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Grant-Lee Phillips — Humankind
Album: Mobilize
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 702









Released: 2001
Length: 3:07
Plays (last 30 days): 2
And the point of my life is what
What if it doesn't add up
And the trouble was all for naught
Chalk it to the state of the world
Revelations are soon forgot
If only humankind was not so heartless now
Heartless now
It's hard to love your fellow man
However, can I help myself
From harboring such evil
And the reason of pain is clear
Never learned the lesson of bliss
All the riches to squander here
If only humankind was not so selfish now
Selfish now
It's hard to love your fellow man
However, can I help myself
From harboring such evil
And the point of the stars is to shine
Shine a little light in our way
When the fear in my heart leads me blind
Even in the light of the day
Come stumbling out
Oh
If only humankind was not so heartless now
Heartless now
It's hard to love your fellow man
However, can I help myself
From harboring such evil
Comments (63)add comment
 rdo wrote:


Dostoyevsky, a fervent Christian, one of my heroes, wrote anti-Western, pro-Russian Orthodox diabtribes when he wasn't writing brilliant novels...I am a fervent athiest, BTW...Watch O'Reilly sometime...it's a lot better show than the crap you get on MSNBC...I am a moderate liberal, BTW...So, Dostoevksy would probably watch Fox cuz he was a conservative, nationalist Christian zealot...but because he was not, like me, a vehement American Exceptionalist, he might not like Fox after all....although, if there were a Fox news equivalent in Russia, he would most definitly be watching it right now....he would support Putin, no doubt in my mind...
 
IF there was a Russian equivalent? LOL Try Russia Today. It's called state TV.  And if you're a moderate liberal just what do you find on MSNBC that qualifies as crap?  

Meanwhile, I offer this to consider your own political leanings.

https://www.cell.com/current-b... 
 RabbitEars wrote:
 Love this guy. He's on tour now... might see him soon. 

 
Loved him with Toad's Glen Phillips last year at NYC's City Winery...2 of the few talents that my wife and I agree on
 DD rabbi_phil wrote:

in all fairness the first part of your post seems diametrically opposed to your position on fox news. one would have to consider their reporting almost dangerous...so much agenda and manipulation of the facts and truth.  your statement (not you necessarily) comes across more Antonellian than  Petrashevsky.   Dostoyevsky would be ashamed (of Fox)(and maybe you a little for supporting them) and Atticus would never defend their position...unequivocably.
Betekovs' utopian socialism is worth a conversation...... christine o'donnell michelle bachman sarah palin karl rove sheldon edelstein et al   are not 
 

Dostoyevsky, a fervent Christian, one of my heroes, wrote anti-Western, pro-Russian Orthodox diabtribes when he wasn't writing brilliant novels...I am a fervent athiest, BTW...Watch O'Reilly sometime...it's a lot better show than the crap you get on MSNBC...I am a moderate liberal, BTW...So, Dostoevksy would probably watch Fox cuz he was a conservative, nationalist Christian zealot...but because he was not, like me, a vehement American Exceptionalist, he might not like Fox after all....although, if there were a Fox news equivalent in Russia, he would most definitly be watching it right now....he would support Putin, no doubt in my mind...
 rdo wrote:
I suppose you trust Michael Moore better, and refuse to hear the other side. Well, then really it is you who are the problem.
 
This is funny because Michael Moore is a neighbor in my building and I keep telling him to listen to Radio Paradise. Name Dropping!
 Love this guy. He's on tour now... might see him soon. 
No, we hear the other side. And what we hear scares the shit out of us.

I also have to agree with the good rabbi's comment about your post being diametrically opposed to your position on Fox news. 


rdo wrote:

Why?  Because the editors have a different viewpoint?  A good citizen will seek out opposing views, and put herself in others shoes.  Didn't we learn this in grade school?  What did you get from "To Kill a Mockingbird"? or did you even bother to read it when it was assigned to you.  Fox is a fine news stations.  Yes, it is conservative.  So what?  I suppose you trust Michael Moore better, and refuse to hear the other side. Well, then really it is you who are the problem.
 


 rdo wrote:

