8 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A

The Battle of Hampton Roads Lyrics

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"

Well, I guess that what they say is true
That 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 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 he's going to murder us all

Solidarity's going to 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 that can look themselves in the face
Without winking?
Or say what they mean without drinking?
Or 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
So now 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 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 cups of patience have been 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've 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 out 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 fucking 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
8 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Add your thoughts...
Cover art for The Battle of Hampton Roads lyrics by Titus Andronicus

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.

I don't feel that this song is a call to solidarity, due to the line "solidarity's gonna give a little less than it'll take." I seems like it is the realization that the protagonist's internal civil war (the desire to be a better person vs embracing what you already are) is a draw, just the like the Battle oh Hampton Roads

Cover art for The Battle of Hampton Roads lyrics by Titus Andronicus

song of the year

I agree.

Cover art for The Battle of Hampton Roads lyrics by Titus Andronicus

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

Cover art for The Battle of Hampton Roads lyrics by Titus Andronicus

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

Cover art for The Battle of Hampton Roads lyrics by Titus Andronicus

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.

Lyric Correction
Cover art for The Battle of Hampton Roads lyrics by Titus Andronicus

"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"

Cover art for The Battle of Hampton Roads lyrics by Titus Andronicus

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

Cover art for The Battle of Hampton Roads lyrics by Titus Andronicus

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

I think it's "Is there a soul on this Earth that isn't too frightened to move?"

I would go with "each one will FLY in the face of your idea of success".

I think that one line that you're unsure of is "after deep cups of patience when drunk to the dregs." Like the dregs of a bottle or glass.

Amazing song. Really haunting and tortured though.

 
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

Ask a question...