In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
When pale turns to pink
With a soft unnerving ease
And all you've built around
May just tumble to the ground
We stand or fall
With your future in another's hands
We stand or fall
When your life is not your own
When white turns to red
In the not too distant days
Will force and misery
Be the life you have to lead?
We stand or fall
With your children in anothers world
We stand or fall
When your town is not your own
Chorus:
White China
White China
When crimson takes a hold
When the lights go down on all you've ever known
When all you'll ever do
Is worked out for you
We stand or fall
When the thoughts you have are not your own
We stand or fall
When the freedom slips away
(Repeat chorus 3 times)
With a soft unnerving ease
And all you've built around
May just tumble to the ground
We stand or fall
With your future in another's hands
We stand or fall
When your life is not your own
When white turns to red
In the not too distant days
Will force and misery
Be the life you have to lead?
We stand or fall
With your children in anothers world
We stand or fall
When your town is not your own
Chorus:
White China
White China
When crimson takes a hold
When the lights go down on all you've ever known
When all you'll ever do
Is worked out for you
We stand or fall
When the thoughts you have are not your own
We stand or fall
When the freedom slips away
(Repeat chorus 3 times)
Lyrics submitted by MrLongrove
White China Lyrics as written by Midge Ure Christopher Thomas Allen
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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wicked song, if this had been made a single after DWTIME it would surely have topped the charts. Shame it lost out to all the other boring ballads on Lament.
i agree this is the best song on Lament, but i also like One Small Day, Lament, Man Of Two Worlds and Heart Of The Country
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@donn103936 Seeing as it was written by a British band in the early 80s isn't it more likely that it is expressing concern about the future of Hong Kong? <br /> <br /> I disagree strongly about one thing - the USA has never been socialist at now or any other time. However concerns about corporate control and the insidious growth of surveillance technology in every life are well founded.
@donn103936 are you high
@donn103936 are you high or did you think this was your facebook, grandpa?
Given the explicit reference to China iy seems quite clear to me that the song is about Hong Kong and it's eventual transfer to Chinese control.