Incomplete

Song details

Bad Religion original
Yes
First released
1994
First release
Incomplete (single)
Songwriter
Brett Gurewitz

Lyrics

Incomplete

Mother, father, look at your little monster, I'm a hero, I'm a zero, I'm the butt of the worst joke in history. I'm a lock without a key, a city with no door, A prayer without faith, a show without a score, I'm a bad word, a wink, a nod, a shiver, An untold story, sex without fury, A creeping gray memory... I am incomplete, Incomplete... [3x] Doctor, cure me; what is the cause of my condition? This madness shoots me, Like bullets smashing glass in a silent movie. I'm a trap without a spring, a temple with no god, A jack without an ace, the tip of your tongue, I'm a promise and an unmailed letter, An unbuilt motor, deck without a joker, A creeping gray memory... I am incomplete, Incomplete... [3x] Tell Saint Peter not to bet on me. I've got a naked obsession, a good intention gone bad. I am incomplete, Incomplete... [6x]

Versions & recordings

Grouped by recording

4

Song statistics

Archive coverage at a glance

77release versions
#54

54th most featured song

13documented shows
#167

167th most played song

Live through the years

Open to load live-trend data.

Song Interpretations

What do you think this song is about? Share your interpretation and explain your reasoning.

6

simones97Apr 2, 2010
This is one of my favourite BR's song. I think it's the best description of what we are. If someone sincerly think about himself he has to admit to had been created incomplete. We are not able to be happy alone, we need of someone who cares about us. To be honest, I don't belong to myself since I've not decided to be born neither know when I'll die. I'm just incomplete.........sorry for my english....
ar7urJan 21, 2009 · edited Date unknown

I think this song is really about Brett's personal experiences. It's an angry song, especially with Greg singing it, but the lyrics don't give me the sensation of anger and rage, more like a sorrow thing. He's talking about himself here, remember that Brett had drug problems, he must have felt sorrow, He was incomplete, not clean, he's just angry with himself. I think the "Mother, father, look at your little monster"…

Read moreRead less
I think this song is really about Brett's personal experiences. It's an angry song, especially with Greg singing it, but the lyrics don't give me the sensation of anger and rage, more like a sorrow thing. He's talking about himself here, remember that Brett had drug problems, he must have felt sorrow, He was incomplete, not clean, he's just angry with himself. I think the "Mother, father, look at your little monster" is really him feeling honestly sorry. What I like in this song is that it's a song about sorrow, he's saying that he is incomplete, he kind of "failed". So, bottom line, he's expressing all this stuff, and it's not emo or teen angst, it's honest, he's not depressed, he's angry. And the way Greg sings it is awsome, he can express that anger really well, almost in mocking tone. Really good song, sometimes I too feel like crap and incomplete, everyone feels like that once in a while.
legacy memberMar 12, 2006 · edited Date unknown
I don't know about yous, but sometimes I feel exacly like that!!!
legacy memberJul 11, 2004 · edited Date unknown
I Think this Song Talks about the 'new Generation' the so called 'kids' of today

legacy memberJul 11, 2004 · edited Date unknown

I strongly believe that this song is not about what the singer is not, rather, what people tell him he is not. I think that it represents how many people judge you for what you do or don't believe. It is like when the church refers to non Christians as 'lost souls', ignorant. The lyric 'Tell Saint Peter not to bet on me' illustrates how people believe he has no direction or chance for happiness, all because he is an…

Read moreRead less
I strongly believe that this song is not about what the singer is not, rather, what people tell him he is not. I think that it represents how many people judge you for what you do or don't believe. It is like when the church refers to non Christians as 'lost souls', ignorant. The lyric 'Tell Saint Peter not to bet on me' illustrates how people believe he has no direction or chance for happiness, all because he is an atheist. Religious figures will tell you that without the presence of God your life, you are not a whole person. They are demeaning him.
legacy memberJul 11, 2004 · edited Date unknown
I think this song goes back to Mr. Brett's past. It talks about everything he is not. For example, it can be seen in this line (a quick summation of the song) 'Mother, father, look at your little monster, I'm a hero, I'm a zero'. Here, he cannot live up his families expectations. However, he is still a hero to his fans.