Hear the sound of the falling rain - this could be symbolic of soldiers' (rain drops) dying (falling)
Coming down like an Armageddon flame - this event is so tragic that it is appocalyptical in nature
The ones who die without a name - "name" here really means "cause"
Hear the dogs howlin' out of key - "dogs" refers to Republicans justifying (howlin') the war. "out of key" means the writer of the song thinks they are wrong
To a hymn called Faith and Misery - "hymn" here subtly satires the religious base of the Republican party. They have "Faith" in Bush, but is causes them Misery (deaths of children in Iraq)
And plead, the company lost the war today - again referring to the Republican party
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies - "hollow lies" referring to absence of WMD's despite Bush's statements
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives - this is the most important part of the song. "dawning" refers to an awakening or new generation that will bring peace, but...
On holiday - the promise of peace is being put on holiday by an injust war
Hear the drum pounding out of time - again musical ineptitude means corrupt in this song. This most likely refers to the percieved overbearing power of the Republicans on people against the war
Another protestor has crossed the line - this does not refer to John Kerry as I have seen others state. John Kerry supports the war but belives it was mismanaged. This means an anti-war person has said something that offended Republicans
To find, the money's on the other side - the writer thinks Republicans have all the money
Can I get another Amen - possibly another satirical reference to the religiousity of Republicans. It could also be defining the audience of the song as being anti-war
There's a flag wrapped around the score of men - the "flag" is the US flag, a symbol of freedom, it is ironically constricting this group of people (Iraq)
A gag, A plastic bag on a monument - monument refers to the statue of Sadam Hussein that was torn down. The US flag was draped over the face as it fell. Again the writer is using this symbol of freedom in an ironic way. It is suffocating like a "plastic bag" or a "gag"
Here is my take on some pieces of the song:
Hear the sound of the falling rain - this could be symbolic of soldiers' (rain drops) dying (falling) Coming down like an Armageddon flame - this event is so tragic that it is appocalyptical in nature The ones who die without a name - "name" here really means "cause"
Hear the dogs howlin' out of key - "dogs" refers to Republicans justifying (howlin') the war. "out of key" means the writer of the song thinks they are wrong To a hymn called Faith and Misery - "hymn" here subtly satires the religious base of the Republican party. They have "Faith" in Bush, but is causes them Misery (deaths of children in Iraq) And plead, the company lost the war today - again referring to the Republican party
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies - "hollow lies" referring to absence of WMD's despite Bush's statements This is the dawning of the rest of our lives - this is the most important part of the song. "dawning" refers to an awakening or new generation that will bring peace, but... On holiday - the promise of peace is being put on holiday by an injust war
Hear the drum pounding out of time - again musical ineptitude means corrupt in this song. This most likely refers to the percieved overbearing power of the Republicans on people against the war Another protestor has crossed the line - this does not refer to John Kerry as I have seen others state. John Kerry supports the war but belives it was mismanaged. This means an anti-war person has said something that offended Republicans To find, the money's on the other side - the writer thinks Republicans have all the money
Can I get another Amen - possibly another satirical reference to the religiousity of Republicans. It could also be defining the audience of the song as being anti-war There's a flag wrapped around the score of men - the "flag" is the US flag, a symbol of freedom, it is ironically constricting this group of people (Iraq) A gag, A plastic bag on a monument - monument refers to the statue of Sadam Hussein that was torn down. The US flag was draped over the face as it fell. Again the writer is using this symbol of freedom in an ironic way. It is suffocating like a "plastic bag" or a "gag"