Why?  Because the editors have a different viewpoint?  A good citizen will seek out opposing views, and put herself in others shoes.  Didn't we learn this in grade school?  What did you get from "To Kill a Mockingbird"? or did you even bother to read it when it was assigned to you.  Fox is a fine news stations.  Yes, it is conservative.  So what?  I suppose you trust Michael Moore better, and refuse to hear the other side. Well, then really it is you who are the problem.
 
in all fairness the first part of your post seems diametrically opposed to your position on fox news. one would have to consider their reporting almost dangerous...so much agenda and manipulation of the facts and truth.  your statement (not you necessarily) comes across more Antonellian than  Petrashevsky.   Dostoyevsky would be ashamed (of Fox)(and maybe you a little for supporting them) and Atticus would never defend their position...unequivocably.
Betekovs' utopian socialism is worth a conversation...... christine o'donnell michelle bachman sarah palin karl rove sheldon edelstein et al   are not 
 rdo wrote:

Why?  Because the editors have a different viewpoint?  A good citizen will seek out opposing views, and put herself in others shoes.  Didn't we learn this in grade school?  What did you get from "To Kill a Mockingbird"? or did you even bother to read it when it was assigned to you.  Fox is a fine news stations.  Yes, it is conservative.  So what?  I suppose you trust Michael Moore better, and refuse to hear the other side. Well, then really it is you who are the problem.
 

Hitler had a different point of view also.
 rdo wrote:
Fox is a fine news stations.  Yes, it is conservative.  So what?  I suppose you trust Michael Moore better, and refuse to hear the other side. Well, then really it is you who are the problem.
 
No, you are!  {#Doh}

Seriously, FOX news is garbage.  So is the majority of its competition.  It's sensationalist, consumerist bullshit.  I don't care it it's conservative, liberal, or new cool-lime™ flavored, I'm not eating it.
 joanie wrote:

if you get your news from a more reliable and informative source than fox news then we all have good reason to feel pretty depressed about the state of human nature from time to time.
fox news is part of the cause of the woeful state of human nature...or perhaps it's more a product of the misguided human.
 
Why?  Because the editors have a different viewpoint?  A good citizen will seek out opposing views, and put herself in others shoes.  Didn't we learn this in grade school?  What did you get from "To Kill a Mockingbird"? or did you even bother to read it when it was assigned to you.  Fox is a fine news stations.  Yes, it is conservative.  So what?  I suppose you trust Michael Moore better, and refuse to hear the other side. Well, then really it is you who are the problem.
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
 OldFrenchie wrote:
I prefer the General Lee
Grant Lee is pretty good... Mopar is better!

Hey! I got one of those in my garage.

Well. Not as nice. Yet.

By the way this Charger is a '70.
The original was a '69.
You wouldn't believe what those grills/ bumpers are worth!
 
Yeah he was a good general in the American civil war.
 philipburrows wrote:
Such an underrated and largely undiscovered talent. Live, Grant is a really entertaining and engaging personaility. He did a acoustic tour in the UK a few years back. Great night, very intimate.

 


 
Not one of his best tracks though.
 
Such an underrated and largely undiscovered talent. Live, Grant is a really entertaining and engaging personaility. He did a acoustic tour in the UK a few years back. Great night, very intimate.

 




 Sloggydog wrote:

Grant lee phillips is a guy who was the lead singer of Grant lee buffalo whose similar name was more coincidence than anything as they are named after the protagonists of a famous battle.  I also like the song and to the bloke who thinks this is all just too depressing i think you'll find that if you get your news from a more reliable and informative source than fox news then we all have good reason to feel pretty depressed about the state of human nature from time to time.
 
I reckon that 'bloke' is likely myself, in which case I never watch Fox News (no more than I read National Front News or The Sun) and regularly stay up to date with current events from a variety of sources. What has become clear to me over my 3 decades of adulthood is that it's not "human nature" (oh, there's a major discussion topic there) that's a problem, it's the pathologically violent and greedy who have gained political and economic power that are the problem. In my experience, "human nature" is centred around cooperation and mutual aid. The mass of ordinary Joes and Janes get on just fine most of the time - it's the 2% of parasitic amoral c*cksuckers who've seized power that f*ck society up.

