Meaning of "The Gray Race" by Bad Religion

The lyrics of "The Gray Race" delve into the struggle of individuals within a society that limits them to black and white frameworks, represented by the metaphor of the gray race. The song critiques the way in which the infrastructure builders, likely referring to those in power, perpetuate this grayscale world by converting true emotion and raw compassion into digital expression and fields of plus and minus, symbolizing a reduction of complex human experiences into simplistic terms. The mention of being someone else in the past reflects a sense of loss of identity and agency, as external forces flatten individuals to rubble, leaving them as faded negatives of their former selves. This loss of self-awareness and determination is encapsulated in the image of being just a shadow, emphasizing the dilemma faced by individuals who feel trapped within societal constraints that chip away at their authentic selves.