Muse - Citizens Erased

Citizens Erased by Muse, released on their second album “Origin of Symmetry” on the 18^th June 2001.

In our Track of the Week Articles you will find:

• About the Track
• Why we love this Track
• Citizens Erased Lyrics
• Record Breakdown
• Learn how to play Citizens Erased on Guitar!

 So let’s jump straight in!

 

About the Track 

Citizens Erased was recorded at Real World Studio Wiltshire in 2000/2001 and was inspire by a drum-beat that Dominic Howard played to Matthew Bellamy who then combined this with a chord structure he had already had in mind.

Despite this track not being a single, they created a fan-favourite which in 2007 entered the charts placing at 122 for a week before dropping back out of the charts.

Album: Origin of Symmetry

Release Date: 18/06/2001

Chart Position: 122

 

Why it’s our Hottest Record

Citizens erased is a 7+minute long track that sends you on an energetic and lucid journey.

The noises that Muse are able to get out of three instruments I think is still unmatched to this day and this is truly showcased in this song by the opening bars that are lead by a screeching distorted guitar that pierces straight through your ears (in a good way).

It’s such a distinctive opening that any Muse fan would recognise it instantly. Drums played by Dominic Howard and Bass played by Chris Wolstenholme then join Bellamy with a powerful entrance.

I have always found Muse to be chaotic, apocalyptic yet freeing in their music and this song for me, really embodies those traits. When I listen to it I hear a story that rings true just as much today as it did back then.

 

Citizens Erased Lyrics:

Break me in,

Teach us to cheat
And to lie, and cover up
What shouldn't be shared

And the truth's unwinding
Scraping away at my mind
Please stop asking me to describe

For one moment
I wish you'd hold your stage
With no feelings at all
Open-minded
I'm sure I used to be so free

Self-expressed
Exhausting for all to see and to be
What you want and what you need
And the truth's unwinding
Scraping away at my mind
Please stop asking me to describe

For one moment
I wish you'd hold your stage
With no feelings at all
Open-minded
I'm sure I used to be so free

For one moment
I wish you'd hold your stage
With no feelings at all
Open-minded
I'm sure I used to be so free

Wash me away
Clean your body of me
Erase all the memories
They'll only bring us pain
And I've seen all I'll ever need

 

Record Breakdown

Verse One:

Teach us to cheat
And to lie, and cover up
What shouldn't be shared

And the truth's unwinding
Scraping away at my mind
Please stop asking me to describe

We are brainwashed by the lies and corruption of the state and when we realise that they taught us all we know we start to question the truth of it and therefore discover the reality of the situation.

Chorus:

For one moment
I wish you'd hold your stage
With no feelings at all
Open-minded
I'm sure I used to be so free

“Open-Minded, I’m sure I used to be so free” says to me that this person has realised their mind is closed and their no longer free.

A quote from an interview with Matt Bellamy reads “I guess Citizen Erased is loosely about a person disappearing into nothing, declining to take control/power and choosing to fade from memory rather than embrace the chaos; feeling trampled and bowing away.”

This metal song of realisation, anger and emotion geniously enters a ballad-like state for the second verse & chorus.

The song is then lead by a wining metal guitar solo back into the final chorus and verse (which features an awesome stereo-modulation effect if you’re listening with headphones) and it hit’s home this idea of a citizens erased with the following lyrics:

Wash me away
Clean your body of me
Erase all the memories
They’ll only bring us pain
And I’ve seen all I’ll ever need.