Silversun Pickups: Substitution Meaning

Song Released: 2009

Substitution Lyrics

There's a vulture perching right off screen
And it's bitter and whispers chaotic things
And it reached in quick ain't it worrying
It's so easy to see, everyone can agree, stop listening

I know you've heard it before
But then it wasn't...

1. anonymous

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   Aug 21st 2018 !⃝

   I think that it means that the person / song writers friend screwed him over with his girlfriend and his friend was telling her things a friend shouldn't be telling and the friend became the substitution... the friend was the vulture, she was the marionette in the center, his reactions became hurricanes...
   She had heard all these things before and that fact that it keeps coming up hence, I know you heard it before and now enough is too much...
   Its so easy to see, everyone can agree, you're not to blame...
2. anonymous

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   Aug 21st 2015 !⃝

   I actually really like the video for this song, it breaks down the overall concept of a cut-throat society with the simple example of musical chairs. Breaking down the lyrics into basic ideas, I came up with this (though I'm not terribly happy with it, it's much deeper and more widely applicable lyrically).
   
   Staying on top and being successful is everything. But be wary, there's always someone ready to take you down, and they'll use any means to take advantage.
   Chorus: It's important to be on top, to be the best at all costs. You'll be replaced if you don't do whatever it takes.
   You know you're a puppet, at the whim of chaos. Struggling against the system won't work, so why even try? It's easier to just accept your place, everyone else has.
   Watch out though, eventually everyone will become jealous of who you are and what you have. They'll do anything they can to take you down, so you better be ready to cut them down too. It's just the name of the game, everyone does it.
   Once you've done what it takes to win, find solace in the fact that these are simply the rules everyone plays by, it's not your fault.
   
   It's not unlike the idea of being trapped in a crowded room or theater where a fire has broken out. Logic tells you that the fastest most efficient way to get everyone out safely is to line up in an orderly fashion, split equally amongst the exits. But what's going to happen is that everyone will panic and do whatever they can to insure that they make it out ok. People will be pushed and trampled. You know what to do, but you're at the mercy of those overcome by panic and fear, so you start to play by the same rules as everyone else, who can blame you?
3. ROlYATAYlOR

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   Nov 21st 2012 !⃝

   This song is an allegory for the shift from this fear based reality to a new loved based one. Coming soon to a mind near you, hopefully yours. I believe he is sorry to the ones who fail or choose not to transition as they just may be loved ones. Also check out the lyrics to "The Royal We".
   ROlYATAYlOR
4. anonymous

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   Oct 6th 2011 !⃝

   This song is so confusing. The video is some hot models doing musical chairs. I have to say the lyrics don't match the title "substitution" which means obvious an alteration for the real thing. SO if the fake criticizes as the vultures the song is about conflict with those who talk trash behind the scenes yet they are fake so we should feel no regret throwing stones back at them.
   
   Why be held back when the substitution comes?
   
   Each Chorus ends in Sorry. So seems to mean that as those vultures condemn or criticize the stones they have to throw back and forth the author regrets having to fight back even kill them.
   
   As with this new album the band seems to want to distance themselves from any comparison to smashing pumpkins and create a new original sound.
   
   Perhaps this is the true meaning. That no matter who criticizes Silversun pickups they will fight back and return with original content.

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