Agitating for a Paradigm Shift: "Chained To The Rhythm" by Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley

In a Blog post from The Atlantic with an astute description of “Chained To The Rhythm,” you’ll find this quote from Katy Perry:

“Sometimes it’s scary opening up to consciousness … makes you realize how asleep you were, and how ok you were with it….”

The beat of this cheerfully depressing purposeful pop song is catchy and has the effect of lulling us into a state of joy and exuberance, until we pay attention to the lyrics and realize that it’s designed instead to awaken all who hear it from a state of complacency and indifference.

Lyrics to 'Chained To The Rhythm' by Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley

”Chained To The Rhythm” | Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley

[Katy Perry:] Are we crazy?
Living our lives through a lens
Trapped in our white picket fence
Like ornaments
So comfortable, we’re living in a bubble, bubble
So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, trouble
Aren’t you lonely?
Up there in utopia
Where nothing will ever be enough
Happily numb

So comfortable, we’re living in a bubble, bubble
So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, trouble
(Aha)
So put your rose-colored glasses on
And party on

Turn it up, it’s your favorite song
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
Turn it up, keep it on repeat
Stumbling around like a wasted zombie, yeah
We think we’re free (Aha)
Drink, this one’s on me
We’re all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm
To the rhythm

Turn it up, it’s your favorite song
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
Turn it up, keep it on repeat
Stumbling around like a wasted zombie, yeah
We think we’re free (Aha)
Drink, this one’s on me
We’re all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm
To the rhythm

Are we tone deaf?
Keep sweeping it under the mat
Thought we could do better than that
I hope we can
So comfortable, we’re living in a bubble, bubble
So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, trouble
(Aha)
So put your rose-colored glasses on
And party on

Turn it up, it’s your favorite song
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
Turn it up, keep it on repeat
Stumbling around like a wasted zombie, yeah
We think we’re free (Aha)
Drink, this one’s on me
We’re all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm
To the rhythm

Turn it up, it’s your favorite song
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
Turn it up, keep it on repeat
Stumbling around like a wasted zombie, yeah
We think we’re free (Aha)
Drink, this one’s on me
We’re all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm
To the rhythm

[Skip Marley:] It is my desire
Break down the walls to connect, inspire, ay
Up in your high place, liars
Time is ticking for the empire
The truth they feed is feeble
As so many times before
They greed over the people
They stumbling and fumbling
And we about to riot
They woke up, they woke up the lions
(Woo!)

[Katy Perry:] Turn it up, it’s your favorite song
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
Turn it up (turn it up, turn it up), keep it on repeat
Stumbling around like a wasted zombie (like a wasted zombie), yeah
We think we’re free (Aha)
Drink, this one’s on me
We’re all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm
To the rhythm

It goes on and on and on
It goes on and on and on
It goes on and on and on
‘Cause we’re all chained to the rhythm

Secret Code Clue # 4: I (capital i)