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Books Are Burning Lyrics
Books are burning
In the main square, and I saw there
The first eating the text
Books are burning
In the still air
And you know where they burn books
People are next
I believe the printed word should be forgiven
Doesn't matter what it said
Wisdom hotline from the dead back to the living
Key to the larder for your heart and head
Books are burning
In our own town, watch us turn 'round
And cast our glances elsewhere
Books are burning
In the playground
Smell of burnt book is not unlike human hair
I believe the printed word is more than sacred
Beyond the gauge of good or bad
The human right to let your soul fly free and naked
Above the violence of the fearful and sad
The church of matches
Anoints in ignorance with gasoline
The church of matches
Grows fat by breathing in the smoke of dreams
It's quite obscene
Books are burning
More each day now, and I pray now
You boys will tire of these games
Books are burning
I hope somehow, this will allow
A phoenix up from the flames
In the main square, and I saw there
The first eating the text
Books are burning
In the still air
And you know where they burn books
People are next
I believe the printed word should be forgiven
Doesn't matter what it said
Wisdom hotline from the dead back to the living
Key to the larder for your heart and head
Books are burning
In our own town, watch us turn 'round
And cast our glances elsewhere
Books are burning
In the playground
Smell of burnt book is not unlike human hair
I believe the printed word is more than sacred
Beyond the gauge of good or bad
The human right to let your soul fly free and naked
Above the violence of the fearful and sad
The church of matches
Anoints in ignorance with gasoline
The church of matches
Grows fat by breathing in the smoke of dreams
It's quite obscene
Books are burning
More each day now, and I pray now
You boys will tire of these games
Books are burning
I hope somehow, this will allow
A phoenix up from the flames
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It's in a way a comment against censorship, but it stems from Andy's love of books more than anything else. There's an interview with him about lyric writing, I can't be bothered to find a link right now, but he talks about how he often comes up with ideas for songs by turning quite mundane ideas of his around. He named this song as a case in point, about how rather than sing about how he likes books, he sings about his horror at seeing books burned.
I have to disagree with all the above comments. While the song sort of IS about Censorship and the Love of books, I believe it was meant to be about religion.
"The church of matches Anoints in ignorance with gasoline The church of matches Grows fat by breathing in the smoke of dreams"
It is saying that religion discredits science and ‘true’ knowledge, while they [religion] do nothing but study their fictitious dreams/beliefs.
Seems like a small comment against fascism
or maybe against censorship. Either way, it has a really nice sound to it.
A beatiful song to end a grand record. One of my all time favorite XTC songs
@kexpseattle what makes it one of your favourites?? what does the song mean to you??
@kexpseattle what makes it one of your favourites?? what does the song mean to you??