In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
[Music: D.Gildenlow]
'In time of war the first casualty is truth.' 'What broke in a man when he
Could bring himself to kill another?'
We've seen it before but safe on our suburb screens
Now I am here in the flesh
A witness of war in this godforsaken scene
Far from those grey walls
See children with guns hatred and fear in their eyes
They shoot to release their pain
A conflict to solve no matter if someone dies
Protecting our interests...
Look around, soon there'll be but ruins to be found
Winner will be the last that stands
Lethal moves in a game of chess for the depraved
King or Pawn? Are you worth to save?
(What is the prize for this game we play?)
(And who are the ones that finally pay?)
If we eat more we'll get a handful of nothing
We'll be swallowing dirt
If we push more we'll get a fistful of enough
We'll be swallowing blood
They told me that we could actually save human lives
That armies would preserve the peace
And my work would save, solve and build bonds
Only lies!
And I fed their wallets...
It's strange how we speak of civilised views
While we buy that media warface they sell
A makeup for "Them" so we can decide who's to die
Cause we love it easy:
Here they are - take a good look at the beasts of war!
Let the rain wash that paint away:
Deep inside everyone's a mothers little child
Longing home, lost and led astray
And we prey on this decay!
If we eat more we'll get a handful of nothing
We'll be left with the dirt
If we push more we'll get a fistful of enough
I leave this machine...
I left my life to ease my pain
But I cannot find that cleansing rain...
Look around soon there'll be but ruins to be found
We can change - it's all in our minds...
[-D. Gildenlow]
Step by step hate controls every heart every soul
Every gun pointed at those we paint as Enemies
We provide what they need to let the game proceed
Stuck in machines somewhere we build the cross they bear
Arm to solve, kill to save... God I've felt how it smells!
"My land's my home" - we're blind!
I'm sick of the blood I find!
Step by step greed controls every heart every soul
Arm to kill, kill to live - God how could I believe...
'In time of war the first casualty is truth.' 'What broke in a man when he
Could bring himself to kill another?'
We've seen it before but safe on our suburb screens
Now I am here in the flesh
A witness of war in this godforsaken scene
Far from those grey walls
See children with guns hatred and fear in their eyes
They shoot to release their pain
A conflict to solve no matter if someone dies
Protecting our interests...
Look around, soon there'll be but ruins to be found
Winner will be the last that stands
Lethal moves in a game of chess for the depraved
King or Pawn? Are you worth to save?
(What is the prize for this game we play?)
(And who are the ones that finally pay?)
If we eat more we'll get a handful of nothing
We'll be swallowing dirt
If we push more we'll get a fistful of enough
We'll be swallowing blood
They told me that we could actually save human lives
That armies would preserve the peace
And my work would save, solve and build bonds
Only lies!
And I fed their wallets...
It's strange how we speak of civilised views
While we buy that media warface they sell
A makeup for "Them" so we can decide who's to die
Cause we love it easy:
Here they are - take a good look at the beasts of war!
Let the rain wash that paint away:
Deep inside everyone's a mothers little child
Longing home, lost and led astray
And we prey on this decay!
If we eat more we'll get a handful of nothing
We'll be left with the dirt
If we push more we'll get a fistful of enough
I leave this machine...
I left my life to ease my pain
But I cannot find that cleansing rain...
Look around soon there'll be but ruins to be found
We can change - it's all in our minds...
[-D. Gildenlow]
Step by step hate controls every heart every soul
Every gun pointed at those we paint as Enemies
We provide what they need to let the game proceed
Stuck in machines somewhere we build the cross they bear
Arm to solve, kill to save... God I've felt how it smells!
"My land's my home" - we're blind!
I'm sick of the blood I find!
Step by step greed controls every heart every soul
Arm to kill, kill to live - God how could I believe...
Lyrics submitted by carlos_avdas
Handful of Nothing Lyrics as written by Pain Of Salvation Daniel Gildenloew
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This part is missing at the end:
Step by step hate controls every heart every soul Every gun pointed at those we paint as Enemies We provide what they need to let the game proceed Stuck in machines somewhere we build the cross they bear Arm to solve, kill to save... God I've felt how it smells! "My land's my home" - we're blind! I'm sick of the blood I find! Step by step greed controls every heart every soul Arm to kill, kill to live, God how could I believe!...
@baconbacon been added now
Captain Obvious to the rescue: Disillusionment of a soldier and the heartlessness of the leaders who see soldiers just as numbers.
To dwell on the subject a bit more:
Think about your ordinary mission report from a failed mission in a difficult and dangerous war: "Out of the 100 men we sent in, 21 were injured so bad they had to be sent home, 16 suffered minor injuries, such as losing a finger or a toe, 11 were killed. 52 survived without injuries, but had to extract the others, thus leading to failure of reaching their goal."
A normal, even a bit informal, report. Now imagine your friends and neighbors... How many of a hundred is Mr Smith from 3 blocks away, who'll never see his wife again, and will never lay his eyes on his newborn daughter, cause he lost both his eyes in a grenade explosion? Hom many out of a hundred it your best buddy who'll never drink a bottle of Budweiser with you again, cause his body was brought back home in 3 separate caskets. How many out of a hundred is that girl you almost had the courage to pick up, who's body was never even found?
"God, how could I believe?", indeed.