Tonight, two great ships will pull back to their ports
Depleted of everything that shoots flames and reports
And in the morning the shells will wash up on the shore
And the mighty of Earth will have no other recourse
But to shiver and shake and make shit in their shorts
Because we have been told that if you've been assured
There's a way to live the values your forefathers gave you
Prepare to be told, "That shit's gay dude"
But I guess that what they say is true
And there is no race more human, no one throws it away like they do

The things I used to love I have come to reject
The things I used to hate I have learned to accept
And the worst of the three you now have to expect
Satan ain't hard to see you without craning your neck
He'll be seventy-some inches tall
He'll be chugging a beer and he'll be grabbing his balls
He's a remote explosive waiting for someone to call
He's just eighteen for now but hes going to murder us all

Solidarity's gonna give a lot less than it'll take
Is there a girl at this college who hasn't been raped?
Is there a boy in this town that's not exploding with hate?
Is there a human alive ain't looked themselves in the face
Without winking or saying what they mean without drinking
Who will believe in something without thinking
"What if somebody doesn't approve?"
Is there a soul on this earth that isn't too frightened to move?

I think the wrong people got a hold of your brain
When it was nothing but a piece of putty
Though try as you may but you will always be a tourist
Little buddy
And half the time, I open my mouth to speak
It's to repeat something that I've heard on TV
And I've destroyed everything that wouldn't make me more like Bruce Springsteen
So I'm going back to New Jersey, I do believe they've had enough of me

So when I leave Boston, my tail is between my legs
After deep cuts of patience and drunk to the dregs
And now I'm heading west on 84 again
And I'm as much of an asshole as I've ever been
And there is still nothing about myself I respect
Still haven't done anything I did not later regret
I have a hand and a napkin when I'm looking for sex
And that's no one to talk to when feeling depressed
And so now when I drink, I'm going to drink to excess
And when I smoke, I will smoke gaping holes in my chest
And when I scream, I will scream until I'm gasping for breath
And when I get sick, I will stay sick for the rest
Of my days peddling hate at the back of a Chevy Express
Each one a fart in the face of your idea of success
And if this be thy will, then fuckin' pass me the cup
And I'm sorry dad, no, I'm not making this up!

But, my enemy, it's your name on my lips as I go to sleep
And I know what little I've known of peace
Yes, I've done to you what you've done to me
And I'd be nothing without you, my darling, please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave
Please don't ever leave


Lyrics submitted by jmsbnd88, edited by ovenjack

The Battle of Hampton Roads Lyrics as written by Patrick Stickles

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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The Battle of Hampton Roads song meanings
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8 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    The beginning alludes to the actual battle of Hampton Roads. This song is basically an indictment of humanity, and a call to solidarity, to rejecting what you've been told and trusting yourself. At the end, it seems to describe a punk who knows he'd be nothing without mainstream society to rebel against.

    bazackoon December 30, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    song of the year

    Mc Scratchnsniffon September 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it's not some days wanna give, it's solidarity's gonna give

    Noraimoon January 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Such an incredible song. But where did you find those lyrics, whitestrpsrock?

    phillmatic19on February 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction

    I'm pretty sure the last little verse is as follows: But my enemy, it's your name on my lips as i go to sleep and i know what little i've known of peace yes, i've done to you what you've done to me and i'd be nothing without you my darling, please don't ever leave. please don't ever leave

    meaning that he's talking to "the enemy", and they are an integral part of his life.

    SuperRadBrianon June 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "I'm going back to new jersey..." is a reference to Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues by Bob Dylan, where he sings "I'm going back to New York City, I do think I've had enough"

    seant203on February 02, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Welcome back to Glenn Rock, Patrick. Did you enjoy your stay in Boston?

    AlBenedicton February 18, 2014   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    sort of wrong.. here's the corrections.

    tonight two great ships will pull back to their ports depleted of everything that shoots flames and reports and in the morning the shells will wash up on the shore and the mighty of earth will have no other recourse but to shiver and shake and make shit in their shorts because we have been told "men if you've been assured there's a way to live the values yr forefathers gave you prepare to be told "that shits gay dude", but i guess that what they say is true and there is no race more human, no one throws it away like they do

    the things i used to love i have come to reject the things i used to hate i have learned to accept and the worst of the three you now have to expect satan ain't hard to see you without craning your neck he'll be seventy-some inches tall he'll be chugging a beer and he'll be grabbing his balls he's a remote explosive waiting for someone to call he's just eighteen for now but hes going to murder us all

    solidarity's gonna give a little less than it'll take is there a girl at this college who hasn't been raped? is there a boy in this town that's not exploding with hate? is there a human alive ain't looked themselves in the face without winking or saying what they mean without drinking, who will believe in something without thinking what if somebody doesn't approve? is there a soul on this earth that isn't too frightened to prove?

    i think of all the people who got a hold of yr brain when it was nothing but a piece of puddy though try as you may but you will always be a tourist (oh buddy) and half the time i open my mouth to speak it's to repeat something that i've heard on tv and i've destroyed everything that wouldn't make me more like bruce springsteen so i'm going back to new jersey i do believe they've had enough of me

    so when i leave boston my tail is between my legs after deep cuts of patience and drunk to the drags?? (don't know this line) and now i'm heading west on 84 again and i'm as much of an asshole as i've ever been and there is still nothing about myself i respect still haven't done anything i did not later regret my hand and a napkin when i'm looking for sex and that's no one to talk to when feeling depressed and so now when i drink i'm going to drink to excess and when i smoke i will smoke gaping holes in my chest and when i scream i will scream until i'm gasping for breath and when i get sick i will stay sick for the rest of my days peddling hate at the back of a chevy express each one will fall in the face of yr idea of success and if this be thy will then fuckin' pass me the cup and i'm sorry dad, no i'm not making this up!

    but my enemy has yr name on my lips as i go to sleep and i know what little i've known of peace yes, i've done to you what you've done to me and i'd be nothing without you my darling, please don't ever leave. please don't ever leave

    whitestrpsrockon February 05, 2010   Link

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