[see the cemetery sky
carmine red and deep
watch the oceans rising high
it's the human stain]

talk about the growing hunger
ask why with deep concern
don't you think
the human race is ceaselessly vain

but it hurts to be alive my friend
in this silent tide we're driftwood passing by
don't you wish you were a child again
just for a minute
just for a minute more

hear the ticking of a clock
the sound of life itself
no one really wants to die
to save the world

tell me that you're torn asunder
from how we fail to learn
and tell me
as the earth goes under
where's your anger now

so it hurts to be alive my friend
in this masquerade where all one day must die
don't you wish you were unborn again
just for a minute
just for a minute more

tic toc
the ticking that could tear asunder
the beating from a heart of stone
the loss of your divine prosperity

cause it costs to be alive my friend
and this life that someone merely gave to you
that's the price you pay
minute by minute
you beg for a minute more


Lyrics submitted by Ragis

The Human Stain song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    I read in an interview Khan said it's about the nature and the bad influence of the man on it...It's pretty obvious however

    Shamandalieon August 29, 2007   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I don't care if the artist says it's about a green aesop; It's about how much I hate people and how people make me think this is hell.

    Kreveckon March 05, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Such a depressing song, but its one of their best. I like how the bass sounds like the ticking of a clock.

    Althekiller9291on September 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is one of my favorite Kamelot tunes! I love how this is one of those songs that just gets STUCK in your head! Once its in there, the only way to chase it out is with a bullet.

    Clementine556on January 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    in the video for this song, when he says "in this silent tide we're driftwood passing by", they´re playing standing in the middle of an avenue or highway, with lots of cars passing by... it´s a great visual match with the lyrics, representing how, in the end, we´re just like wood parts floating in a river

    ivanmrzon February 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's a great song, great video too...

    I think that it has something to do about the influence that people have until they die, and how you wish you could live more to leave your "stain" on the world...

    but it also seems to be about mankind's influence on the environment until they die...

    Cooldragon23on April 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I saw them last year during their Ghost Opera tour, and Khan stopped the band after this song so he could talk for a few minutes on the meaning of the song, and yes, it is about the environment.

    Of course, I didn't get to hear everything he said, because some drunk fan next to me was too busy screaming "SHUT UP! CAMEL-C*NT, WE NEED KARMA!!"

    So much for respecting your favorite bands?

    Ebongaleon June 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song, in a interview with Khan and Youngblood, is moreso about humanity, its effect on the world and the many things it does. To me, it seems to be about how we are destroying the environment, and killing ourselves off. How we wish that we could go back in time, to a place where we were so much happier. "Dont you wish you were a child again, just for a minute" How we need to something to make the best of "this life that someone merely gave to you". That is simply my opinion, of course.

    Lethonaion June 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I don't think this song is about environment, my friend.

    When I listen to it I feel that they just want to tell us to ask ourselves ''Do we really happy to be born'' ,and ''Is it necessary to be born like this''

    Our breath cost to much.

    plm4321on July 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Ebongale:

    Someone seriously did that? I would've punched him in the face. I love Karma, the album and song, but don't disrespect a band for a song that's on par with some of their best.

    Sora124on September 04, 2008   Link

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