If I thought, like this guy, that all humans were irredeemably selfish and destructive, I'd hide away in a cave or top myself. Only if humankind has redeeming qualities is there hope, and without hope life is, frankly, hopeless. And as we've only got one life, we might as well make the most of it and believe in hope, even if, 'rationally', it may not appear evident.

 david1045 wrote:
This could be worse.
  This is me clicking the imaginary LIKE button
...Bill, can we get a LIKE button?


I am not a hardrock fan, but this is to sweet for me now!!
 OldFrenchie wrote:
I prefer the General Lee

Grant Lee is pretty good... Mopar is better!

Hey! I got one of those in my garage.

Well. Not as nice. Yet.

By the way this Charger is a '70.
The original was a '69.
You wouldn't believe what those grills/ bumpers are worth!


This could be worse.
 Sloggydog wrote:

Grant lee phillips is a guy who was the lead singer of Grant lee buffalo whose similar name was more coincidence than anything as they are named after the protagonists of a famous battle.  I also like the song and to the bloke who thinks this is all just too depressing i think you'll find that if you get your news from a more reliable and informative source than fox news then we all have good reason to feel pretty depressed about the state of human nature from time to time.
 
if you get your news from a more reliable and informative source than fox news then we all have good reason to feel pretty depressed about the state of human nature from time to time.
fox news is part of the cause of the woeful state of human nature...or perhaps it's more a product of the misguided human.

 mefrombrazil wrote:
what's correct? grant lee phillips or grant lee buffalo?
 
