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Marches And Maneuvers Lyrics
this is a war
we live
and the sides are drawn.
we're all wrapped up in fatigues
and they wear us out.
there is a storm
at sea.
if we fly a white flag,
under a black and blue sky,
will the red sun rise?
(the tastes of your kerosene lips burn me up)
the glare from your enemy sights make me go blind/
blinds divide the sunlight into thin strips,
the size of a blade,
in this trench that we dig for ourselves.
fourscore and fade.
glare with the enemy heat of the bodies in the bed.
there's no retreat.
this is a war we live in.
now we're up in arms,
with our heads pressed against the wall
(and it's wearing thin).
these are the screams
we swallow,
if we fly a white flag
under a black and blue sky...
this is our war.
administer the pill
before the cell divides
(keep marching--keep fighting)
and we'll both go down like toy soldiers.
threats and picket lines
are forming around our beds
and the landmines in our chests will all go off in time.
if we trip each other into this,
do you think we'll find a way out?
we've synthesized a compound to treat this conscience,
it's:
one part loss,
one part no sleep,
one part the gun shot we heard,
one part the screams mistaken for laughter,
one part everything after,
one part love,
one part stepping out of the driving rain,
one part parting ways,
in the cold apartment. don't look back,
just keep running down the stairs.
do you hear the footsteps?
can you hear the voices in the traffic,
communiques in the attic?
they say, after time,
all this will heal,
we will rebuild and these broken arms will mend
themselves
in our
embrace.
we live
and the sides are drawn.
we're all wrapped up in fatigues
and they wear us out.
there is a storm
at sea.
if we fly a white flag,
under a black and blue sky,
will the red sun rise?
(the tastes of your kerosene lips burn me up)
the glare from your enemy sights make me go blind/
blinds divide the sunlight into thin strips,
the size of a blade,
in this trench that we dig for ourselves.
fourscore and fade.
glare with the enemy heat of the bodies in the bed.
there's no retreat.
now we're up in arms,
with our heads pressed against the wall
(and it's wearing thin).
these are the screams
we swallow,
if we fly a white flag
under a black and blue sky...
administer the pill
before the cell divides
(keep marching--keep fighting)
and we'll both go down like toy soldiers.
threats and picket lines
are forming around our beds
and the landmines in our chests will all go off in time.
if we trip each other into this,
do you think we'll find a way out?
we've synthesized a compound to treat this conscience,
it's:
one part no sleep,
one part the gun shot we heard,
one part the screams mistaken for laughter,
one part everything after,
one part love,
one part stepping out of the driving rain,
one part parting ways,
in the cold apartment. don't look back,
just keep running down the stairs.
do you hear the footsteps?
can you hear the voices in the traffic,
communiques in the attic?
they say, after time,
all this will heal,
we will rebuild and these broken arms will mend
themselves
in our
embrace.
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I think this song is comparing a relationship with war, which is pretty much the theme of the whole album.
i like the "one part" lyrics
"there is a storm at sea. if we fly a white flag, under a black and blue sky, will the red sun rise? "
referance to pearl harbor maybe? the red sun was a popular japanise flag and a the black could be from the anti-air cluster bombs.
I read an interview in which Geoff said this song was about a disagreement he had with his girlfriend over their differing views on abortion and how it ruined their relationship. This really makes a lot of sense, especially the line,
"administer the pill before the cell divides"
and just the fact that Geoff said it himself, though I don't remember who the interviewer was.
Some of my favorite lyrics ever are the "One part loss, one part no sleep..." lyrics. Really, truly talented, lyrically.
I think that this song best represents the mantality of the album : The war that we are all fighting.
In For the workforce drowning: The fight to live the way you want, and not being a slave to the work force
Between rapture and Rupture : The fight to save the fallen ones around us from there own demise
This album in my eyes, is a concept of the struggles we all go through, and how they shape us as individuals Division st. : The fight for equality, and how "Lights out" would mean no identity
Signals over the air : The fight for gender equality, and acceptance of all actions
I enjoy the part where he screams : "The tastes of your kerosene lips burn me up."
Also this is about how Geoff and his girlfriend dealt with an abortion or so I read.
I think this song is speaking out against abortion, "we've synthesized a compound to treat this conscience, it's:
one part loss, one part no sleep, ..." abortion is effective but it also causes all of the things listed in the "one part" lyrics.
this song rocks... it really reminds me of that same hardness and darkness of jet black new year, but a totally different song... i read an interview that geoff had with some magazine and he said that this song was basically about everything, from the relationships people have with each other to his relationships with people
it sounds like there is a lot of shit in there so all of that abortion stuff could be one of the things that happend in his life... this song is real deep though
this song and album is about how a man must fight to live at peace, its about how everything we do, and every relationship is based on conflict