Suffer

Song details

Bad Religion original
Yes
First released
1988
First release
Suffer (album)
Songwriters
Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz

Lyrics

Suffer

Did you ever see the concrete stares of everyday? The lunatic, the hypocrite, are all lost in the fray. Can't you see their lives are just like yours? An unturned stone, an undiscovered Door leading to the gift of hope renewed, eternity for you. The masses of humanity have always had to suffer. The businessman whose master plan controls the world each day Is blind to indications of his species' slow decay. Can't you see his life is just like yours? An unturned stone, an undiscovered Door leading to the gift of hope renewed, eternity for you. The masses of humanity have always had to suffer. People blow their minds (they choose to resign) This deformed society is part of the design. It'll never go away (it's in the cards that way). The masses of humanity have always, always had to suffer! A door leading to the gift of hope renewed, eternity for you. The masses of humanity, still clinging to their dignity, The masses of humanity will always have to suffer. Always have to suffer.

Versions & recordings

Grouped by recording

10

First released on Suffer · 1988

Appears on

Operation Rescue: Live In Dusseldorf Germany 12 4 1992 FM BroadcastBootleg · 2023View 1 version →Live In Sweden 1994Bootleg · 2021View 1 version →924 Gilman St FM BroadcastBootleg · 2020View 2 versions →The Very BestBootleg · 2005View 1 version →
Punk Rock Am Ring 2002Bootleg · 2002View 1 version →Florida 2002Bootleg · 2002View 1 version →No Substance Radio ConcertBootleg · 1999View 1 version →American Punk InvasionBootleg · 1996View 1 version →Suffer And DieBootleg · 1996View 2 versions →Holy SmokeBootleg · 1995View 3 versions →Promise Of ProsperityBootleg · 1995View 1 version →Stranger Than Pulp FictionBootleg · 1995View 2 versions →21st Century Live In ConsertBootleg · 1995View 2 versions →Power PopBootleg · 1995View 1 version →Bad Religion LiveBootleg · 1994View 1 version →Christmas ShowBootleg · 1995View 1 version →All AgesCompilation · 1995View 27 versions →Classic TraxxBootleg · 1994View 3 versions →Live USABootleg · 1994View 2 versions →NOFX Radio 93 featuring Bad ReligionBootleg · 1993View 1 version →Live And AliveBootleg · 1994View 1 version →U.S.A. 1993Bootleg · 1994View 1 version →Nevermind The CatBootleg · 1994View 1 version →Live USA 94Bootleg · 1994View 1 version →Turn On The MusicBootleg · 1993View 2 versions →Live '93Bootleg · 1992View 1 version →EpitaphBootleg · 1993View 2 versions →Only EntertainmentBootleg · 1993View 2 versions →Live '93Bootleg · 1993View 2 versions →Last Exit For The LostBootleg · 1993View 2 versions →NOFX and Bad Religion LiveBootleg · 1993View 1 version →Fuck The Government Bootleg · 1992View 1 version →Live In FranceBootleg · 1991View 2 versions →Loosing My LoveBootleg · 1991View 3 versions →From Times Of SufferingBootleg · 1992View 2 versions →Operation HollandBootleg · 1993View 3 versions →Hollywood Palladium 1991Bootleg · 1991View 1 version →Between Heaven And HellBootleg · 1990View 4 versions →Delirium Of DisorderBootleg · 1991View 2 versions →Hate YourselfBootleg · 1991View 2 versions →Suffer LiveBootleg · 1991View 4 versions →Even WorseBootleg · 1991View 2 versions →Live GermanyBootleg · 1991View 1 version →Bad And WorstBootleg · 1990View 2 versions →We're Not The DamnedBootleg · 1990View 4 versions →SufferAlbum · 1988View 35 versions →

Song statistics

Archive coverage at a glance

164release versions
#6

6th most featured song

834documented shows
#12

12th most played song

Live through the years

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Song Interpretations

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

4

sock97Feb 2, 2010 · edited Sep 5, 2010
This song means " All the good things in life you have to suffer.. but for a little..then there you go"... every one has to suffer but in the end there's something to be good for you.
legacy memberMay 16, 2005 · edited Sep 5, 2010

This song seems to be about the self inflicted pain that humanity feels in our day to day lives. We all feel the pain, yet we're blind to it and do nothing to end it. The part "An unturned stone, an undiscovered / door leading to the gift of hope renewed, eternity for you" refers to our desperate pleas for science to cure all our problems and end our suffering. The ending of the song: "The masses of humanity, stil…

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This song seems to be about the self inflicted pain that humanity feels in our day to day lives. We all feel the pain, yet we're blind to it and do nothing to end it.

The part "An unturned stone, an undiscovered / door leading to the gift of hope renewed, eternity for you" refers to our desperate pleas for science to cure all our problems and end our suffering.

The ending of the song: "The masses of humanity, still clinging to their dignity, / the masses of humanity will always have to suffer" refers to our belief in humanity being the epitome of creation and us refusing to think otherwise. Our disregard for nature and for different cultures/ races is what causes our suffering. In believing that we have a higher purpose/right to exist then these other people we create the problems that plague our world and will continue the cycle of suffering and pain.
legacy memberJul 11, 2004 · edited Sep 5, 2010

When, in the song 'Suffer', Greg sings "an unturned stone, an undiscovered door" in the chorus, he is referencing a novel written by Thomas Wolfe, first published in 1929, called "Look Homeward, Angel". The very first words of the novel are "[...] a stone, a leaf, an unfound door; of a stone, a leaf, a door. And of all the forgotten faces." At the very end of the novel, within the last twenty pages, he speaks of t…

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When, in the song 'Suffer', Greg sings "an unturned stone, an undiscovered door" in the chorus, he is referencing a novel written by Thomas Wolfe, first published in 1929, called "Look Homeward, Angel". The very first words of the novel are "[...] a stone, a leaf, an unfound door; of a stone, a leaf, a door. And of all the forgotten faces."
At the very end of the novel, within the last twenty pages, he speaks of the unturned stone and the unfound (or undiscovered) door.
legacy memberJul 11, 2004 · edited Sep 5, 2010
This song is obviously about how mankind has always had to and always will have to suffer but it is due to our own faults; we always will have to suffer but have no one to blame but ourselves.