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https://songmeaning.ai/songs/Modest-mouse-bankrupt-on-selling
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In Modest Mouse's 'Bankrupt on Selling,' Isaac Brock confronts the soullessness and moral bankruptcy of modern consumerism and superficial values. The song poetically explores the emptiness that pervades when life becomes a series of transactions, suggesting that even people’s most sacred beliefs are for sale. It reflects Brock's disdain for the nihilistic cycle of empty achievements and the belief that education or materialism confer worth or respectability.
The emotional journey of 'Bankrupt on Selling' begins with a sense of disillusionment. The first verse paints a picture of Apostles, who should embody spiritual dedication, instead showing a willingness to trade their beliefs for earthly materialism. This sets the stage for a song steeped in a sense of betrayal. It's not just a betrayal by individuals but by society's institutions that have lost sight of what's truly valuable.
Following the initial shock, the second verse delves into the frustration and sickness felt by those engaged in meaningless exchanges – the 'businessers.' This collective plight echoes broader societal dissatisfaction, a shared sense of moral and purpose-driven bankruptcy. The realization that we are all 'bankrupt on selling' implies a loss of moral direction, leading to an atmosphere of cynicism and weariness.
As the song progresses, a sense of recognition emerges. By the third verse, there is an acknowledgment of the universal tendency to surrender integrity for shiny facades ('wings and anything gold'). Isaac Brock, using personal narration, speaks to the realization that those close to him, and by extension society, are actors playing roles rather than engaging authentically with their lives and each other.
The fourth verse introduces a personal reflection on society's value systems, highlighting the perceived emptiness of educational achievements when they only serve to foster arrogance and the desire to be heard over the substance of one’s message. This commentary expresses a disconnect between societal expectations and personal fulfillment, suggesting educational elitism as another form of spiritual bankruptcy.
"all the Apostles, they're sitting in swings"
This line uses Apostles to symbolize purity and commitment, subverting these ideals by depicting them as willing to trade their devotion for material gain, representative of society's moral decline.
"they’re bankrupt on selling"
The notion of being 'bankrupt on selling' metaphorically describes a spiritual or moral bankruptcy that arises from the relentless pursuit of selling and its associated superficiality and emptiness.
"Well, I'll go to college and I'll learn some big words"
This is a sarcastic take on the perceived superiority and arrogance that might come with higher education, critical of how society often equates knowledge with the use of complex jargon.
"loved her more when she used to be sober and I was kinder"
Here, Isaac Brock touches on personal growth and loss, reminiscing about a time when love was purer and untainted by the complexities that have since crept into life.
