The song "Riddle Me" by UB40 addresses the societal structures that control and manipulate individuals. The lyrics challenge listeners to question the systems and institutions that have shaped their lives. The chorus repeatedly asks a series of riddles, urging listeners to reflect on who controls the chains that bind them and who built the machine that brainwashed them. These riddles represent the oppressive forces that limit individual freedom and autonomy. The song suggests that parents pass on these oppressive systems to their children, unknowingly perpetuating the cycle. Parents encourage their children to conform, succeed in societal tests, and play the game of life. The lyrics also imply that the parents endured hardships to provide their children with education and opportunities, but if they had the resources, they could have bought the class privilege and access to different rules. The song highlights the impact of a simple system that creates unequal distribution of wealth and power. Those in control set the rules and enforce the idea that there is a predefined place for each individual, fueling a competitive race where only a select few can win. The lyrics urge the listener to question this system, suggesting that if they ever thought to question, they would never receive clear answers. The oppressive structures manipulate individuals by buying their labor, trapping them in debt, and ultimately owning them until death. The final verse signifies the consequences of blindly following these structures. It portrays a sense of weariness and exhaustion in old age, where the body is worn and the spirit is torn. However, it also suggests that what remains is the individual's own to keep, implying that there is still a glimmer of hope and potential for change. Overall, "Riddle Me" conveys a message of social critique, encouraging listeners to challenge the systems that control and manipulate them, and to reclaim their own agency and dignity.
