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Patriot (A Single) Lyrics
ja '91
see how
they run
i brought nylons from New York
some had butterflies some had specks
i brought nylons from New York
Hard flat butterflies some had specks
The good news you cannot refuse
The bad news is there is no news
Tonight he'll rise
he'll sell his arms
to anyone who asks about
As-in-the wind
As-in the rain
As-in-as in
As-in-without
oh the Luzerner Zeitung
the Luzerner Zeitung
never sold out
never sold out
Cripple fingers hit the muezzin yells
some had Columbine some had specks
Cripple fingers hit the rounds of shells
some had clinging vine some had specks
The good news you cannot refuse
The bad news is there is no news
Tonight he'll rise
he'll leave his arms
to anyone who asks about
As-in-the tracks
As-in the wrists
As-in-you been
As-in-without
oh the Luzerner Zeitung
the Luzerner Zeitung
never sold out
never sold out
See how it blows
a mile up the road
color of moon
it swirls and collects
unfolding and timbling
up this back road
swirling butterflies swirling flecks
17a
r
y
a
n
u
r
y
see how
they run
some had butterflies some had specks
i brought nylons from New York
Hard flat butterflies some had specks
The bad news is there is no news
he'll sell his arms
to anyone who asks about
As-in the rain
As-in-as in
As-in-without
the Luzerner Zeitung
never sold out
never sold out
some had Columbine some had specks
Cripple fingers hit the rounds of shells
some had clinging vine some had specks
The bad news is there is no news
he'll leave his arms
to anyone who asks about
As-in the wrists
As-in-you been
As-in-without
the Luzerner Zeitung
never sold out
never sold out
a mile up the road
color of moon
it swirls and collects
unfolding and timbling
up this back road
swirling butterflies swirling flecks
r
y
a
u
r
y
Song Info
Submitted by
contristo On Mar 30, 2006
More Scott Walker
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Farmer In The City
The Escape
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The Luzerner Zeitung was a Swiss newpaper at the time this album was released. I guess that line might have something to do with media neutrality?
it took me years before it hit me what an unsettling image this is: "cripple fingers hit the rounds of shells / some had clinging vine; some had specks." i think scott's lyrics are probably inspired by nightmares as much as anything else, and they've probably inspired some nightmares in turn.
This song is magnificent! powerful! i like to rid emy bike to college listening to this song, i love his voice.
I've heard that this is a response to the Iraq war, but can't quite make sense of that.
Amazing song though. Possibly my favourite by Scott. It feels like all the similar earlier songs like It's Raining Today, Sleepwalker's Woman and Such a Small Love were just rehearsals for this.
I wonder about this song. On reflection it sounds like the protangist of the song is an international arms dealer who's transactions (sells his arms) in new york are contrasted by distant violence which are the consequence. Swiss newspapers neve selling out? Is Walker perhaps linking international arms dealing with international financial systems? Who knows with Walker, anything is possible! But I love this track with its lush operatic highs and deafening deadstops where a simple flute is left to toot into the dead blackness of the void.....10/10