Devo's "Freedom of Choice", as interpreted through the lens of General Semantics / Conscious Time-binding
Devo's "Freedom of Choice", as interpreted through the lens of General Semantics and Conscious Time-binding /JVS[4.7.2025]
[Verse 1]
A victim of collision on the open sea / Nobody ever said that life was free / Sink, swim, go down with the ship / But use your freedom of choice
I'll say it again in the land of the free / Use your freedom of choice / Your freedom of choice
[Chorus]
In ancient Rome there was a poem / About a dog who found two bones / He picked at one / He licked the other / He went in circles / He dropped dead
Freedom of choice / Is what you got / Freedom of choice!
[Guitar solo]
[Verse 2]
Then if you got it you don't want it / Seems to be the rule of thumb / Don't be tricked by what you see / You got two ways to go
I'll say it again in the land of the free / Use your freedom of choice / Freedom of choice
[Keyboard solo]
[Chorus]
Freedom of choice / Is what you got / Freedom of choice!
In ancient Rome / There was a poem / About a dog / Who found two bones / He picked at one / He licked the other / He went in circles / He dropped dead
[Outro]
Freedom of choice / Is what you got / Freedom from choice / Is what you want / Freedom of choice / Is what you got / Freedom from choice / Is what you want
Breakdown via lens of General semantics and Conscious Time-binding:
General semantics, developed by Alfred Korzybski, emphasizes the relationship between language, thought, and reality, advocating for an awareness of how language can shape our perceptions and understanding of the world. When analyzing Devo's "Freedom of Choice" through this lens, we can explore several key concepts:
The Map is Not the Territory:
The song's lyrics discuss freedom of choice, but they also highlight the paradox and irony involved. The "map" here is the idea of freedom of choice, while the "territory" is the actual experience or reality of making choices. The song suggests that the perception (map) of having freedom might not align with the reality (territory) where choices might be limited or not as free as one believes. For example, the dog in the poem from ancient Rome symbolizes how having options can lead to indecision or even harm, showing that the map (concept of choice) does not perfectly represent the territory (actual choice-making).
The Abstracting Process:
General semantics stresses that we abstract or generalize from our experiences. The song uses abstract concepts like "freedom" and "choice" which are highly abstracted from real-life situations. The repetition of "Freedom of choice" and "Freedom from choice" illustrates how these abstractions can be both empowering and overwhelming. It reflects on how individuals might abstract from the concrete situation (e.g., choosing between two bones) to broader, more abstract concepts, which might not always serve them well.
Conscious Time-Binding:
This concept involves humans' ability to pass knowledge, culture, and experience through time. The reference to "ancient Rome" with the poem about the dog shows how lessons or insights from the past can inform or critique present behaviors or societal norms about choice and freedom. This historical context serves to bind time by linking past dilemmas with contemporary ones.
Non-Allness:
The idea that we can never know all there is to know about anything. The song's narrative, especially in the final lines where "Freedom from choice / Is what you want," suggests that the songs writers might be implying that sometimes having less choice or freedom might be preferable, highlighting that one's understanding of freedom and choice is not complete or all-encompassing.
Extensional Orientation vs. Intensional Orientation:
Devo's lyrics encourage an extensional orientation where one should look at the facts and direct experience rather than being misled by labels or intensional (conceptual) meanings. The line "Don't be tricked by what you see" becomes a direct call to avoid being swayed by superficial or misleading interpretations of freedom and choice.
Language and Misleading:
The song critiques how the language of "freedom of choice" might be used to mislead or manipulate. This aligns with general semantics' warning against the misuse of language that can lead to misinterpretations or false assumptions about one's autonomy or options.
Through the lens of general semantics, "Freedom of Choice" by Devo serves as a critique of how we perceive, talk about, and enact freedom and choice in society, encouraging a more critical and nuanced understanding of these concepts. It invites listeners to question how language shapes our experience of freedom, to be wary of oversimplifications, and to appreciate the complexity beneath the surface of everyday concepts.
https://youtu.be/dVGINIsLnqU?si=6LgDPriWSpsS5_Ix