"Lesson 1" adalah sebuah lagu yang menggugah pikiran oleh Epik High, sebuah band hip-hop Korea Selatan yang dikenal dengan liriknya yang tajam dan kritis. Lagu ini mempertanyakan sistem pendidikan, sains, sejarah, dan media, meneliti bagaimana masyarakat dipengaruhi dan dimanipulasi oleh kekuatan yang berkuasa. Dengan mengajukan pertanyaan kuat seperti "Apakah kita belajar untuk menambahkan jumlah kematian?" dan "Apakah kita belajar membaca untuk menerima kebohongan?", lagu ini mengundang pendengar untuk merenungkan tujuan dan nilai dari pengetahuan dan informasi yang mereka konsumsi.
Lesson 1 Lyrics
Epik High
Do we learn math to add the dead's sum ?
Subtract the weak ones,
Count cash for great ones ?
Shall we multiply or divide the nation ?
Break down like fractions
Send our sons away to die ?
Do we learn science in defiance of faith ?
To make alliance with fakes for an appliance's sake
We ask for the real but make artificial intelligence
To make smarter kills of other's presidents
Why do we learn history to fix stories for the guilty ?
The angels look filthy and the devils look milky
If the victor writes the books, then what have we won ?
Are we battleships for authorship for rich man's guns ?
Do we learn to read to receive the lies
To deceive the eyes from seeing between the lines ?
Do we use words to bring forth sticks and stones ?
To sing psalms of hate that fill the streets with bones
Unseen or heard
A king with words
Tablo
Lyrical Assassin
Makin' visions from the truth
Is our day job more than self-slavery ?
When we're locked watching the clock impatiently
We sweat for the dollar bills, the checks and the credit cards
But the dollar kills, breaks the necks of our inner hearts
If the police are role models for the righteous
Why does justice depend on guns and nightsticks ?
Mr. Officer don't punish me, with BRUTALITY !!
These streets got me singing Marvin Gaye off-key
Do we need church to get to Heaven's gates ?
Can holy water quench the thirst of those whose fates
Started in the wrong place with the wrong face ?
Can the poor and the hungry survive solely on grace ?
Can this rap game ever bring changes ?
When MC's would rather floss a cross than be saviors ?
Will I last in this game
Be blasted with shame
Will I stand for my name and never blaspheme for fame ?
Subtract the weak ones,
Count cash for great ones ?
Shall we multiply or divide the nation ?
Break down like fractions
Send our sons away to die ?
Do we learn science in defiance of faith ?
To make alliance with fakes for an appliance's sake
We ask for the real but make artificial intelligence
To make smarter kills of other's presidents
Why do we learn history to fix stories for the guilty ?
The angels look filthy and the devils look milky
If the victor writes the books, then what have we won ?
Are we battleships for authorship for rich man's guns ?
Do we learn to read to receive the lies
To deceive the eyes from seeing between the lines ?
Do we use words to bring forth sticks and stones ?
To sing psalms of hate that fill the streets with bones
Unseen or heard
A king with words
Tablo
Lyrical Assassin
Makin' visions from the truth
Is our day job more than self-slavery ?
When we're locked watching the clock impatiently
We sweat for the dollar bills, the checks and the credit cards
But the dollar kills, breaks the necks of our inner hearts
If the police are role models for the righteous
Why does justice depend on guns and nightsticks ?
Mr. Officer don't punish me, with BRUTALITY !!
These streets got me singing Marvin Gaye off-key
Do we need church to get to Heaven's gates ?
Can holy water quench the thirst of those whose fates
Started in the wrong place with the wrong face ?
Can the poor and the hungry survive solely on grace ?
Can this rap game ever bring changes ?
When MC's would rather floss a cross than be saviors ?
Will I last in this game
Be blasted with shame
Will I stand for my name and never blaspheme for fame ?