I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Lying awake at night I wipe the sweat
from my brow
But it's not the fear 'cos
I'd rather go now
Trying to visualize the horrors that
will lay ahead
The desert sand mound a burial ground
When it comes to the time
Are we partners in crime?
When it comes to the time
We'll be ready to die
God let us go now and finish what's
to be done
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy shall be done... on earth
Trying to justify to ourselves the
reasons to go
Should we live and let live
Forget or forgive
But how can we let them go on this way?
The reign of terror corruption must end
And we know deep down there's
no other way
No trust, no reasoning, no more to say
Afraid to shoot strangers
Afraid to shoot strangers
from my brow
But it's not the fear 'cos
I'd rather go now
Trying to visualize the horrors that
will lay ahead
The desert sand mound a burial ground
When it comes to the time
Are we partners in crime?
When it comes to the time
We'll be ready to die
God let us go now and finish what's
to be done
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy shall be done... on earth
Trying to justify to ourselves the
reasons to go
Should we live and let live
Forget or forgive
But how can we let them go on this way?
The reign of terror corruption must end
And we know deep down there's
no other way
No trust, no reasoning, no more to say
Afraid to shoot strangers
Afraid to shoot strangers
Lyrics submitted by numb
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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Corey Hart
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In the 1980s, sunglasses were a common fashion for people who wanted to adopt a "tough guy" persona (note all the cop shows from that era -- Simon & Simon, Miami Vice, etc. -- where the lead characters wore shades). So I think this song is about a guy who wears shades as a way of hiding his insecurity after learning that his girlfriend is cheating on him. He's trying to pretend that he's a "tough guy" to hide the fact that his girlfriend's affair is disturbing him.
Its about a kid being draughted off to war, and not being able to understand the reason for war and why ppl kill each other. The original album was 'a real live one', btw, they released 2 albums origianally, 'a real dead one' and 'a real live one', then made it a double cd - 'a real live dead one'!
Bruce says in A Real Live One that this is about an ordinary person that doesn't wanna kill anybody...
He also says war is a bunch of bullshit. And its a real live dead one btw.
I think it's at Live at Donnigton, or maybe Live After Death, that Bruce says it's about the Falklands War. That was Britain Vs. Argentina when the Argentinions invaded the Falklands, for those of you who may not have heard of it.
@UpTheIrons I think "Como Estais Amigos" from 1998 was the one about the Falklads war - that was after the band started touring South America more due to the decline of heavy metal popularity in the US. "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" was inspired by the early 90's Gulf War.
@UpTheIrons I think "Como Estais Amigos" from 1998 was the one about the Falklads war - that was after the band started touring South America more due to the decline of heavy metal popularity in the US. "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" was inspired by the early 90's Gulf War.
Dear UpTheIrons, it can NEVER be in Live After Death (1985) while the Fear Of The Dark album was in the 1992, the song IS about war (mostly Gulf War I if you have watched the videoclip), but could be taken as war in general. have a nice day all of you
I love this song!!!!
I don't see this song as being about war in general, or about the Gulf War. I interpret this song to be about revolution in one's own country.
"The reign of terror corruption must end"
This line suggests a fight based on principle, rather than a soldier being pushed into a war of his government's choosing.
I always interpreted this song to be about how horrible war is, and yet at the same time acknowledging that sometimes it is necessary:
"But how can we let them go on this way? The reign of terror corruption must end And we know deep down there's no other way "
Bruce says "next song is about a war - just to make a mental note that war is bullshit and people that make people go to war are usually politicians and the people that get killed are usually ordinary people. A song out an ordinary person that doesn't want to kill anybody. "
I have yet to hear a better explanation of why we go to war. The final four lines seem to offer it most clearly, pointing out that no, we don't want to, but what's the alternative? We know, deep down, there's no other way. No trust, no reasoning, no more to say.
And then the four greatest riffs ever written kick in.