The Royal We

General CommentThis is my first post here, and this song inspired me to join up. After poring over the lyrics, I really think this song is about drug addiction and overdose. I will break down my observations.

We are ready for the siege.
We are armed up to the teeth.
Be careful how you live and breathe.
Release what’s brewing underneath.

The subject of the song is addicted to a substance, and the song is sung through the voice in the addict’s head that craves the drugs. The addict must put his/her guard up to hide the addiction in everyday life. The addict sees the drugs as a partner to help him/her get through life. The drugs tell the addict to be careful how he/she carries him/herself in public. Control the urges and don’t let on any clues about the addiction.

How many times do you want to die?
How many ways do you want to die?
To feel safe again, look over your shoulder.
Very carefully, look over your shoulder.

The drugs are tempting. “Die” in the song means to get high. The addict kills a little bit of him/herself every time he/she gets high. How many times? How many ways? The possibilities are endless. However, the subject is growing increasingly more paranoid about getting caught even as he/she mulls the options.

We can laugh about it now.
We hope everything works out.
Be careful how you lick your wounds.
Believe a change is coming soon.

The subject has managed to hide his/her addiction well for a long time but knows that it can’t stay hidden forever, and a change will come when it is finally revealed: either being made to quit or being killed by the drugs.

How many times do you want to die?
How many ways do you want to die?
To feel safe again, look over your shoulder.
Very carefully, look over your shoulder.

The music calms as the addict’s paranoia subsides and he/she prepares to get high.

You used to do a little, but a little won’t fly.
And right before you hit your prime
That’s when we fell in love, but not the first time.

It’s taking more and more of the drug to get the desired effect. The addict has to keep upping the dosage. He/she has been using for sometime and reminisces to a time when he/she was very young and first started using, before he/she hit his/her prime.

Can it please you still, renaming your father’s will?
Or does it make you ill?
Let us bruise their knees.
We will aim straight for the feed.
You will be relieved.

The drug no longer brings feelings of pleasure. It has simply become a necessity for the addict’s survival. The addict may even generally feel guilt and depression as the high subsides. “Renaming your father’s will” could refer to the fact that the addict is a disappointment to his/her family and feels isolated. The feed is the feelings of depression, guilt, and self-loathing the addict is experiencing and the injection of the narcotic will bring relief in the form of numbing those feelings and a temporary escape from reality. The music swells to simulate the awakening of the senses as the drug takes hold.

So relieved, so relieved
Turn on full desire
Feel the sparks of the friendly fire
Misery inspires

The high kicks in, bringing temporary but false relief. The “sparks of friendly fire” is the explosion of the high inside the addict’s body, engulfing the senses, and obviously the need was inspired by the misery of withdrawal and self-loathing.

Your throat has been cut several times before.
Never noticed the size of the flow
It can't be ignored.

The addict has done this dance with death many times in the past, and is committing slow suicide with every dose, but this time something is different. He/she has overdone it. He/she slowly realizes what they cannot ignore now: that the drug is going to kill them. Now panic sets in.

To feel safe again, look over your shoulder
Carefully look over your shoulder
You said you believed it but believing won’t fly.
And right before you hit your prime
That's when we fell in love but not the first time.

This time, the paranoia is justified, and the addict tries to reassure him/herself but the cold realization starts to seep in. The addict said they knew the risks of the drugs but has taken those risks for granted, thinking, “Other people get affected that way. It won’t happen to me.” The drugs reiterate how long they’ve had a hold on the addict in question. The addict’s final thoughts are of regret, remembering those first few times using the drug, how good it felt, how seductive it was, how different from what it became.

And when it's all over and you open your eyes to see the room turned on its side
You'll be lying by a note on the floor signed, The Royal We.
The Royal We
The Royal We
The Royal We
The Royal We
The Royal We
The Royal We
The Royal We
Love, The Royal We

The last thing the addict sees as the high subsides and the overdose takes hold is the room turned on its side as he/she collapses, and the “note” represents the drugs’ final lasting legacy — death — and it is “signed, The Royal We,” which is the collection of narcotics that has teamed up to kill the person who worshipped them. “Love, The Royal We” is sarcastic. The music continues to swell as the high grows fatal and abruptly stops to simulate death.

