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Written on the Forehead Lyrics
People throwing dinars at the belly-dancers
In a sad circus by a trench of burning oil
People throw belongings; a lifetime's earnings
Amongst the scattered rubbish and suitcases on the sidewalk
Date palms and orange and tangerine trees
With eyes that're crying for everything
(Let it burn! Let it burn, burn, burn)
So I talked to an old man by the generator
He was standing on the gravel by the fetid river
He turned to me and answered, "Baby, see."
Said, "War is here in our beloved city"
So I jumped in the river and tried to swim away
Through tons of sewage; they had written on their foreheads
Date palms and orange and tangerine trees
With eyes that're crying for everything
Let it burn, let it burn!
Let it burn, let it burn!
Let it burn, let it burn!
Let it burn, let it burn!
In a sad circus by a trench of burning oil
People throw belongings; a lifetime's earnings
Amongst the scattered rubbish and suitcases on the sidewalk
With eyes that're crying for everything
(Let it burn! Let it burn, burn, burn)
He was standing on the gravel by the fetid river
He turned to me and answered, "Baby, see."
Said, "War is here in our beloved city"
Through tons of sewage; they had written on their foreheads
Date palms and orange and tangerine trees
With eyes that're crying for everything
Let it burn, let it burn!
Let it burn, let it burn!
Let it burn, let it burn!
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Fishbellyface, you botched the lyrics a little too. This is a correct version as far as I can hear:
People throwing dinars at the belly-dancers in a sad circus by a trench of burning oil people throw belongings and lifetimes' earnings amongst the scattered rubbish and suitcases on the sidewalk
Date palms and orange and tangerine trees and eyes are crying for everything (Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn, burn, burn)
So I turned to an old man by the generator he was standing on the gravel by the fetid river he turned to me and then surveyed the scene said, "War is here in our beloved city." (Let it burn, let it burn burn burn)
Some dove in the river and tried to swim away through tons of sewage, fate written on their foreheads
Date palms and orange and tangerine trees and eyes are crying for everything (Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn, burn, burn)
(Blood, blood, blood, blood and fire)
The main changes being "date palms", "some dove into the water" (which makes a lot more sense than doves swimming about) and the "blood and fire" loop at the end.
This is a truly excellent song I think, probably the best on the entire album. It is pretty obvious to me it is about war coming to a Middle Eastern or North African city. Maybe the attacks on Beirut in 2006? People are fleeing or have already fled, leaving their belongings scattered about. It might also be a sign of bombing or general chaos, no one cares any more about stuff that used to be valuable.
People (women, children?) are crying from fear and/or about the destruction around them, their lives and everything they knew being torn apart. The burning oil trench might be from a burst pipeline during the attack and the generator means that the electricity grid is down. The belly dancers at the beginning implies that the immediate danger is over and people are distracting themselves with what entertainment there is to be had.
The phrase about the river is what intrigues me. Why swim away if there is no immediate danger? Maybe all bridges have been bombed, and it is the only way to cross? And why are their fates written on their foreheads? Because the river is so dirty they will die of poisoning or illness? That sounds very unpoetic. Perhaps the other side of the river is controlled by enemy forces and they will be caught and executed? I don't know.
The song fits well into the war theme that is apparent in many of the other tracks on the album. Excellent stuff.
Dinars aren't Lebanese currency (they use Pounds), so Beirut seems unlikely. I'm thinking this is likely Iraq just before/during the "Shock and Awe" bombing raids in 2003. Everyone knows the attacks are coming -- the trenches of burning oil are to create smoke to make it harder to spot targets. In the chaos, some choose to pursue pleasures like the belly dancers and some try to flee, their possessions now worthless.
Dinars aren't Lebanese currency (they use Pounds), so Beirut seems unlikely. I'm thinking this is likely Iraq just before/during the "Shock and Awe" bombing raids in 2003. Everyone knows the attacks are coming -- the trenches of burning oil are to create smoke to make it harder to spot targets. In the chaos, some choose to pursue pleasures like the belly dancers and some try to flee, their possessions now worthless.
