Norma Jean - Leaderless and Self Enlisted Lyrics
Lyrics
Enslavement wasn't my first choice.
My will is greater than that, believe me.
I'd scratch away to the center.
I'd bite it down to the blood.
I want to rip out the foundation,
I want the axis to rupture.
I never wanted to tell you since we know you've heard it before.
Yeah... I never wanted to show you since we know you've seen it before
I break your heart,
I know, I know you've felt it before.
Yeah, Too many things try to pull me down.
Life seems to be like a dropping cloud.
Believe me, I'd scratch away to the center.
I'd bite it down to the blood..
I want to rip out the foundation,
I want the axis to rupture.
I'd scratch away to the center.
I'd bite it down to the blood.
I never wanted to tell you since we know you've heard it before.
Yeah... I never wanted to show you since we know you've seen it before I break your heart,
I know, I know you've felt it before,
So many times before, before.
I'd scratch away to the center.
I'd bite it down to the blood, the blood.
I'd scratch away to the center.
I'd bite it down to the blood.
I'd scratch away to the center.
I'd bite it down to the blood.
I'd bite it down to the blood.
Video
Leaderless And Self Enlisted
Meaning & Inspiration
Norma Jean delivered a potent sonic experience with "Leaderless and Self Enlisted," a standout track from their 2010 album, *Meridional*, released on July 13th of that year. From its very title, the song immediately draws one into a visceral exploration of personal struggle and the fierce determination to resist perceived oppression, resonating deeply with the internal battles many face in their spiritual walks.
The core message of "Leaderless and Self Enlisted" speaks to an intense, deeply personal fight against a binding force. The opening lines immediately declare a refusal to submit to "enslavement," asserting a will that is "greater than that." This isn't merely a passive resistance; it’s an active, almost primal urge to dismantle the very foundations of whatever holds one captive. The vivid imagery of "scratch[ing] away to the center" and "bit[ing] it down to the blood" conveys a relentless, all-consuming resolve to break free, to "rip out the foundation" and cause the "axis to rupture." This desperate yearning for radical liberation often mirrors the Christian's struggle against sin and the schemes of the adversary, as depicted in Romans 7:15-20, where Paul laments doing what he does not want to do, highlighting the ongoing conflict between the flesh and the spirit. The desire to "rip out the foundation" echoes the call in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 to demolish strongholds and arguments that set themselves up against the knowledge of God.
Throughout the song, there's also a recurring sentiment of weariness and a sense of having tread this ground before. The lines, "I never wanted to tell you since we know you've heard it before... I break your heart, I know, I know you've felt it before," suggest a history of repeated failures or a profound awareness of the pain one's struggles inflict, perhaps on a divine audience or a community of faith. This resonates powerfully with the concept of grieving the Holy Spirit through disobedience (Ephesians 4:30) or the contrite heart that knows its shortcomings before a holy God (Psalm 51:17). The acknowledgment that "too many things try to pull me down" and life feels "like a dropping cloud" paints a picture of immense spiritual and emotional burden, a sentiment familiar to anyone who has faced the relentless pressures of the world and the ongoing spiritual warfare described in Ephesians 6:12. Yet, even in this weariness, the fervent resolve to "scratch away to the center" and "bite it down to the blood" returns, demonstrating a tenacious refusal to yield, a commitment to fight until complete deliverance is achieved, much like the exhortation in Hebrews 12:4 to resist sin to the point of shedding blood.
The title itself, "Leaderless and Self Enlisted," provides a crucial framework for understanding the song's message. It suggests a battle undertaken with fierce personal conviction, perhaps feeling a profound sense of isolation or a calling to act independently in the face of daunting challenges. While believers know Christ as their ultimate Leader and Commander (Hebrews 2:10, Ephesians 1:22), there is a deeply personal aspect to faith, a call to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). This song captures the essence of that individual responsibility—the internal "enlistment" to fight against personal sin, worldly temptations, and spiritual apathy, even when the path feels solitary or the immediate command seems internal. It speaks to the warrior spirit that refuses to surrender, recognizing that true freedom requires radical internal transformation, a tearing down of old foundations to build anew upon a bedrock of faith. In its raw portrayal of struggle and unyielding perseverance, "Leaderless and Self Enlisted" serves as a powerful anthem for anyone navigating the demanding landscape of spiritual growth, reminding us of the profound strength found in a resolute spirit determined to break free, guided by an internal compass towards ultimate liberation in Christ.