"Ammonia Avenue" as written by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson....
Is there no sign of light as we stand in the darkness?
Watching the sun arise
Is there no sign of life as we gaze at the waters?
Into the strangers eyes
And who are we to criticize or scorn the things that they do?
For we shall seek and we shall find Ammonia Avenue
If we call for the proof and we question the answers
Only the doubt will grow
Are we blind to the truth or a sign to believe in?
Only the wise will know
And word by word they handed down the light that shines today
And those who came at first to scoff, remained behind to pray
Yes those who came at first to scoff, remained behind to pray
When you can't hear the rhyme and you can't see the reason
Why should the hope remain?
For a man will be tired and his soul will grow weary
Living his life in vain
And who are we to justify the right in all we do?
Until we seek until we find Ammonia Avenue
Through all the doubt somehow they knew
And stone by stone they built it high
Until the sun broke through
A ray of hope, a shining light Ammonia Avenue
Watching the sun arise
Is there no sign of life as we gaze at the waters?
Into the strangers eyes
And who are we to criticize or scorn the things that they do?
For we shall seek and we shall find Ammonia Avenue
If we call for the proof and we question the answers
Only the doubt will grow
Are we blind to the truth or a sign to believe in?
Only the wise will know
And word by word they handed down the light that shines today
And those who came at first to scoff, remained behind to pray
Yes those who came at first to scoff, remained behind to pray
When you can't hear the rhyme and you can't see the reason
Why should the hope remain?
For a man will be tired and his soul will grow weary
Living his life in vain
And who are we to justify the right in all we do?
Until we seek until we find Ammonia Avenue
Through all the doubt somehow they knew
And stone by stone they built it high
Until the sun broke through
A ray of hope, a shining light Ammonia Avenue
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"I earnestly advise every alcoholic to read this book through, and though perhaps he came to scoff, he may remain to pray" Although there isn't an exact date (this is from the books fourth edition) the Doctor was working with Alchoholics Anonymous in the 1930's. I don't think it's just a coincidence that Alan used almost the exact words.
I think the change of heart shown by the scoffers remaining to pray is meant to back up the reason to not judge until it's all over, because nothing is set in stone until you're dead. I also feel it may be the scoffers praying as they're destroyed for their unbelief which may not really fit into the song but I like thinking about people dying, begging and praying for deliverance, all brought upon themselves. It's the worst spite possible to yourself... Also, it is a plausible explanation, as not all praying is reverent and precautionary, some is reactionary as you're being destroyed, along with "left behind." I really like thinking about people begging for their life.
I don't think the lyrics depict a conflict between factions (believers, unbelievers) but rather show how in this fantasy song-world believers and unbelievers have handled themselves. taking their paths..and they both end up dead.
It was obvious to me what Ammonia Avenue was when I heard the song but didn't make the connection from the title only. It looks like at least some people haven't found a connection for "Ammonia Avenue," and right or wrong, I believe it just stands for death/the grave/hell/the end/the thing after the end. I think "Ammonia Avenue" literally represents rows and rows of graves, and the fertilizer inside those sealed boxes, and rows and rows of anything lends itself to pathways within those rows.
I don't know if the last line "A ray of hope, a shining light Ammonia Avenue" was meant to have any specific meaning but I like to think of it as an abstract hope to all people who have fallen to Ammonia Avenue. Maybe the Second Resurrection.
I feel this as a morbid song pondering and glorifying death and the peace it brings...and in the meantime to do what truly makes you happy. It sounds like this guy read Ecclesiastes a few too many times before writing this song. In Ecclesiastes the preacher depicted that all human efforts are futile and the life of a wise man, and the life of a foolish man end in the same thing: Ammonia Avenue. Death.
To summarize, it boils down to good or bad, we all die...so eat drink and be merry while you spend your life force.
I especially love the significance of the title as it merges the two themes of science and religion. See if you can puzzle that one out on your own. Write me if you want my solution at parikd01@yahoo.com. (The title bugged me for several years, and I felt a great thrill when I figured it out. I want to give others a chance to do it on their own without spoiling it, so I don't want to post it here.)
The first stanza is a reference to how we are lost without a view of God. We're just standing in darkness, waiting for the sun to rise.
These unreligious people critizice the religious and come to scoff, but in the end, they find Ammonia Avenue (something religious, I'm not sure what) and learn to pray.
And then it talks about questioning God (call for proof and question the answers), which only leads to doubt. This emphasizes blind faith.
They handed down the light that shines today refers to people generally being the same religion as their parents. It could also refer to oral tradition.
However, then we see that blind faith leads to living one's life in vain, which is just as bad as living an unreligious life.
Then the people, tired of living their lives in vain, build a tower (Tower of Babel, anyone). While the song leaves this open, we can assume that it gets torn down. However, we do not truly know, which allows this song to be seen as both in favor of or against religion.
Again, a great song. And actually, religion isn't really the opposite of asking questions. Judaism, for sure, and maybe other religions, too, greatly encourage it.
Humans have shown that they need answers to the questions they have - why wouldn't science and atheism taken to extremes not be their own belief system?
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Acts 28:25-27 -- King James Version (KJV)