Stupid Questions

New Model Army's song 'Stupid Questions' delves into the harsh realities of growing up and facing the world with open eyes. The lyrics suggest a transition from innocence to a more jaded understanding of life. The opening lines, 'It's not a crime to be innocent / These things we have not done,' set the stage for a narrative about lost innocence and the inevitability of facing life's brutal truths. The mention of spring being 'past and gone' symbolizes the end of a carefree period and the onset of a more challenging phase.

The song's chorus, 'Don't ask any more stupid questions / You already know the answers to,' serves as a stark reminder that some truths are self-evident, even if we wish to deny them. The lyrics imply a sense of frustration with naivety and a call to acknowledge the reality of the world. The lines 'Well you can kill with the best of them / But your smile remains so sweet' juxtapose innocence with the capacity for harm, suggesting that appearances can be deceiving and that everyone has a darker side.

As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the message is about the necessity of growing up and facing the world as it is, rather than as we wish it to be. The repeated reference to 'spring' being over and the need to 'grow up fast' underscores the urgency of this transformation. The song concludes with a sense of inevitability, as the protagonist waits 'in line at the fortune teller' for more comforting lies, even though they already know the harsh truths. This final image encapsulates the tension between wanting to remain innocent and the unavoidable need to confront reality.