the person's everyday consumption. This refers to the manipulation of what the person learns, thinks, and believes on a daily basis. It implies that their thoughts and perceptions have been altered and controlled by an external force. The line "they can see through the cracks" suggests that the manipulators are aware of the person's vulnerabilities and weaknesses. They are able to exploit these vulnerabilities and inject their ideas into the person's mind. The lyrics further state that this manipulation perverts the person's growth and potential ("It perverts that of which I bloom"). It implies that the person's true self or potential is being stifled and distorted by the external influences. The final lines, "Disease slumbers within the earth, blooming gardens of slaughter," suggest that the world in which the person exists is filled with hidden dangers and destructive influences. The disease represents the toxic ideas or manipulations that lie beneath the surface. The "gardens of slaughter" symbolize the harmful consequences that arise from these influences. Overall, "Buried Monuments" explores the idea of personal manipulation and control. It depicts a struggle against external forces that seek to shape the individual's thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs. The song warns of the dangers of succumbing to such manipulations and serves as a call to recognize and resist these influences.
