The Elusive Pursuit of Satisfaction | Take Only What You Need | Crisis

Take Only What You Need is a song by Crisis, an English post-punk band that emerged in the late 1970s. The song's lyrics are somewhat enigmatic, but they can be interpreted as a commentary on the excesses of consumer culture.

The song's opening lines, "take only what you need," seem to offer a straightforward message: take only what you require and leave the rest. However, the lyrics that follow suggest that this is easier said than done. The song describes a world where people are constantly surrounded by goods and services, but are never truly satisfied.

The chorus of the song, "take only what you need," becomes a sort of mantra, repeated throughout the track. It's as if the singer is urging listeners to slow down and think about their consumption habits. But even this message is complicated by the fact that the song itself is a product, something that people might want to own or listen to.

The lyrics also touch on themes of materialism and excess. The line "you can't buy what you can't find" suggests that some things are beyond price, but it's not entirely clear what those things are. Is it happiness? Meaning? Connection with others?

Ultimately, the meaning of Take Only What You Need is left up to interpretation. It could be seen as a commentary on the dangers of consumer culture, or simply as a philosophical musing about the nature of desire and need. Whatever its intent, the song has become a classic of the post-punk genre, with its driving rhythms and introspective lyrics continuing to resonate with listeners today.

The song's influence can also be heard in later bands that emerged from the same musical tradition. Crisis was part of a larger movement that sought to challenge the dominant rock music of the time, and their unique blend of punk energy and post-punk sensibility helped pave the way for future generations of musicians.

In many ways, Take Only What You Need is a song about the limitations of language itself. The lyrics are full of contradictions and ambiguities, but they also contain moments of great clarity and insight. It's as if the singer is trying to convey something profound, but can only do so through the imperfect medium of words. This tension between intention and interpretation is what makes the song so powerful, and so enduring.