Blank And White

Marilyn Manson's 'Blank And White' is a provocative and intense exploration of societal disillusionment and rebellion. The song's lyrics are filled with dark imagery and a sense of impending doom, reflecting Manson's signature style of challenging societal norms and confronting uncomfortable truths. The opening lines set the tone for the song, with Manson positioning himself as a harbinger of an apocalypse, ready to choke the world into submission. This violent metaphor underscores a deep-seated frustration with the state of the world and a desire to bring about radical change.

The repeated request for a 'picket sign' that is 'blank and white' symbolizes a call for protest and rebellion, but also highlights the emptiness and lack of substance in modern activism. Manson criticizes the superficiality of contemporary culture, particularly targeting 'stupid teenage girls' and the mindless participation in societal norms, as exemplified by the 'drunk karaoke cars' and the 'beep, beep, beep' of voting. This critique extends to the way people consume and celebrate media, often without understanding or questioning its content.

The chorus, with its desire to 'celebrate' and 'sell you hate,' reflects a nihilistic view of society, where hate and violence are commodified and celebrated. The line 'God is dead, but God's still white' is a stark commentary on the persistence of racial and religious power structures, even in a supposedly secular and progressive society. The song's climax, with its call to 'shoot up the mall, the school, or the president,' is a shocking and hyperbolic expression of the anger and frustration that permeates the song. Manson's 'Blank And White' is a raw and unfiltered critique of modern society, urging listeners to confront the darker aspects of their world and themselves.