Empire Lyrics
Who'd question the goodness of the mighty?
We who banish the threat,
When your little ones all go nighty-nighty.
and less time to explain.
So get back on your horses,
kiss my ring, join our next campaign.
With more fear to conquer
and more gold thread for spinning.
Bright as the sun, shining on everyone.
and we find that ingenuously churlish.
Words are just words.
Don't be so pessimistic, weak and girlish.
who don't think there's something wrong with pride,
Work makes them free
and we spread that freedom far and wide.
the seeds of its glory,
For every five tanks,
plant a sentimental story,
till they worship the sun,
even Christ-loving ones.
and a million of their races.
But when our people torture you
that's a few random cases.
It doesn't help anyone.
when it was too late to stop us.
Everyone had awakened
to the dream they could enter our colossus.
here you said I'm right,
there's nothing that can harm me.
Cause the sun never sets
on my dungeons or my army.
on it's own splintered axis.
And the emperor wanes
as the silver moon waxes.
In their strawberry fields
while somebody somewhere
twists his ring as someone kneels.
Oh where is the sun, shining for everyone.
Somehow I got the feeling that this was about the Roman Empire.
How is it that there is only one comment on this song? Disgusting. This is an ASTOUNDING song. I got a few different different impressions from this song. Which one I think is right tends to change with my mood.
My first impression is that it's about Nazi Germany. Including the infamous "work makes you free" mantra of Auschwitz was the kicker for me. Other things that drive this point home would be the mindset of the 'emperor' portrayed in the song. Hitler never thought he would lose until the Allies were already on his doorstep. Also the line about 'for every five tanks plant a sentimental story' also seems to tie in. The Nazis were MASTERS of propaganda. This is also highlighted in the verse 'Well, there's no time for doubt right now, and less time to explain. So get back on your horses, kiss my ring, join our next campaign.' The parts in which 'The Journalist cried out' and when they (the common people) 'awakened' would be the anti-nazi propaganda and the events that led the United States into joining the war. Could in the previously mentioned lyric doesn't imply the choice that they may join the empire if they chose, but rather that they WILL unless they do something. Shortly after the Americans joined the war the Nazi empire collapsed. In the next chorus section in the song the 'empire' falls. Also, the inclusion of the word 'axis' might be a slight subliminal cue pointing towards the Axis of Evil (Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Japan). The last bit about someone else 'twisting his ring' could mean a number of things. Maybe the allied occupation of Germany? Maybe a reference at Soviet Russia? Hard to tell.
Another idea I had (probably the correct one despite me personally liking the first more) was that the song was about the recent imperialistic ideas of The United States. The Song could be drawing a similarity between the U.S.'s aggressive actions in the Middle East with that of a common dictator. The journalist (as well as about every teenager with some poster board) cried out and protested against America's (IMO) rash and brutish tactics against. The latter part of the song is illustrating that the empire in the story fell because it was so corrupt, and that is what will happen to the U.S. if they continue to pursue greedy, self-righteous wars. You may or may not agree with this insight and it's largely opinion, most of it my own, drawn from the lyrics.
My last idea is that the 'empire' isn't actually a country at all, but a metaphor for an arrogant, self centered person. They're always right, and their influence is powerful and far reaching. They're convinced they could never be hurt or damaged by anything. But life is merciless, and all the world is yanked right out from under them in a startling climax that they never saw coming ("The sun never sets on my dungeons or my army." And the empire fell...)
These are all just my own personal insights though after listening to the song on repeat for sometime. Personally, I'd figure it was the second of my elaborated theories, since songs about this are far from uncommon. But who knows? Maybe the beauty of the song is that it's up for you to decide who the 'Empire' is?
My first impression was that it was about the US (terrorist/torture as a reference to the current wars, and strawberry fields to the war in Vietnam), then I realized that it was intentionally vague and applicable to every empire. It describes the flaws, motivations, and practices that are common in all empires. The second to last verse is a statement that after one empire falls another one will rise to fill the void.
It's a dig at George Bush. "Who's afraid of the sun" is a double meaning (swap sun for son).