Please, 'yeww', this isn't a place to be sending bad vibes.
Xavier's wife is Canadian, so of course he would hold North America close to his heart, and it makes perfect sense to be a song written about the Inuits or American Indians. Yes, I am Australian, so don't attack me about being a "Stupid American".
This is a song which doesn't discriminate. Native American? Australian Aborigines? Who cares who it's written about, the message is the same.
To be nitpicking between the two cultures is like sorting Smarties. They are all the same inside, no matter what their appearance. The issues afflicting both of these cultures are horrifying and need to be dealt with swiftly.
Why bloody debate over a 'financial crisis' or who has the biggest guns or bombs when we have violation of human rights under all of our noses? Who gives a damn if some corrupt corporation goes under? We have kids sniffing petrol as their prime source of entertainment. It may be depressing, but ignoring it or discriminating against it are going to do nothing to help it. NOTHING.
That said, here is my interpretation:
First Verse:
"The places that we lived ... they took away our pride"
This is referring to the original invasion of colonists. Wiping out the local culture and doing all-round terrible things to the natives. Note that this is applicable to Native Americans, Australian Aborigines and just about any other culture harmed by the sickening attitude of the colonial "whites".
"if they didn't take our lives, they took away the things that made us feel alive"
Just more culture bashing. The colonists either killed the locals or killed their culture.
Chorus:
"What have we become?"
Why did us, the natives, sink from our proud culture to become addicts, living in squalor and famine? The colonists forced them into this lifestyle which is becoming ever more apparent among indigenous youths.
Second Verse:
"the old woman reflects ... drinking that has stolen so many souls and flooded her sacred blood"
This "Old Woman" is thinking of her ancestor's proud cultural heritage and how shameful and depressing it is to see her children and other youths wasting their lives with drugs and substance abuse, not taking a moment to think of their own heritage.
A great, heartfelt and emotional song. It opens the eyes to the atrocities that are happening right under our noses.
Pride yourself upon your culture, respect those who are there to teach, don't throw it all away.
Please, 'yeww', this isn't a place to be sending bad vibes.
Xavier's wife is Canadian, so of course he would hold North America close to his heart, and it makes perfect sense to be a song written about the Inuits or American Indians. Yes, I am Australian, so don't attack me about being a "Stupid American".
This is a song which doesn't discriminate. Native American? Australian Aborigines? Who cares who it's written about, the message is the same.
To be nitpicking between the two cultures is like sorting Smarties. They are all the same inside, no matter what their appearance. The issues afflicting both of these cultures are horrifying and need to be dealt with swiftly.
Why bloody debate over a 'financial crisis' or who has the biggest guns or bombs when we have violation of human rights under all of our noses? Who gives a damn if some corrupt corporation goes under? We have kids sniffing petrol as their prime source of entertainment. It may be depressing, but ignoring it or discriminating against it are going to do nothing to help it. NOTHING.
That said, here is my interpretation:
First Verse: "The places that we lived ... they took away our pride"
This is referring to the original invasion of colonists. Wiping out the local culture and doing all-round terrible things to the natives. Note that this is applicable to Native Americans, Australian Aborigines and just about any other culture harmed by the sickening attitude of the colonial "whites".
"if they didn't take our lives, they took away the things that made us feel alive"
Just more culture bashing. The colonists either killed the locals or killed their culture.
Chorus:
"What have we become?"
Why did us, the natives, sink from our proud culture to become addicts, living in squalor and famine? The colonists forced them into this lifestyle which is becoming ever more apparent among indigenous youths.
Second Verse:
"the old woman reflects ... drinking that has stolen so many souls and flooded her sacred blood"
This "Old Woman" is thinking of her ancestor's proud cultural heritage and how shameful and depressing it is to see her children and other youths wasting their lives with drugs and substance abuse, not taking a moment to think of their own heritage.
A great, heartfelt and emotional song. It opens the eyes to the atrocities that are happening right under our noses.
Pride yourself upon your culture, respect those who are there to teach, don't throw it all away.
One Love and Peace.