The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Test Animals" by the artist "Velcra"

Velcra's "Test Animals" is a scathing critique of societal pressures that stifle individuality and freedom, likening people to test subjects conditioned to live by a rigid set of rules.

The lyrics begin with the directives to "listen, remember, repeat," setting the tone for the entire song and emphasizing the idea of blind obedience imposed from above.

The verses depict a life of mundane routine, where people are taught "how to eat properly, where to sleep," while their creative impulses are suppressed ("deceive inspiration") and critical thinking discouraged ("don't ask stupid questions"). This conditioning results in passive consumers "gaining weight from sleepless primetime premieres."

The chorus poses the central question: "What does it mean to survive?". A life reduced to mere existence is devoid of meaning. The "test animals just trying to get back home" is a metaphor for the longing for freedom and self-expression that has been taken away.

The bridge's repetition of "This is what it's like!" expresses a sense of despair and resignation in the face of this lack of freedom. The song concludes with the bleak assertion that "some things cannot be taught," implying that the instinct for freedom cannot be entirely suppressed.