This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Eight wheels lusting for the lives of infantry
(His bearings shift)
His turrets turning from accountability
(He takes his aim)
"We sing our final song and soon this verse is over."
He makes advances till his wheels cease to roll.
His God is smiling on his cold mechanic soul.
"His plot is perfect if it sees no contradiction."
There is no sign that he shows a sign of slowing.
You've stained your skin and I won't stick around
long enough to count the hearts that hit the ground.
So long ago...was I one of them?
Your urgency hastened by his ingenuity
It's just a matter of moments til your body is debris
"So say a prayer"
"His plot is perfect if it sees no contradiction."
You've stained your skin and I won't stick around
long enough to count the hearts that hit the ground.
So long ago...was I one of them?
And still he moves on
arm and iron conquer heart and soul.
and what of those in silent disconnect
sundry souls akin in consequence
begging for bliss beyond the pain
Relief is just a turret's fire away
(His bearings shift)
His turrets turning from accountability
(He takes his aim)
"We sing our final song and soon this verse is over."
He makes advances till his wheels cease to roll.
His God is smiling on his cold mechanic soul.
"His plot is perfect if it sees no contradiction."
There is no sign that he shows a sign of slowing.
You've stained your skin and I won't stick around
long enough to count the hearts that hit the ground.
So long ago...was I one of them?
Your urgency hastened by his ingenuity
It's just a matter of moments til your body is debris
"So say a prayer"
"His plot is perfect if it sees no contradiction."
You've stained your skin and I won't stick around
long enough to count the hearts that hit the ground.
So long ago...was I one of them?
And still he moves on
arm and iron conquer heart and soul.
and what of those in silent disconnect
sundry souls akin in consequence
begging for bliss beyond the pain
Relief is just a turret's fire away
Lyrics submitted by savedbygrace, edited by JayDollar
The Tank Lyrics as written by Casey Blue Crescenzo
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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He's become a war machine. He just plows through his enemies (he's very good at what he does)."You've stained your skin and I won't stick around" is him talking to a fallen soldier that he's not going to sit and watch die. "Was I one of them" suggests that he feels dead inside. "Arm and iron conquer heart and soul" along with "His plot is perfect if it sees no contradiction" supports this. As long as he disconnects himself for the "disconnect[ing] souls" who "beg for bliss", he can stay alive.
As I see it this song is referring to the Priest/Pimp. It can also be interpreted more literally as a tank in the war the Dear Hunter is apparently fighting in, but the many references to God/church make it pretty obvious.
In addition, the chorus refers to how The Dear Hunter was drawn to The Dime like all the other men.
You've stained your skin and I won't stick around long enough to count the hearts that hit the ground. So long ago...was I one of them?
I think he starts to see a parallel between the two mindless jobs of himself now, the of killing men, and what Ms. Leading was doing. Both make hearts hit the floor, and steer away from accountability. And God, whether it is her God or His goes along with whatever is being done. I think showing how people rely on their prayers and just accept the answer they themselves have put into their head as a sign from God saying what they are doing is ok. Also thus steering away from accountability. I have heard the Tank symbolizes someone he has met??
The band has said before that the entirety of their albums are about a fictional character aptly named "the boy" and this song is no exception. In the first album he is born, the second he grows up, and the third he goes off to war and in this case this song is a literal reference to a tank. I think that in the song the boy himself is driving the tank and the first verse is essentially him talking to himself about the "accountability" he has for the men's lives he is ending.
"relief is just a turret's turn away"
And what of those in silent disconnect Sundry souls akin in consequence Begging for bliss beyond the pain Relief is just a turret's turn away
im thinking him and his batalion are being attacked by a tank and as he is so close to death his thoughts stray to his past life and his love with miss leading, and he begins to make a parallel between the tank and either p+p or miss leadings life as a prozie.
"So long ago...was I one of them?" this line showing how long ago his heart break with miss leading was and it aswell as his old life seem so distant and uncertain in the face of the imediate threat but they are still there in the back of his mind.
The band says that Act III tells of "the boy" going to war to forget about his history...but he meets a previously unknown half-brother (from his military father's wartime fling). His brother is killed in battle and the boy is enraged that his father shows no remorse for his bastard son's death.
In that context, I think he is comparing his father to the tank that killed his brother. A mechanical war machine, all about precision and dealing destruction around him, uncaring of lives lost as long as he continues his objectives.
eight wheels Lusting*
I think the ending goes like this
begging for Bliss* beyond the pain Relief is just a ?'s time away
? = maybe "turret" but I'm not really sure
I'm guessing that the "souls in disconnect" are the dear hunter's character and Ms. Leading they're both suffering