Grant lee phillips is a guy who was the lead singer of Grant lee buffalo whose similar name was more coincidence than anything as they are named after the protagonists of a famous battle.  I also like the song and to the bloke who thinks this is all just too depressing i think you'll find that if you get your news from a more reliable and informative source than fox news then we all have good reason to feel pretty depressed about the state of human nature from time to time.
Jack Johnson in the desert.
I prefer the General Lee
MichaelCrawford wrote:
What are those two tanks up to, in the lower-left of the album cover?
Making love, not war, one hopes.
What are those two tanks up to, in the lower-left of the album cover?
This is one of the most depressing, cynical, fatalistic and, yes, heartless views of humankind that I've ever heard. If this guy really feels this way he needs to hermit himself away in some dark cave.
what's correct? grant lee phillips or grant lee buffalo?
Why all the ripping on this song? I like it. I like it a lot.
Sounds like Ulrich Schnauss produced the first bit of this, but the track doesn't really go anywhere, so I have my doubts..
Yet another promising intro devolving into blandness. Probably overly critical, but kinda like smooth jazz that way.
It\'s an enjoyable/no I began to think he was singing about the \'Heartless\' beings in the SquareEnix/Disney Kingdom Hearts games I could see this song being used in those games...must...play...less......games...d\'oh!!
themotion wrote:
Seems like every song on this album played by RP has the same melody hook. 3
yeah, same chord progression as in 'See America'. sing that song over this one and you'll see what i mean. pretty blatant self-rip-off.
C'mon, people - where's the love? Heh. Not the best but not deserving of the rips it's getting.
Too much GLP/GLB of late!
pannaramma wrote:
Bill-usually you are the God of Segues. Except this once. It doesn't seem right to interrupt Marvin Gaye with a sub standard selection like this.
I'm not gonna accuse G-LP of being substandard, but this segue has got to be fixed. Mr. Gaye deserves better; as soon as it really gets groovin', it's truncated. Please, oh please Bill, put this on your to-do list! Oh yeah, and keep up the otherwise EXCELLENT work! c.
Seems like every song on this album played by RP has the same melody hook. 3
Man I've always liked this guy and his bands... ...but this is horrible, made even worse by the post that shows the lyrics...just crap sap bandwagonning on the state of the world, and badly.
Bill-usually you are the God of Segues. Except this once. It doesn't seem right to interrupt Marvin Gaye with a sub standard selection like this.
Humankind And the point of my life is what What if it doesn't add up And the trouble is all for naught Chalk it to the state of the world Revelations are soon forgot If only human kind was not so heartless now Heartless now It's hard to love your fellow man However can I help myself From harboring such evil And the reason of pain is clear Never learned the lesson of bliss All the riches to squander here If only human kind was not so selfish now Selfish now It's hard to love your fellow man However can I help myself From harboring such evil And the point of the stars is to shine Shine a little light in our way When the fear in my heart leads me blind Even in the light of the day Come stumbling out Oh If only human kind was not so heartless now Heartless now It's hard to love your fellow man However can I help myself From harboring such evil
quite good...
That pretentious album cover and the opening line "And the point of my life is " tells me all I need to know.
Drivel.
gntlemanartist wrote:
This needs to be Ann Coulter's theme song.
Ahahahahaha. You're allright, and also she can use the cover for her electoral campaign... she just have to substitute the Grant Lee's face by her.
I just love his voice.
This needs to be Ann Coulter's theme song.
Bono tried to write this but never did. Gorgeous. Leslie wrote:
And the point of my life is what What if it doesn't add up And the trouble was all for naught Chalk it to the state of the world Revelations are soon forgot If only humankind was not so heartless now Heartless now It's hard to love your fellow man However can I help myself From harboring such evil And the reason of pain is clear Never learned the lesson of bliss All the riches to squander here If only humankind was not so selfish now Selfish now It's hard to love your fellow man However can I help myself From harboring such evil Heartless now Heartless now Ooh oh oh And the point of the stars is to shine Shine a little light in our way When the fear in my heart leaves me blind Even in the light of the day Come stumbling out Ooh ooh ooh If only humankind was not so heartless now Heartless now It's hard to love your fellow man However can I help myself From harboring such evil Whenever we're so heartless now Heartless now
storme wrote:
I hate, hate, hate the recent deluge of 'support RP' ads. Now they've invaded the song ticker - is there anyway to remove this?
send more $$$
great song from a terrific CD...I believe that it is GLP all by himself on this disc (no other musicians; he sings and plays all instruments) - very impressive!
I hate, hate, hate the recent deluge of 'support RP' ads. Now they've invaded the song ticker - is there anyway to remove this?
my heart can only take so much Grant-Lee....
Leslie wrote:
And the point of my life is what What if it doesn't add up And the trouble was all for naught Chalk it to the state of the world Revelations are soon forgot If only humankind was not so heartless now Heartless now It's hard to love your fellow man However can I help myself From harboring such evil And the reason of pain is clear Never learned the lesson of bliss All the riches to squander here If only humankind was not so selfish now Selfish now It's hard to love your fellow man However can I help myself From harboring such evil Heartless now Heartless now Ooh oh oh And the point of the stars is to shine Shine a little light in our way When the fear in my heart leaves me blind Even in the light of the day Come stumbling out Ooh ooh ooh If only humankind was not so heartless now Heartless now It's hard to love your fellow man However can I help myself From harboring such evil Whenever we're so heartless now Heartless now
Thanks Leslie!
nice sentiment. spinal tap delivery.
Boring fluf.
I thought it was Travis. I would rather hear Travis.
And the point of my life is what What if it doesn't add up And the trouble was all for naught Chalk it to the state of the world Revelations are soon forgot If only humankind was not so heartless now Heartless now It's hard to love your fellow man However can I help myself From harboring such evil And the reason of pain is clear Never learned the lesson of bliss All the riches to squander here If only humankind was not so selfish now Selfish now It's hard to love your fellow man However can I help myself From harboring such evil Heartless now Heartless now Ooh oh oh And the point of the stars is to shine Shine a little light in our way When the fear in my heart leaves me blind Even in the light of the day Come stumbling out Ooh ooh ooh If only humankind was not so heartless now Heartless now It's hard to love your fellow man However can I help myself From harboring such evil Whenever we're so heartless now Heartless now
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE SONG!!! what an insight into humanity! what a glorious struggle to sing about! and moby follows this song so well. great selection!
This is wonderful. RP, you're gonna cost me a fortune in new music!
If you want to compare him with another singer, than it should be with someone like Jimmy Somerville! Though, music-wise he's (far?) more interesting, if this song is representative for his other work. By the way, as a politician, he wouldn't stand the ghost of a chance with lines like this.
Brilliant, classic album, terrific song. Good to hear it getting exposure.