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General CommentCome on boy's it's really not that mysterious of a song. The lyrics are very good, but it's not like he is being obscure or writing in the abstract here. One comment said 'it feels like the most important song on the album' but he was at a lose when it came to lyrical comprehension, important is a broad term though it is clearly the most urgent song on the album. Musically orchestrated to summon a cosmic energy that wraps around the lyrics beautifully and highlights the fight of the authors life, as well as his lovers. Look guys it's not about war, don't just look at words like siege or royal we and attach bureaucratic thoughts of conquest to it. I guess because of terms like friendly fire if one just glanced at that phrase and didn't see the poem as a whole, that conclusion could be drawn. Fact of the matter is that the scope of this song is not universal or even interpersonal, it is merely the authors struggle with drug use (heroin probably) and his fighting struggle (war) to remove the drugs influence over his life. He is also expressing guilt and speaking of a struggle to come to terms with the fact that he involved his lover in the abuse of the heroine. references to being 'armed for the fight' are shown throughout the peice, and withdrawal is a major theme as well. Not a super deep song, it was written from a very tonal level of perception. Though the beauty of it lies in the pure sincerity are intensity of his desire and awareness to overcome. Perhaps ssp best song

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General CommentA few differences from original post:

We are ready for the siege
We are armed up to the teeth
Be careful how you live and breathe
Release what's broken underneath

How many times do you wanna die?
How many ways do you wanna die?

Do you feel safe again? Look over your shoulder
Very carefully look over your shoulder

We can laugh about it now
We hope everything works out
Be careful how you lick your wounds
Believe that change is coming soon

How many times do you wanna die?
How many ways do you wanna die?

Do you feel safe again? Look over your shoulder
Very carefully look over your shoulder

You used to do a little, but a little won't fly
Right before you hit your prime
That's when we fell in love, but not the first time

Can I please you still?
Remain in your father's will
Or does it make you ill?

Let us bruise their knees
We went in straight for a defeat
You will be relieved

So relieved, so relieved to the flow, and desire
Bitter sparks to the friendly fire
Misery inspires

Your throwin' me cuts several times before
Never noticed the size of the flow
Make it be ignored

Do you feel safe again? Look over your shoulder
Carefully look over your shoulder

You said you believe, but believing won't fly
Right before you hit your prime
That's when we fell in love, but not the first time

And when it's all over and you open your eyes
You see the room turned on its side
And you'll be lying down and over on the floor; signed,

The Royal We (x8)
Love, The Royal We

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General CommentI'm fairy certain this song is regarding war, in particular, it is from the perspective of an individual in the military. The first versus show the aggression and passion of a new solider, and the line ending with, "release whats' brewing underneath" (incorrectly shown in the lyrics above), I believe refers to motivations of the wars in Iraq, for oil. The following verse, seems to be the solider threatening the enemy, 'to watch over their shoulder' which is also sung in a very aggressive manner. The following versus further reflect the attitudes of the solider about to go fight a war. Then the versus, 'we can laugh about it now, we hope everything works out" seems to be the prior hesitations and insecurities of the solider about to go to war. The following versus correspond to the actual war, and at this point the crescendo of the song begins reflecting the intensity of war. During which the solider has the realization of how war really is, "injuries inspire, your throat has been cut several times before, never noticed the size of the flow, it can't be ignored ". Then the song ironiclly repeats the same threat from the beginning, "watch over your shoulder" however the way it is sung seems to be in a paranoid kind of way, where now, the solider seems to be the one that has to 'look over his shoulder' because he has some sort of post traumatic stress disorder from the war, as most have when they return. The song ends that when the solider opens his eyes, the room will be turned on its side, with his world completely messed up from his service in war, but all he is left with is a letter from 'the royal we' or the government.

I think it shines a light on how a solider can be impassioned to fight a war, only to see how devastating and sick the realities of war are. Just how a person gives their life for a government agenda, and how it can completely mess up a life...

