"Empty Causes" by Bad Religion

everwhere you looked there was confusion, violence, drama
and drugs 
so many righteous revolutionaries spouting utopian love 
everyone shrouded in purple haze 
then one day they woke up from their dream state 
they found themselves no more at peace than before 
older, meek, and conformed 

empty causes 
a bluster for the soul, a fix for their mind 
empty causes 
cling to everything you find 

well, the shots rang out like popcorn and the Chief was hit
and rushed out of sight 
the mohawk-chain, leather brigade rejoiced maliciously on
that night 
someone cried out "fuck the government" 
his mates couldn't define what he meant 
so no one gave him the time of day 
and the scene died away 

empty causes 
a war for the body, an army in the mind 
empty causes 
losing steam as time goes by 

could it be that everybody selfishly desires their own
personal retinue 
and that causes are just manifestations of too much time and
far to little to do 

empty causes 
direction for the soul, conviction for the mind 
empty causes 
cling to everything you find 
empty causes 
you've got yours and I've got mine