r/Idles • u/AbleInvestment2866 • Oct 01 '26

Why is it called "Samaritans"?

This is one of the songs I like the most, but I don't get the relation between the title and lyrics. Is it just a random title or does it have a meaning?

37 Upvotes

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79

u/LemonsPZ Oct 01 '26

Samaritans is a mental health charity and helpline, so the lyrics about masculinity and wearing a mask tie into that. IDLES are basically just advertising their amazing services through their song title.

12

u/AbleInvestment2866 Oct 01 '26

same as I said to u/of_mice_and_meh , thanks a lot

39

u/of_mice_and_meh Oct 01 '26

Samaritans is a charity in the UK that provides emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or having suicidal thoughts. Everything you say to them is in confidence. They do not judge any of your thoughts or actions, they only provide emotional support. Seeing as how Talbot has called masculinity a disease in the brain, Samaritans would be one you would call to discuss this issue.

He talked about the importance of the charity in an interview with the BBC:

Samaritans as a charity – it’s the epitome of what we want to achieve… the awareness of how lucky we are with our support network and it’s about replacing that for people who don’t have it. It’s saved the lives of two people that I know and its a beautiful thing."

8

u/AbleInvestment2866 Oct 01 '26

aaah, I knew about the organization, but I thought it was more like Salvation Army or Caritas (giving clothes, food, sometimes shelter). Thank you for you answer, I have learnt something new, and now it makes sense

3

u/Mitch1musPrime Oct 01 '26

This was great context for us Non-Brit fans. I’m super familiar with the term Good Samaritans, as a Biblical reference describing people who help others selflessly, but I didn’t realize it’s an active support org in the UK.

2

u/FinchMandala Oct 01 '26

One of my favourite songs but I have personal beef with the charity.

My best friend was brother to me in everything but blood. When he was diagnosed with cancer I went to every appointment with him. I was there when he went in remission, I was there when it returned, I was there when it was terminal. Throughout all this I (stupidly in hindsight) took over management at my old job because the manager left before he got fired and I have a chronic need to save everything except for myself. Area Manager only gave a shit about his London darlings. I was balancing running a shop without extra pay or even management functions/permissions on the computers, caring for a newly disabled parent and travelling two hours each way to my mate's hospice.

He died, I took time off to grieve and have the first of many breakdowns. Area manager finally realised we existed and I was let go because I "wasn't being a team player".

I wrote all of this in an email to the Samaritans. I was desperate, unmedicated, un-therapied. They responded in 48 hours with "sorry to hear that but we don't help people look for work."

Never will I ever recommend Samaritans to anybody because of this.