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Song MeaningWe are ready for the siege,
and we are armed up to the teeth.
Be careful how you live and breathe.
Release what's brewing underneath.

To me this screams someone walking on eggshells, knowing that your on the precipice, that something is going to break, "be careful how you live and breathe." But if you do disturb the water, you are ready, "armed to the teeth," and being honest with yourself you know that it must be done, "release whats brewing underneath."

How many times do you wanna die?
How many ways do you wanna die?
Do you feel safe again?
Look over your shoulder.
Very carefully, look over your shoulder.

This is fairly straightforward, how many times is this relationship going to keep going through this cycle of death and recovery. The repetition of the question even though in different forms comes from a place of despair, not knowing or even possibly not wanting to know the answer, and is punctuated by asking if its now safe. For me atleast this is probably one of their best chorus's om the entire album.

We can laugh about it now,
and we hope everything works out.
Be careful how you lick your wounds.
Believe that change is coming soon.

This verse tragically serves as the precedent and antcedent condition of their entire relationship depending on when the next or last "fight" was. "We can laugh about it now," is blantantly ironic and is meant to be, this line was not an accident, especially in the context in which we find it currently. The feeling of death and despair in the chorus previous contrasts so obvious with this it is hard for me atleast to beleive this song is about anything but love. Licking your wounds carefully adds even more to the irony, he/she is admitting to that there are consequences to keeping this relationship going, and dissmissing them, ignorance is bliss, the next line futher reinforces this feeling.

How many times do you wanna die?
How many ways do you wanna die?
Do you feel safe again?
Look over your shoulder.
Very carefully, look over your shoulder.

Like I said before this chorus is probably the best on the entire album, and now I will explain why I beleive that. The first verse was essentially to describe the precedent, the build up to the eventual and invetable climax or fight, and the chorus was used to relfect that, a feeling of anxiety and trepidation so ensues, and is instilled in the chorus. Now however the chorus takes on new meaning, because now it is from a new perspective an antcedant one, full of remorse, a poignant sense of dissatisfaction even perhaps, and in my opinion is reinforced by all the irony within the verse that this chorus now follows.

You used to do a little, but a little won't fly.
Right before you hit your prime,
that's when we fell in love, but not the first time.

Failed expectations and not realizing potential it seems is what ultimately dooms this relationship. "Prime," has a very disntict connotation within our culture it conveys ones own full or highest potential and its use reflects a sense of dissatisfaction and even anger when used following the line "you used to a little, but a little won't fly," esstentially saying its not enough, you are not enough, I thought you could be. For me this line serves not only as the relationships fatal flaw but a societal flaw instilled on us to abandon our own preceived conventions and to strive for more. Why cant we just be happy with the one we love? The last line in this verse provides us with the core tragedy of this relationship, and that is that it is doomed to keep repeating itself over and over again. This is further reinforced with its useage again later in this song, and also the title of the song and its repetitive useage at the end of the song. However we will also see that, "right before you hit your prime," will take on yet another meaning. Kind of a theme within this song.


Can I please you still?
Remain in your father's will?
Or does it make you ill?

The feeling of despair crawls back in, the future is uncertain if we are uncertain. The repitition of questions haunts our own feelings of not being in the know, but still being in the want or need. Not knowing if the love is gone but still needing it. Uncertaintity is insanity, and while the questions seem to be linked by a very clever rhythmic device however upon closer inspection they seem random and chaotic, fueled by the disturbance the pertubation instills.

Let us bruise their knees.
We went in straight for a defeat.
You will be relieved...

This verse throws me off alittle, but I get the sense that "let us bruise their kneesw," comes somewhere from those that love and cherish this couples happiness. The act of being on ones knees instantly flashes in my mind a picture of someone praying and in the context of the lines and the meaning of the song I can only come to this conclusion. The following lines seems to provide the context of what the prayors may be asking for, the end of this relationship, the following lines I feel reflect this, "friendly fire," and "misery inspires" best describe this correlation, and if you reverse them you get "misery inspires, friendly fire." Clever. The last verse in this set best reinforces the feeling of urgency the family or the outsiders with "bruised knees," are feeling. They are apprehensive and participant in this couples struggle, "your throat has been cut several times before," but now they feel they must intervene.

