Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: punk
Song Meaning of “The Neoliberal Anthem” by Anti-Flag
The Neoliberal Anthem, by Anti-Flag, is a powerful condemnation of the global neoliberal order, a system of economic policies that privileges corporate interests and profits over those of individual people. In the song, Anti-Flag paints a vivid picture of how these policies have drastically impacted everyday people, particularly those in the lower and working classes, and criticizes the wealthy and powerful individuals who benefit from them. The lyrics of the song focus on the widening economic inequality, environmental destruction, and exploitation of labor that neoliberalism has caused. Furthermore, the chorus includes the refrain, “neoliberal, you’re a death sentence to the masses”, emphasizing the sheer contempt that Anti-Flag has for the system and its effects.
The Neoliberal Anthem is a rallying call in its depiction of a world where injustice runs rampant and unchecked. Anti-Flag seeks to speak on behalf of those who are often voiceless in the face of neoliberalism’s imbalances of power, and charges the powerful to change their ways if they are to avoid exacerbating the plight of the masses. The song serves as both an indicator of the current state of global economic injustice, as well as a dire warning for those who continue to benefit from it: if they do not act now to alleviate the suffering of those on the wrong side of the global neoliberal order, they face the consequences of widespread revolt.