"Armed With A Mind" Analysis

Originating from New Bedford, Massachusetts, Have Heart took the stage by storm in 2004 with their first demo, What Counts, showing their energy and passion for hardcore punk music. These boys captured the hearts of thousands with their inspirational lyrics concerning friends, non-conformity, and various other morals. The band is comprised of vocalist Patrick Flynn, guitarists Kei Yasui and Ryan Hudon, bassist Ryan Briggs, and drummer Shawn Costa. In their song 'Armed With A Mind,' they bash stereotypes and criticize those who don't live their lives to their full potential. The song shows that Have Heart will not conform to the stereotypes that women have to be obsessed with the way they look and that men have to fight to prove their masculinity. They say they won't become a mindless machine because they'd rather voice their opinion and use their minds instead of dumbing themselves down to be seen as cool by others.

The beginning of the song starts out with the superficial girl who cares too much about she looks and not enough about how she presents herself. "She leads a hollow life void of insight." The song continues and explains that she is "vulnerable, susceptible to pain" which is a result of not using her head. The next verse is about the "spineless and mindless" boy who is considered a man, just because he knows how to throw a punch. He isn't judged by his brains or his kindness, but only his need to fight. The narrator asks what he's fighting for, because violence never solves anything. He says "boy, your true strength sleeps behind your eyes," rather than the show that he puts on for his friends. At the end, the narrator explains that we received a gift called our mind and that to not use it is a waste.

Literary terms are scattered throughout the song which adds to the overall message of the song. The use of metaphors, comparing two things without using like or as, is shown. Have Heart demonstrates this with "You're a garden of potential submerged in the rain" and "mind over matter is power over fists." They also use personification, giving humanistic traits to objects, effectively with "the fierce fists will do the talking" as well as "boy, your true strength sleeps behind your eyes."