Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “What They Lack” by Moss Icon
Moss Icon’s song ‘What They Lack’ is a scathing commentary on the materialism of society and the glamorization of consumer culture. It paints a picture of the superficial trappings of society, criticizing people for their lack of real substance and purpose.
The song points out the irony and hypocrisy in people who display wealth and privilege that has been acquired without any real effort or skill, and those whose ambition drives them to compete for status and recognition. It paints a bleak landscape where people are lacking in creativity, morality, and purpose.
The chorus laments “nothing to be judged by, nothing to be proud of,” and the repeated phrase “what they lack” takes on increased resonance as the song progresses. The song suggests that people are often judged by their appearance and possessions rather than their character and ethics, which creates a hollow, meaningless existence.
The song speaks of the emptiness of modern society and its failure to recognize things that really matter such as creativity, uniqueness, and kindness. It suggests that much of what is undertaken in society is without real purpose or significance, with people seeking validation by competing for material wealth and public appreciation.
Local activists such as Moss Icon hope to remind us of the void in our lives and the lack of meaning in a world of marketing and pervasive consumer culture, so that society can wake up from its stupor of misplaces values. ‘What They Lack’ stands as an indictment of a society based too heavily on surface-level symbols of status, and provides a stimulant for a more meaningful, wholesome life.