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Not Afraid to Die Lyrics
Though our fathers' fathers slept in stolen houses
All that's over now
And our babies never cry
And we can look you in the eye
And say, "We're not afraid to die"
And yes, our mothers' mothers saw in black and white
But all that's over now
And our children never lie
And no matter how we try
We are not afraid to die
All that's over now
And our babies never cry
And we can look you in the eye
And say, "We're not afraid to die"
But all that's over now
And our children never lie
And no matter how we try
We are not afraid to die
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I could not find this song anywhere except a live version on Youtube. Anyway, I think that it is about white supremacy in the 1700s-1800s.
"Though our fathers' fathers slept in stolen houses" seems to reference to when the pilgrims came over from England to settle on the Indian's land.
But then the speaker says "All that's over now" and then leads to "we can look you in the eye and say, 'We're not afraid to die.'" He seems to say that it's in the past and forgotten.
Then the speaker says "and yes, our mothers' mothers saw in black and white." He seems to be alluding to the pre and post Civil War era (1850s) where the South was very segregated and racist.
But then the speaker says "but all that's over now" and in this stanza, he seems to have regret. He then says "no matter how we try we are not afraid to die."
It's on DARK WAS THE NIGHT compilation... track 13 of the first CD.
First of all, I just got the compilation and can't not listen to this song at least five times in a row when it comes on. Much too short. Major tease.
Secondly, while I think that 311005901's interpretation is a good one, I also believe that the lyrics are vague on purpose. I think that the song could be applied to many, many situations. Simply a fight that was won, a hope, a promise. Exhibition of strength, or even regret.
Either way, it is beautiful.
I too appreciate 311005901's interpretation and also agree with watchmedisappear that it is likely intentionally vague..
But also, I feel that there's a thick layer of denial and even some defensiveness in this song. "All that's over now/ and our babies never cry... and our children never lie" Those later two lines seem so obviously impossible that it makes you doubt the truth in the rest of the song. Perhaps the reality is that things really aren't that different and in the end, just like we've always been, we're still afraid to die. We haven't really evolved that much since the times of our mothers' mother and fathers' father.