Meaning of "Initiation" by Crown The Empire

The lyrics of "Initiation" by Crown the Empire convey a sense of frustration and opposition towards an oppressive system or society. The speaker begins by acknowledging their experiences as a victim and a coward, feeling trapped beneath their pain. They have witnessed the system destroying everything they love, leaving them feeling paralyzed.

However, amidst this despair, a call for resistance arises. The speaker states that they cannot continue enduring such oppression and that they must resist. They express a need to find someone or something to follow when the world becomes bleak and offers no hope. This sense of longing for salvation is echoed throughout the song, with the repeated idea of waiting in the dark for someone to come and save them.

The lyrics also depict a transformation of the speaker's mindset. They mention "iron claws and casted hearts," suggesting a hardening of themselves against the system's influence. By clearing their past and being forged from fire, they are reborn into a new mentality that questions the oppressive forces at play.

The second verse emphasizes the speaker's weariness with the system's control and their desire to reclaim their autonomy. They are tired of being told who they will become and having their destiny shaped by external forces. They are determined to fight back against the system's attempts at suppression, even if it means embracing the shadows, as symbolized by arrows blocking the sun.

The lyrics conclude with the establishment of a resistance. It is a call for unity among those who have been surrounded by "Scarecrows," a representation of the oppressive forces. It signifies a collective effort to stand up against the system, challenging its narrative and fighting for their freedom.