Life has been unfaithful
And it all promised so so much
I am a relic
I am just a petrified cry
Wheeled out once a year, a cenotaph souvenir
The applause nails down my silence

La Tristesse Durera
Scream to a sigh, to a sigh
La Tristesse Durera
Scream to a sigh, to a sigh

I see liberals
I am just a fashion accessory
People send postcards
And they all hope I'm feeling well
I retreat into self-pity, it's so easy
Where they patronise my misery

La Tristesse Durera
Scream to a sigh, to a sigh
La Tristesse Durera
Scream to a sigh, to a sigh

I sold my medal
It paid a bill
It sells at market stalls
Parades Milan catwalks
The sadness will never go
Will never go away
Baby it's here to stay

La Tristesse Durera
Scream to a sigh, to a sigh
La Tristesse Durera
Scream to a sigh, to a sigh


Lyrics submitted by ShiverForMe

La Tristesse Durera Lyrics as written by Nicholas Jones James Bradfield

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh) song meanings
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23 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    its about war veterans, "lifes has been unfaithful" to them when by fighting for a just cause "promised so much".No-one thinks about them, except when theyre "wheeled out once a Year, to the cenotaph". Politicians use them to their own ends, "I see Liberals, I am just a fashion accessory". Most Veterans are so poor because of their pathetic pensions, that the have to make money somehow, "I sold my medal, it paid a bill". All in all its about the disgusting way that the elderly get treated, which is even more sad when you consider that these people fought & lost friends to allow us to live in the style weve become accustomed to.

    pose mourinhoon May 19, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    "We took the title from a book on Van Gogh, although the song's got nothing to do with Van Gogh. It means something like 'the sadness goes on', and it's about the way life doesn't get any better as you get older. It's always a beautiful image every year when the war veterans turn out at the Cenotaph, and everyone pretends to care about them - but then they're shuffled of f again and forgotten. I'm much more sympathetic towards older people than towards my generation - I think they have a lot more dignity, and seem to be able to take care of their problems themselves. People of my generation seems to be so selfish. I'm no exception, because you can't escape from the culture that surrounds you. A phrase like 'Trade Unionism', and the idea of caring about the community you come from, is now seen as laughable - and of course, that's a product of the political culture over the last 15 years." (Richey James; Melody Maker, 19 June 1993)

    manic4manicson October 23, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's about how the elderly, especially veterans, are (mis)treated by society. Lines such as "wheeled out once a year, a cenotaph souvenir" and "I sold my medal, it paid a bill" reinforce this idea.

    mytwojakeson May 30, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Its about peoples lives and their contribution to society not being recognised or appreciated - this links the Van Gogh and veterans references.

    daprincetrkon June 24, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    As has been said its about vetrans,on the face of it I think the sadness that continues is that of seeing their friends die and then being wheeled out every year to be patronised and forced to remember "Scream to a Sigh" I suppose is that the scream of death to the sigh of the apathy pensioners are forced into with no respect, prospects or means to live.

    short christmason January 22, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Guys, I think you need a European angle on this, it is about the sadness that was caused by the 1st world war, and the damage it has done to the generation that witnessed it and the generations that have followed. In Europe, the damage done continues, and has yet to be forgotton or healed.

    There is no harm in paraphasing other people in the song, it doenst mean it is about VVG though.

    Here is the cenotaph: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenotaph

    A memorial to those that lost theier lives, what the manics are saying, is that the veteran is also a monument to that undying sadness that the war caused.

    The second verse is ensconced in the veterans bitterness at how he is treated. People are only pretending to care because they cannot be see to do otherwsie.

    As for the selling of the medal, its a reflection on how we asked the greatest sacrifice and abandoned the soldiers to poverty.

    Its all about the wars.

    M

    MMFB2001on May 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'm not if it's actually about Van Gogh, or just using his as an example, or even a metaphor or something i havent figured out yet, Mainstreet may on the right lines though.

    man_kills_everythingon October 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    but the scream isn't a painting by van gogh. It's by edward munch!

    ifellinlovewithaboyon April 27, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's not about Van Gogh at all, Nicky said once. It's about veterans.

    my nothingon November 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The title, as said above, means "The sadness continues". And it has to with Van Gogh because "La Tristesse Durera" was a sentence from his suicide note. The song is not ABOUT Van Goh, but it "La Tristesse Durera" is his quote.

    the kittenesson November 25, 2004   Link

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