Remember that this entire album is World War I themed. The Middle Eastern theatre was an important part of World War I, and the things that happened there are at the root of the conflict that is going on today.
Remember that this entire album is World War I themed. The Middle Eastern theatre was an important part of World War I, and the things that happened there are at the root of the conflict that is going on today.
It is clear from the lyrics that the song is about a Middle Eastern city, in chaos and about to be invaded, and the only escape is by water. From these details it seems clear that the city is Basra. Basra became an island whenever the river Euphrates was in flood. Basra was invaded by the English...
It is clear from the lyrics that the song is about a Middle Eastern city, in chaos and about to be invaded, and the only escape is by water. From these details it seems clear that the city is Basra. Basra became an island whenever the river Euphrates was in flood. Basra was invaded by the English in 1914 so that they could keep control of oil refineries and the Suez Canal, then it was attacked (unsuccessfully) by the Germans in 1915.
"Fate written on their foreheads" - this is a belief that many middle eastern Muslims hold. They have a saying that "Whatever happens in this world is by Allah's Divine Decree, and the fate of man is written on his forehead."
I think this song is about the battle of Galipolli in Turkey, at least 3 other songs on this album are- the setting makes sense to this as well i think...
These lyrics are pretty botched.
Here are the lyrics:
People throwing dinars at the belly-dancers in a sad circus by a trench of burning oil people throw belongings and lifetimes earnings amongst the scattered rubbish and suitcases on the sidewalk
Date, palms, and orange and tangerine trees and eyes are crying for everything (Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn, burn, burn)
So I turned to an old man by the generator he was standing on the gravel by the fetid river he turned to me and then surveyed the scene said, �War is here in our beloved city.� (Let it burn, let it burn burn burn)
Saw doves in the river who tried to swim away through tons of sewage, fate written on their foreheads
Date, palms, and orange and tangerine trees and eyes are crying for everything (Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn, burn, burn)
Good-good-good-good-good-bye.
Fishbellyface, those ARE the correct lyrics.
So what does this song mean? War? Maybe it talks about the cold war?
People throwing dinars at the belly-dancers in a sad circus by a trench of burning oil people throw belongings and lifetimes earnings amongst the scattered rubbish and suitcases on the sidewalk
People throwing dinars at the belly-dancers in a sad circus by a trench of burning oil people throw belongings and lifetimes earnings amongst the scattered rubbish and suitcases on the sidewalk
life's a bitch, then you die...everyone's mired in shit. the wealthy are still unfulfilled, money's not the answer the hungry are striving to be the wealthy
life's a bitch, then you die...everyone's mired in shit. the wealthy are still unfulfilled, money's not the answer the hungry are striving to be the wealthy
Date, palms, and orange and tangerine trees and eyes are crying for everything (Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn, burn, burn)
Date, palms, and orange and tangerine trees and eyes are crying for everything (Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn, burn, burn)
again, duality..beauty and destitution next to one another so let us become one
again, duality..beauty and destitution next to one another so let us become one
So I turned to...
So I turned to an old man by the generator he was standing on the gravel by the fetid river he turned to me and then surveyed the scene said, "War is here in our beloved city." (Let it burn, let it burn burn burn)
Sage says the time has come to change, war = conflict.
Saw doves in the river who tried to swim away through tons of sewage, fate written on their foreheads
more duality, beautiful doves swimming through shit.
Date, palms, and orange and tangerine trees and eyes are crying for everything (Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn, burn, burn)
Everyone's crying out for something, let the change happen. relax and enjoy the ride.
Good-good-good-good-good-bye.
Sage says peace out.
it's not all world war I themed, pj harvey has said so herself.
what is the man saying? i don't think it's "good bye"
oh, blood and fire. never mind.
oh, blood and fire. never mind.
so strange the timing of the release of this song- 'dinars' are a common middle-easern/north african currenct but they just make me think of Libya where they are used, obviously this song predated the conflict there but still... creepy
I looovvveee the ambience of this song... I can feel the compassion she has for these people and it makes me love her as the artist she is. She is telling it like it is. Just like you guys are interpreting it to be.