The Handshake

Song details

Bad Religion original
Yes
First released
1994
First release
Stranger Than Fiction (album)
Songwriter
Greg Graffin

Lyrics

The Handshake

Every time you shake someone's hand And it feels like your best friend, Could it be that it's only superficiality? Without regard to well-being, without an inkling of compromise, Handshakes are nothing but a subtle "fuck you", Contracts determine the best friendships. This is the way of the modern world, Everyone's vying for patronage, This is the way of the modern world, And something has gotta give. Every time you shake someone's hand, And you share neither color nor creed, You gotta overcome the obstacles of history. There is restrained passion, mistrust, and bigotry And these have created the new foundations of society, There's no harmony, just class and race. This is the way of the modern world, Everyone's fighting for dominance, This is the way of the modern world, And something has gotta give. Now I believe in unity, and I am willing to compromise, But I'm not gonna lie or sell my soul. Every time you shake someone's hand, It determines where you stand, And if you won't uphold your side then it's better to Fend for yourself, and shun the handshake, Someone's gotta give.

Versions & recordings

Grouped by recording

5

First released on Stranger Than Fiction · 1994

Appears on

The Best SongsBootleg · 2005View 1 version →Punk Rock Am Ring 2002Bootleg · 2002View 1 version →Hazard RadiationBootleg · 2004View 1 version →Live in Denver 2003Bootleg · 2003View 3 versions →

Song statistics

Archive coverage at a glance

91release versions
#38

38th most featured song

176documented shows
#53

53rd 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.

7

badrelgnsfFeb 28, 2010 · edited Mar 6, 2010

i think its a symbolic deal its not about buisness but can be.. more about relations and people in general terms when you shake a hand or agree to one term you are sequestering others in a sense picking a side and usually coming to terms with someone elses views and paradigms not your own hence the fend for yourself.. . im not gunna lie or sell my soul.. not just buisness.. but rather.. all life relations.. and it…

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i think its a symbolic deal
its not about buisness but can be.. more about relations and people in general terms

when you shake a hand or agree to one term you are sequestering others in a sense picking a side and usually coming to terms with someone elses views and paradigms not your own
hence the fend for yourself.. . im not gunna lie or sell my soul..
not just buisness.. but rather.. all life relations.. and it doesnt have to be physically a handshake.. though its base is that. You could just say.. agree with paperwork.. the effect would be the same
legacy memberNov 23, 2004 · edited Date unknown

I tend to latch onto the lyric "Handshakes are nothing but a subtle fuck-you." The song represents, to me, the increasingly phony quality of the professional world -- or other worlds in which a handshake is a prominent feature. I do identify with the notion (regardless of whether it's the song's intention) that much of modern day society's pleasantries are meaningless and solidify an inhumanity. That "Good day" an…

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I tend to latch onto the lyric "Handshakes are nothing but a subtle fuck-you." The song represents, to me, the increasingly phony quality of the professional world -- or other worlds in which a handshake is a prominent feature. I do identify with the notion (regardless of whether it's the song's intention) that much of modern day society's pleasantries are meaningless and solidify an inhumanity. That "Good day" and "How are you?" don't represent anything, but truly are components of an unspontaneous society that favors calculated order over real engagement with a person on an in-depth level.
legacy memberOct 6, 2004 · edited Date unknown

I agree with John from Stillborn. But there is more. 1) There are 2 sides to a handshake so it can represent not only a deal or a contract, but a compromise. ("I believe in unity and I believe in compromise but I'm not going to lie or sell my soul") And each side has a duty not only to the bond of the handshake, but to their own integrity and morality. Which brings me to: 2) A handshake is a symbol of your friends…

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I agree with John from Stillborn. But there is more.
1) There are 2 sides to a handshake so it can represent not only a deal or a contract, but a compromise. ("I believe in unity and I believe in compromise but I'm not going to lie or sell my soul") And each side has a duty not only to the bond of the handshake, but to their own integrity and morality. Which brings me to:
2) A handshake is a symbol of your friends, your relations, your world. If those around you are bombing and plundering and engaging in class warfare etc. and you are shaking their hand, you are part of it. You have a duty, if you don't approve of these things, to not shake the hand, to defend "your side" and your soul.
legacy memberJul 11, 2004 · edited Date unknown

The Handshake is a simple interpretation. There once was a time where a shake of the hand or having a man's work was as strong as a contract. It was a time where a man actually was respected for his integrity. Somewhere in the mix we sold our integrity for a shrewd business deal. Maynard (from TOOL) defines this altogether too familiar phenomenon as 'smiley glad hands'. Such a description is very accurate. What I…

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The Handshake is a simple interpretation. There once was a time where a shake of the hand or having a man's work was as strong as a contract. It was a time where a man actually was respected for his integrity. Somewhere in the mix we sold our integrity for a shrewd business deal. Maynard (from TOOL) defines this altogether too familiar phenomenon as 'smiley glad hands'. Such a description is very accurate. What I think Greg basically is trying to say, 'if you aren't going to stand by your word, then fend for yourself and leave the rest of society alone.'
legacy memberJul 11, 2004 · edited Date unknown
Now I think this song basically states the obvious in human nature, men try to dominate all other classes. We see in the world today that a lot of men try to show their dominance over other men with a strong handshake, a firm grip some say, this just proves that human beings in general are pretty much superficial. This is of course just my opinion.
legacy memberJul 11, 2004 · edited Date unknown

I agree whole heartedly with Iceman's interpretation and in fact, I am quite impressed with his knowledge of anthropomorphism. I myself am currently finishing my doctorate in said subject, hence why this song is particularly interesting to me. Although I would like to touch on one other important point that Iceman may have simply forgotten. That is: While Johnathan Cartesian is certainly one of the most prolific and…

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I agree whole heartedly with Iceman's interpretation and in fact, I am quite impressed with his knowledge of anthropomorphism. I myself am currently finishing my doctorate in said subject, hence why this song is particularly interesting to me. Although I would like to touch on one other important point that Iceman may have simply forgotten. That is: While Johnathan Cartesian is certainly one of the most prolific and outspoken voices in this field, I think it would be prudent to acknowledge the later works of a man named Wolfgang Van Ottenheimer, discoverer of what later became known as the Ottenheimer co-angular apocryphal. This theorem deals specifically with the exchange of bonds in a handshake. If we are to hold this theory true, then you would see that the song is actually about the simulated protocol of the western revolutionary triangulates.
legacy memberJul 11, 2004 · edited Date unknown
Well, I think this song is about man's right to completely disregard the bond between two men in a handshake; Which can be proven by the Cartesian examples of anthropomorphism. For those who are not familiar, anthropomorphism is the study of human bonding through trivial gestures. By means of a shrug of the shoulders, or sway of the hips, man is instantly enthralled in the heat of battle.