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Coalman Lyrics
If we try too hard, forgive us
If we try too hard
If we think too much, control us
If we think too much
Take a bow in front of us, now
Take a bow in spite of us, now
If we want too much, ignore us
If we want too much
Can we give some back in offer?
Can we give some back?
Take a bow in front of us, now
Take a bow in spite of us, now
And lo, our voice became one
And the tide did turn
And there were voices overhead
What's done is done
And we forgot compassion
For we had won
And choice for all is ours alone
What's won is won
We have time enough to take you
We have time enough
And when we succeed, we'll break you
And we will succeed
Take a bow in front of us, now
Take a long last look at us, now
And victor's justice is ours
And you'll have none
All life is ours to justify
We won, we won
And it's our right to own you
And you'll succumb
And freedom's ours for evermore
Your lives are done
If we try too hard
If we think too much, control us
If we think too much
Take a bow in spite of us, now
If we want too much
Can we give some back in offer?
Can we give some back?
Take a bow in spite of us, now
And the tide did turn
And there were voices overhead
What's done is done
For we had won
And choice for all is ours alone
What's won is won
We have time enough
And when we succeed, we'll break you
And we will succeed
Take a long last look at us, now
And you'll have none
All life is ours to justify
We won, we won
And you'll succumb
And freedom's ours for evermore
Your lives are done
Song Info
Submitted by
delial On Feb 10, 2007
More The Delgados
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I've always heard this song and thought about the Roman Empire... The last lines especially "And it's our right to own you ..." give me that owner/slave vibe, which isn't unique to Rome but it's what stuck for me. Weird.
Anyway you see it, this is definitely one of the best Delgados songs there is... Emma Pollock's voice floats above and behind the other vocals beautifully.
And lo, our voice became one
*And there were voices overhead.
For we HAD won.
*And choice for all is ours alone.
And victor's justice is ours
Our life is ours to justify.
*And it's our right to own you
Corrections marked with an asterisk indicate slight uncertainty. Seems to be about a rebellion force overtaking a harmful government, only to BECOME the next harmful government (And we forgot compassion).
I'm not sure what the first two stanzas mean. They seem to be rather sarcastic, pointing out the ludicrous demands of the leadership. Mebbe, I'm not sure
Thanks for this one. I think it's deep. Without compassion a person becomes like a stone.
Even the smartest person. Especially the smartest person.
I wonder if this is about a totalitarian state.