Suffering and the Nietzschean Affirmation of Life in the Work of Bad Religion

Abstract

Friedrich Nietzsche wrote that Zarathustra “the godless”, whose students “remain faithful to the earth, and [...] not believe those who speak [...] of otherworldly hopes” (Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Preface, 3) was a proponent of a life fulfilled with meaning and creativity, in spite of all the abominable suffering and unavoidable hardships it entails. Ultimately, he wanted to “see as beautiful what is necessary in things” and “to be only a Yes-sayer” (The Gay Science, 276). This article looks at how the lyrics of one of the most respected and well-known punk rock bands worldwide, Bad Religion, encapsulate the above-mentioned ideas of the German philosopher. Lyrics from several songs of the band’s discography, ranging from 1982 to 2013, are briefly discussed. The themes explored in these songs, examined in parallel with Nietzsche’s ideas, revolve around suffering, nihilism, the afterlife, amor fati, and, finally, affirming life by creating a personal sense of purpose. Whilst Bad Religion’s work is not moralistic (most thoroughly echoed in the line “no Bad Religion song can make your life complete” from the song “No Direction”), the lyrics analyzed nevertheless demonstrate that the band actively assumes a stance towards life, one which is characterized by creating a sense of purpose through personal expression, emblematized both in the punk attitude per se, as well as in the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche.