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Ash Lyrics
We set out at dusk, we left them, well, not much
The boys were shouting and kicking up dust
Oh, and as we ran with the fire behind us, and a torch in my hand
I knew I couldn't do it again!
The ghosts were howling in the late afternoon
We were singing along to the same old tune
I turned to my brothers to look them in the eyes
There was ash, ash falling from the sky
The moon cast a little light
But the flames lit up the night
All the animals laid down and died
And there was ash
Oh, and as we ran
With the fire behind us
And the torch in my hand
I knew I couldn't do it again!
The ghosts were howling in the late afternoon
We were singing along to the same old tune
I turned to my brothers to look them in the eyes
There was ash, ash falling from the sky
And who could tell the dogs from the men?
I seen their faces and I know where they've been
I know I'm with them, but I ain't like them!
And who could tell the dogs from the men?
I seen their faces and I know where they've been
I know I'm with them, but I ain't like them!
It makes me so tired
I was like smoke without the fire
And I know I ain't like them, no!
The boys were shouting and kicking up dust
Oh, and as we ran with the fire behind us, and a torch in my hand
I knew I couldn't do it again!
We were singing along to the same old tune
I turned to my brothers to look them in the eyes
There was ash, ash falling from the sky
But the flames lit up the night
All the animals laid down and died
And there was ash
With the fire behind us
And the torch in my hand
I knew I couldn't do it again!
We were singing along to the same old tune
I turned to my brothers to look them in the eyes
There was ash, ash falling from the sky
I seen their faces and I know where they've been
I know I'm with them, but I ain't like them!
I seen their faces and I know where they've been
I know I'm with them, but I ain't like them!
I was like smoke without the fire
And I know I ain't like them, no!
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I think this is sort of the turning point of the album, where the narrator becomes more of a moral person. In earlier songs like Rumbrave he revels in death and destruction, but here he's troubled by it. He hasn't completely changed yet since he still does it, but he makes a distinction between himself and his accomplices "I know I'm with 'em, but I ain't like them." It's clear that a fundamental change in his life is coming
I call unreliable narrator.
"I seen their faces and I know where they've been. I know I'm with 'em, but I ain't like them!"
The speaker claims that he's somehow above his brothers in arms, even though he's carrying a torch that he clearly just used to help burn down a town.
Those are the best lines.
I see there faces, and I know where they've been. I know I'm with them but I aint like that."
It's said that the album is loosely based on the Odyssey, which makes perfect sense here. It reminds me of a soldier in a war that has done things, and has been ordered to do things that question his morals. A good example of this would be the film Glory, in which the regiment which the film revolves around, is ordered to burn down a southern town. The colonel refuses to participate at first, but finally gives the order after being threatened with court-marshall. His men cleary don't want to be a part of these obvious war crimes, while watching the other regiment ("the dogs") burn down these innocent peoples homes, but they have no choice.
"Oh and as we ran, with the fire behind us and the torch in my hand."
Anyway. . .
I think this is sort of the turning point of the album, where the narrator becomes more of a moral person. In earlier songs like Rumbrave he revels in death and destruction, but here he's troubled by it. He hasn't completely changed yet since he still does it, but he makes a distinction between himself and his accomplices "I know I'm with 'em, but I ain't like them." It's clear that a fundamental change in his life is coming