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Requiem Lyrics
De la de lay la
It's up to you
For every passing day
To not let the past pass away
It's up to you
Now that you understand
To take those who don't by the hand
'Cause you can see it coming
You can see it coming
You can see their light fade
Beneath the stars
It's up to you
Not to sing along
When all of the feeling is gone
'Cause we don't sing the same song anymore
Now you're offering this requiem
'Cause we don't sing the same song anymore
Now you're offering this silent requiem
De la de lay la
It's up to you
To understand your age
To not let the years charge a wage
It's up to you
To see it in the eyes
Of all those who don't realize
'Cause you can see it coming
You can see it coming
You can see them high, high above the stars
It's up to you
Not to sing along
When all of the feeling is gone
'Cause we don't sing the same song anymore
Now you're offering this requiem
'Cause we don't sing the same song anymore
Now you're offering this silent requiem
And I can see that look on your face
When you don't sing along, you don't sing along
And I can see that look on your face
When you don't sing along, you don't sing along
'Cause we don't sing the same song anymore
Now you're offering this requiem
'Cause we don't sing the same song anymore
Now you're offering this requiem
'Cause we don't sing the same song anymore
Now you're offering this silent requiem
De la de lay la
And I can see that look on your face
When you don't sing along, you don't sing along
And I can see that look on your face
When you don't sing along, you don't sing along
And I can see that look on your face
For every passing day
To not let the past pass away
Now that you understand
To take those who don't by the hand
You can see it coming
You can see their light fade
Beneath the stars
Not to sing along
When all of the feeling is gone
Now you're offering this requiem
'Cause we don't sing the same song anymore
Now you're offering this silent requiem
To understand your age
To not let the years charge a wage
To see it in the eyes
Of all those who don't realize
You can see it coming
You can see them high, high above the stars
Not to sing along
When all of the feeling is gone
Now you're offering this requiem
'Cause we don't sing the same song anymore
Now you're offering this silent requiem
When you don't sing along, you don't sing along
And I can see that look on your face
When you don't sing along, you don't sing along
Now you're offering this requiem
'Cause we don't sing the same song anymore
Now you're offering this requiem
'Cause we don't sing the same song anymore
Now you're offering this silent requiem
When you don't sing along, you don't sing along
And I can see that look on your face
When you don't sing along, you don't sing along
And I can see that look on your face
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This is one of THE most amazing songs ever. Can't really explain why, but I can't get enough of it...or the whole album for that matter.
This one always seemed to me to be about the national anthem (or anthems generally) and the need to ensure that our symbols, songs, mottos, etc. don't lose their meaning and become hackneyed due to apathy, cynicism, misuse, political manipulation, etc. Instead of a song that is meant to inspire one to great heights, an anthem can (and ours, perhaps, has) become a requiem -- a song for and about the dead. This can be extended to the things our anthem represents... freedom, the beauty of our country, the future. Do they exist anymore? The singer (Jay) rejects this "requiem" that the anthem has become and yearns for something meaningful... what the song/anthem used to be. It's up to you (yes, you) to not let the past pass away and simply "sing along," both literally and figuratively. Rather it's up to you to give our anthem (and other songs, symbols, mottos, etc.) meaning again and make it something other than a requiem. It's up to you to live an inspired life.
"The stars" have always been a inspired destination for human beings, whether as a metaphor or the literal stars. The song seems to suggest that perhaps humanity's light will dim and eventually be snuffed out beneath the stars. On the other hand, one can also see "them" (us) above the stars as well. People cannot achieve such heights alone, though. They need encouragement. They need visionaries. They don't need requiems. Either outcome is possible. It's up to you to decide which one comes to pass.