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Pale Horse Lyrics
from the haunts of daily life
where is waged the daily strife
common wants and common cares
cuts the human heart with tears
rise like lions after a slumber in
in greatly unknowable numbers
let the tyrants pour around
with apocalyptic sound
on the charge of iron wheels
and the crash of horses heels
rise like lions after a slumber in
in greatly unknowable numbers
free the blood that must ensue
we are many and they are few
from the workhouse and the prison
pale as corpses newly risen
knives are drawn now let them see
standing tall that say they�re free
your strong and simple words
set to wound as sharpened swords
wide as targets let them be
with their shade to cover me
rise like lions after a slumber in
in greatly unknowable numbers
free the blood that must ensue
we are many and they are few
where is waged the daily strife
common wants and common cares
cuts the human heart with tears
in greatly unknowable numbers
with apocalyptic sound
on the charge of iron wheels
and the crash of horses heels
in greatly unknowable numbers
free the blood that must ensue
we are many and they are few
pale as corpses newly risen
knives are drawn now let them see
standing tall that say they�re free
set to wound as sharpened swords
wide as targets let them be
with their shade to cover me
in greatly unknowable numbers
free the blood that must ensue
we are many and they are few
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This is based on a Shelley poem called The Call to Freedom.
Actually, isn't it based on "The Mask Of Anarchy"?
yea-- it's based off of "The Mask of Anarchy".
I can't really see any comparisons? Help me out?
"Pale Horse," the title, is a reference to a line in the bible, describing one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse (pestilence.)
And, from the poem... here are some lines very similar to the song:
"From the haunts of daily life Where is waged the daily strife With common wants and common cares Which sows the human heart with tares"
...
"Be your strong and simple words Keen to wound as sharpened swords, And wide as targes let them be, With their shade to cover ye.
Let the tyrants pour around With a quick and startling sound, Like the loosening of a sea, Troops of armed emblazonry.
Let the charged artillery drive Till the dead air seems alive With the clash of clanging wheels, And the tramp of horses' heels."
...
"On those who first should violate Such sacred heralds in their state Rest the blood that must ensue, And it will not rest on you."
...
"Rise like Lions after slumber In unvanquishable number - Shake your chains to earth like dew Which in sleep had fallen on you - Ye are many - they are few."
The strange thing is that, while the Mask of Anarchy has a message of nonviolent resistance, the lyrics suggest a much bloodier revolution.
Case in point: "Through the blood THAT MUST ENSUE" vs. "Stand ye calm and resolute/Like a forest close and mute...With folded arms and steady eyes/And little fear, and less surprise/Look upon them as they slay/'Til their rage has died away".
Also, this has really resonated with me in the wake of the Michael Brown protests.