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Sentinel Lyrics

Can we say that we are free?
Our hands are bound and voices silent
I'm sure it's not a dream
I am awake my eyes are open
I can't accept and won't concede
In aftermath we find redemption
The causes that are seized
And disguised as revolution

Quell the rage that deeply seethes
The extremes of these devotions
Dismantle the machine
The device of their creation

I can't accept and won't concede
That this is who we are
The conflict that is seized
And disguised as greater notions

To the songs that sing of glory and the brave
Are we dreaming there are better days to come?
When will the banners and the victory parades
Celebrate the day a better world was won?

On the day
The storm has just begun
I will still hope
There are better days to come

In the face of what I say
My words return to anger
Malevolence in need
Cannot provide direction
I won't accept this thought
That this is who we are
Positions never change
Losing all forward motion

Harbour that which deeply seethes
Temper your devotion
Dismantle the machine
The device of your convictions

I can't accept and won't concede
That this is who we are
The conflict that is seized
And disguised as greater notions

To the songs that sing of glory and the brave
Are we dreaming there are better days to come?
When will the banners and the victory parades
Celebrate the day a better world was won?

To the songs that sing of the glory and the brave
Are we dreaming there are better days to come?
When will the banners and the victory parades
Celebrate the day a better world was won?

On the day the storm has just begun
I will still hope there are better days to come

On the day the storm has just begun
I will still hope there are better days to come
Song Info
Submitted by
songmeanings On Feb 06, 2012
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5 Meanings

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Cover art for Sentinel lyrics by VNV Nation

It's a beautiful song.

Ronan tends to parallel internal conflict and external struggle. So it's definitely asking Are We In The Best We Can Be In...but is it a question for Society or for Self?

@OneChaos both

My Opinion
Cover art for Sentinel lyrics by VNV Nation

The best song from Vnv (or any other band aswell) since "Arena" 2005.

Ronan has always been a master of describing humanity in it´s finest & worst moments, and so he does here.

This song is, as I see it, like so many other songs from Ronan, question wether we are capabel of using all our knowledge and machines to make this world a better place - or just continue as we do - and doom ourselwes.

"To the songs that sing of glory and the brave, are we dreaming there are better days to come?" Seems to me, like a legid question. Cause are our wars really fought to enproven life-quality for humans, or just to benefit some chosen elite? " And here he asks the same question:"When will the banners and the victory parade, celebrate the day a better world is won?"

The chorus lyrics together with the melodie is pure poetry, and one of the best chorus I´we ever heard.

Cover art for Sentinel lyrics by VNV Nation

The song truly defines what VNV Nation is/was all about.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Sentinel lyrics by VNV Nation

Its about the endless struggle. Ever win "or victory parade" is merely a lead up to the next struggle. As the guy below me said, this is true internally as well as externally (literal victory parades for example).

"On the day the storm has just begun I will still hope there are better days to come" Even as he recognizes this incongruity, a human being must believe that the struggle could end, and it is that hope that drives us.

But worse, do most of us hope for better days? or do their songs about bravery and glory are just meant to glorify the struggle? Does perseverance in the face of opposition, natural or human, lead to acceptance and glorification of violence or to the hope that we will eventually become better than that?

Stick your head between his young crotch tonight and continue to hide your FULL personality as you screw his naive, easily-manipulative brains out and I'm sure you'll feel better. WoW. Sounds like love. Is this #300 in a decade or is that number higher. Yes, definitely true love.

Cover art for Sentinel lyrics by VNV Nation

To me, its about how when a side wins a big war, we throw banners, parades. We celebrate that we won a tragic war. But war only benefits the other end most of the time. So we completely shun out the side that lost. Hence the "When will the banners and the victory parades celebrate the day a better world is won?" Since Ronan lives in a area that was destroyed by war, that definitely correlates to the albums purpose. Just how France, Britain ignored and forced Germany to pay reparations after WW1. Definitely one of my favorite VNV track in recent times!

My Interpretation