So relieved, so relieved of all your desire.
Feel the sparks of our friendly fire.
Misery inspires.

Your throat has been cut several times before.
Never noticed the size of the flow,
'nd it can't be ignored.


Do you feel again?
Look over your shoulder.
Carefully, look over your shoulder.

Again the chorus, and another twist to it, but this time without the inclusion of the questions "How many times do you wanna die? How many ways do you wanna die?." Consider that this is intentional, and now consider what this may be implying. Acceptance, or rather an acceptance based on the tragic cycle this relationship cant seem to fly away from. Abandoning hope, the chorus takes us to yet another level of despair, the last stage in this tragedy, the inevitable conclusion, rather the only conclusion, suicide. The entire song was building up to this, the music the lyrics the meaning, no tragedy is complete without ultimate sacrifice.

You said you believed it, but believing won't fly.
Right before you hit your prime,
that's when we fell in love, but not the first time.

Repeating "right before you hit your prime," at this piont in the song is the key component and its other meaning, an untimely death. This song's tragedy is the "vile forfeit of untimely death" (Romeo and Juliet)

As I said previous that this couple is doomed to repeat this cycle of death and rejuvination, consider that while reading the last line of this song, and keep in mind the themes we've uncovered. The feelings of hopelessness despair of poignant loss and inevitable conclusion that there was only one way out.

And when it's all over, and you open your eyes,
you see the room turned on its side,
and you'll be lying by an order on the floor signed:

This last verse is the most obvious to us that this entire song seems to be a commentary on a suicide note, it speaks from beyond the grave so to speak. "And when its all over, and you open your eyes," conveys a bargaining aspect to it almost, saying this was the only way for us, the only way to be free of eachother. "And you'll be lying by an order on the floor signed...."

Order 5th definition: a condition in which each thing is properly disposed with reference to other things and to its purpose; methodical or harmonious arrangement. The note is essentially the summary and the justification for the actions the person took, not having to constantly be "looking over your shoulder," for death but taking it into their own hands, ending the cycle.

The Royal We. (x8)
Love, The Royal We

I've read some interesting things about the "Royal We," whether it be a pronoun for a majestic plural, or an elected body, or a military connotation with which many have seem to be drawn to when basing their conclusion as to the meaning of this song. Though in contrast to what i've just stated doesnt seem to make much sense for a title of a song. Until you think Shakespears Romeo and Juliet, and the term out of the context it is usually applied do you make a new picture of what the "Royal We" stands for, the tragic young couple.

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General CommentDiphen's lyrics are correct except one thing, and I'm seeing this mistake everywhere. Its not "your throwin' me cuts several times before" its

"Your throat has been cut several times before"

RIGHT?

Am i crazy cause thats definitely what i hear

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General Commentyou know, i dont know if this is right at all, but to me, its a soldier who had a high rank (which would explain the royal we) who betrayed his own army (the part about the friendly fire) by sending them right into battle, a slaughter (we went in straight for defeat), because he knew his army had no chance of winning (the army in the beginning ready for the siege/armed up to the teeth), so he swapped sides, but then feels bad about it and literally stops "believing in his decision" and kills himself and the high ranks of the people whom he betrayed his army for, and that is the ending part, and this is the letter that he wrote to his own people, a somewhat of apology....

to me, that is what makes sense for this song

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General CommentAdvice- when interpreting someone's work, try not to attach everything you are feeling into their words. To understand art one must suspend preconceived judgments and suspend their desire to relate. Art isn't about relating it's about creating. Don't get hooked on a phrase or two and attach meaning that is central to your feelings so you can attempt to relate to the work. Take it in as a whole and remove yourself from the equation. Only through detachment can one truly see, hear, feel art. Perhaps this why so many of you struggled to find the meaning of the song, or had interpretations that were just absolutely off.

