"Ministry of Alienation" by Unknown Mortal Orchestra is a song that explores themes of societal disillusionment, technology, and personal identity. The lyrics suggest a sense of dissatisfaction with the current state of the world and its political systems. The opening lines, "Amoral but not evil, Sick of fake democracies," express a frustration towards the lack of genuine democratic values and political corruption. The reference to the "ugly robot" may symbolize the dehumanization caused by technology and the inability for individuals to connect on a deeper level. The line "Samael owns history" alludes to the biblical figure Samael, often associated with darkness and destruction. This could suggest that the song's narrator feels trapped by the weight of history and desires a break from it all. The chorus, "My thinking is done by your machine, Can't escape the 20th century," reflects a reliance on technology for thought and highlights the difficulty of breaking free from societal norms and the constraints of the past. The narrator contemplates leaving their current situation, whether it be physically leaving California or escaping from their current reality altogether. The mention of terraforming a hostile wasteland and the phrase "like the rapture in reverse" portray a desire to transform one's surroundings into something new and different. The final lines, "Handing in my resignation at the ministry of alienation" convey a sense of detachment and disillusionment with societal norms. It suggests a desire to break free from the conformity and alienation enforced by these norms. Overall, the song "Ministry of Alienation" presents a critique of the current state of society, exploring themes of disillusionment, escapism, and the struggle to find personal identity in an increasingly technological world.
