Lyrics and English translation of "Shock in my town" by Franco Battiato

Franco Battiato, one of Italy’s most eclectic and visionary musicians, released Shock in My Town in 1998 as part of his album Gommalacca. This song is a powerful critique of modern society, touching on themes of cultural decay, technological alienation, and the loss of spirituality.

Lyrics and English translation for “Shock in my town” by Franco Battiato

Shock in my town velvet underground
Shock in my town velvet underground
Shock in my town velvet underground
Shock in my town velvet underground
Ho sentito urla di furore
I have heard screams of fury
Di generazioni, senza più passato, di neo-primitivi
From generations with no past, of neo-primitives
Rozzi cibernetici signori degli anelli orgoglio dei manicomi.
Rough cybernetic lords of the rings, pride of asylums.
Ho incontrato allucinazioni.
I have encountered hallucinations.
Stiamo diventando come degli insetti; simili agli insetti.
We are becoming like insects; similar to insects.
Nelle mie orbite si scontrano tribù di sub-urbani, di aminoacidi.
In my orbits, tribes of sub-urbans, of amino acids, collide.
Latenti shock addizionali, shock addizionali
Latent additional shocks, additional shocks
Sveglia, sveglia kundalini, sveglia kundalini
Wake up, wake up kundalini, wake up kundalini
Per scappare via dalla paranoia
To escape from paranoia
Come dopo un viaggio con la mescalina
Like after a trip with mescaline
Che finisce male nel ritorno
That ends badly on the way back

Lyrics overview and themes

The lyrics of Shock in My Town reflect Battiato’s signature style: a fusion of philosophical reflection, social critique, and poetic imagery. The song presents a dystopian vision of a world overwhelmed by materialism and superficiality. Let’s break down some key themes:

1. Technological alienation:
   • The song expresses concern about how technology isolates people instead of connecting them. The lyrics highlight a loss of meaningful human interaction in the digital age.
2. Cultural and moral decline:
   • Battiato criticizes modern culture, where values seem to have been replaced by consumerism and media influence. He laments the erosion of deep intellectual thought and artistic expression.
3. Spiritual crisis:
   • There is a strong contrast between the material world and the spiritual realm. Battiato often references mystical and religious concepts in his work, suggesting that society has strayed from a path of enlightenment.

Key lines and interpretation

One of the most striking lines in the song is:

Stiamo diventando come degli insetti; simili agli insetti.
(We are becoming like insects; similar to insects.)

This metaphor suggests a dehumanization of society, where people lose individuality and act in mechanical, programmed ways.

Another significant passage is:

Sveglia, sveglia kundalini, sveglia kundalini
(Wake up, wake up kundalini, wake up kundalini)

This is a direct reference to Kundalini, a concept in Hindu spirituality related to awakening one’s inner energy. Battiato often incorporates mystical and esoteric elements in his music to contrast spiritual enlightenment with societal decay.

Around the third minute of Shock in My Town, a reversed phrase can be heard:

“Di amminoacidi… Nelle mie orbite si scontrano tribù di sub-urbani… Di amminoacidi.”

This reversed audio is not accidental; Battiato uses it to create a sense of disorientation, reinforcing the song’s themes of technological alienation and fragmented reality.

Interpretation of the reverse audio

1. Subliminal message & disorientation – The reversed phrase adds an eerie, hypnotic effect, symbolizing confusion in the digital age where information is scattered and hard to process.
2. Cyclical structure & repetition – The lyrics reference amino acids (the building blocks of life) and tribes of sub-urbans, portraying humanity as reduced to chemical components or anonymous groups. The reverse effect reinforces a sense of an endless loop.
3. Regression & loss of control – The reversal might symbolize a return to a primitive state or a loss of individuality, aligning with the song’s critique of cultural and intellectual decay. It could also connect to altered states of consciousness, as hinted at by the mention of mescaline.

Musical composition and atmosphere

The musical arrangement of Shock in My Town is as unconventional as its lyrics. Battiato blends electronic sounds with rock elements, creating a futuristic yet unsettling atmosphere. The use of distorted vocals and synthesizers enhances the song’s theme of digital alienation.

Cultural and historical context

The late 1990s were marked by rapid technological advancements, particularly with the rise of the internet and digital communication. Battiato, known for his philosophical and avant-garde approach to music, critiques how these changes affect human relationships and artistic expression. His perspective remains relevant today, as we continue to navigate the challenges of technology-driven lifestyles.

Shock in My Town is more than just a song; it is a profound commentary on modern society. Through poetic lyrics and innovative soundscapes, Franco Battiato warns of the dangers of cultural degradation and spiritual emptiness in an increasingly digital world. His message remains timeless, urging listeners to seek deeper meaning beyond the surface of contemporary life.

Key vocabulary and verbs

Shock in My Town è un brano dal forte impatto sociale e psicologico. Battiato descrive un mondo in cambiamento, dominato da tecnologia, alienazione e una nuova primitività. Il testo contiene immagini visionarie e parole interessanti per chi vuole imparare nuovi termini in italiano.

1. Nouns

• Shock → Shock
• Urla → Shouts
• Furore → Fury
• Generazioni → Generations
• Passato → Past
• Neo-primitivi → Neo-primitives
• Signori → Lords
• Manicomi → Asylums
• Allucinazioni → Hallucinations
• Insetti → Insects
• Orbite → Orbits
• Tribù → Tribes
• Aminoacidi → Amino acids
• Paranoia → Paranoia
• Viaggio → Trip, journey
• Mescalina → Mescaline
• Ritorno → Return

2. Verbs

• Sentire (ho sentito) → To hear (I heard)
• Urlare (urla) → To shout (shouts)
• Essere (stiamo diventando, siamo, è) → To be (we are becoming, we are, it is)
• Diventare (stiamo diventando) → To become (we are becoming)
• Incontrare (ho incontrato) → To meet (I met)
• Scontrarsi (si scontrano) → To collide (they collide)
• Aggiungere (addizionali – participio usato come aggettivo) → To add (additional – used as an adjective)
• Svegliare (sveglia, sveglia kundalini) → To wake up (wake up, wake up kundalini)
• Scappare (per scappare via) → To escape (to escape away)
• Finire (finisce male) → To end (it ends badly)

3. Useful expressions and concepts

• “Shock in my town” → “Shock in my town”
• “Ho sentito urla di furore di generazioni, senza più passato” → “I heard shouts of fury from generations, with no more past”
• “Stiamo diventando come degli insetti” → “We are becoming like insects”
• “Nelle mie orbite si scontrano tribù di sub-urbani” → “In my orbits, tribes of suburbanites collide”
• “Sveglia kundalini per scappare via dalla paranoia” → “Wake up kundalini to escape from paranoia”
• “Come dopo un viaggio con la mescalina che finisce male nel ritorno” → “Like after a trip with mescaline that ends badly on the way back”

Shock in My Town è una canzone perfetta per esplorare parole legate alla società contemporanea, alla psicologia e alla spiritualità. Prova a usare questi termini per descrivere il mondo intorno a te o le sensazioni di cambiamento!