The song '1933' by Frank Turner is a critique of contemporary society and its political atmosphere, using historical references to convey a sense of repetition and warning. Turner compares the current state of the world to the rise of fascism in 1933 Germany, signaling an alarming return to dangerous ideologies. The lyrics delve into societal complacency, the folly of looking for simple answers to complex problems, and cautions against ignorance in misinterpreting warning signs as positive signals.
Frank Turner's '1933' embarks on a journey of disillusionment and disenchantment with the current state of the world. The initial verses convey a feeling of disbelief and the sobering realization that what was thought to be a stable and progressive world is teetering on the edge of chaos. The sentiment in the pre-chorus, 'The first time it was a tragedy, the second time is a farce,' implies a cyclical view of history where past tragedies are being repeated as grotesque comedies.
The chorus captures a growing sense of helplessness and confusion. Frank Turner expresses a loss of understanding and control, with the powerful image of a world on fire being mistaken for a new beginning. This encapsulates the emotions of frustration and the danger of false hope.
In the second verse, Turner taps into the perspective of the older generation, inferring their possible outrage at witnessing society regress to issues they had thought to be resolved. This intergenerational dialogue heightens the frustration of fighting battles that should have been historical lessons, not recurring issues.
Leading into the second pre-chorus, Turner's tone becomes accusatory, shaming those who remain complacent amidst society's evident decline. Connecting to our ambitions like the prospect of traveling to Mars with the grim reality of poor leadership, he underlines the dissonance between humanity's potential and its current trajectory.
"The first time it was a tragedy, the second time is a farce"
Referencing a quote often attributed to Karl Marx, Turner highlights how historical events tend to repeat themselves, initially as monumental crises and later as avoidable, almost foolish, repetitions.
"outside it's 1933 so I'm hitting the bar"
Turner is drawing a parallel between the turbulent political climate of 1933, with the rise of Nazism, to the unsettling events in contemporary times, expressing a desire to escape the tension through drinking.
"We live in a society that's maybe heading for Mars"
This line juxtaposes human advancement and potential, like space exploration, with the regressive social and political issues we still face, accentuating the irony of our situation.
"Be suspicious of simple answers, that shit's for fascists and maybe teenagers"
Turner warns against the allure of simplistic solutions to complex problems, a tactic often employed by authoritarian regimes and indicative of naive thinking.