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Lyric CorrectionPosted lyrics are way off, and even the "official" lyrics from the SSPU website are wrong. This, I'm fairly certain, is correct:

=======================================
We are ready for the siege
We are armed up to the teeth
Be careful how you live and breathe
Release what's brewing underneath

How many times do you want to die?
How many ways do you want to die?
To feel safe again look over your shoulder
Very carefully look over your shoulder

We can laugh about it now
We hope everything works out
Be careful how you lick your wounds
Believe the change is coming soon

How many times do you want to die?
How many ways do you want to die?
To feel safe again look over your shoulder
Very carefully look over your shoulder

You used to do a little but a little wont fly
Right before you hit your prime
That's when we fell in love but not the first time

Can it please you still
Renaming your father's will
Or does it make you ill?
Let us bruise their knees
We will aim straight for the feed
You will be relieved
So relieved, so relieved

Turn on full desire
Feel the sparks to the friendly fire
Misery inspires
Your throat has been cut
Several times before
Never noticed the size of the flow
It can't be ignored
To feel safe again look over your shoulder
Carefully look over your shoulder

You said you believed it but believing wont fly
And right before you hit your prime
That's when we fell in love but not the first time

And when it's all over and you open your eyes
To see the room turned on it's side
You'll be lying by a note on the floor signed...
...the royal we
The royal we
The royal we
The royal we
The royal we
The royal we
The royal we
The royal we
Love, the royal we
=======================================

What's kind of eerie, though, is if you listen to the line "Renaming your father's will", but expect to hear "Renamed in your father's will," you will HEAR that "d" at the end of "renamed." But if you expect to hear "Renaming," it will sound just like that, with no trace of that voiced alveolar stop (though at that speed, it's more like a flap/tap). It's like that optical illusion with the silhouette of the dancer, and if you take it for granted she is spinning clockwise, she will look like she's spinning clockwise, but if you decide she's spinning counter-clockwise, she will instead look like she's spinning counter-clockwise.

Very weird. In this case, I defer to the band's official lyrics.

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Lyric CorrectionI am amazed at the lack of correct lyrics I find for this song. Anyone who has seen the video would know probably 99% of the lyrics for sure. There is a huge amount of debate on the line "make it be ignored." It is actually "and it can be ignored," the singer just doesn't pronounce "and." It is apparent in the video. The very best line, in my opinion, is also gotten wrong almost every single time I've seen it: "and you'll be lying down and over on the floor...signed" or "and you'll be lying by a note on the floor signed" is actually "and you'll be lying BY AN ORDER on the floor signed, The Royal We." Love that line.

We are ready for the siege,
and we are armed up to the teeth.
Be careful how you life and breathe.
Release what's brewing underneath.

How many times do you wanna die?
How many ways do you wanna die?
Do you feel safe again?
Look over your shoulder.
Very carefully, look over your shoulder.

We can laugh about it now,
and we hope everything works out.
Be careful how you lick your wounds.
Believe that change is coming soon.

How many times do you wanna die?
How many ways do you wanna die?
Do you feel safe again?
Look over your shoulder.
Very carefully, look over your shoulder.

You used to do a little, but a little won't fly.
Right before you hit your prime,
that's when we fell in love, but not the first time.

Can I please you still?
Remain in your father's will?
Or does it make you ill?

Let us bruise their knees.
We went in straight for a defeat.
You will be relieved...

So relieved, so relieved of all your desire.
Feel the sparks of our friendly fire.
Misery inspires.

Your throat has been cut several times before.
Never noticed the size of the flow,
'nd it can be ignored.

Do you feel again?
Look over your shoulder.
Carefully, look over your shoulder.

You said you believed it, but believing won't fly.
Right before you hit your prime,
that's when we fell in love, but not the first time.

And when it's all over, and you open your eyes,
you see the room turned on its side,
and you'll be lying by an order on the floor signed:

The Royal We. (x8)
Love, The Royal We


(I would guarantee these are at least 99% correct, FAR more accurate than any lyrics posted on this or any other website except Metro Lyrics since I just submitted the same corrections. Go watch the video...many of them are obvious.)

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