I'm fairy certain this song is regarding war, in particular, it is from the perspective of an individual in the military. The first versus show the aggression and passion of a new solider, and the line ending with, "release whats' brewing underneath" (incorrectly shown in the lyrics above), I believe refers to motivations of the wars in Iraq, for oil. The following verse, seems to be the solider threatening the enemy, 'to watch over their shoulder' which is also sung in a very aggressive manner. The following versus further reflect the attitudes of the solider about to go fight a war. Then the versus, 'we can laugh about it now, we hope everything works out" seems to be the prior hesitations and insecurities of the solider about to go to war. The following versus correspond to the actual war, and at this point the crescendo of the song begins reflecting the intensity of war. During which the solider has the realization of how war really is, "injuries inspire, your throat has been cut several times before, never noticed the size of the flow, it can't be ignored ". Then the song ironiclly repeats the same threat from the beginning, "watch over your shoulder" however the way it is sung seems to be in a paranoid kind of way, where now, the solider seems to be the one that has to 'look over his shoulder' because he has some sort of post traumatic stress disorder from the war, as most have when they return. The song ends that when the solider opens his eyes, the room will be turned on its side, with his world completely messed up from his service in war, but all he is left with is a letter from 'the royal we' or the government.
I think it shines a light on how a solider can be impassioned to fight a war, only to see how devastating and sick the realities of war are. Just how a person gives their life for a government agenda, and how it can completely mess up a life...
I'm fairy certain this song is regarding war, in particular, it is from the perspective of an individual in the military. The first versus show the aggression and passion of a new solider, and the line ending with, "release whats' brewing underneath" (incorrectly shown in the lyrics above), I believe refers to motivations of the wars in Iraq, for oil. The following verse, seems to be the solider threatening the enemy, 'to watch over their shoulder' which is also sung in a very aggressive manner. The following versus further reflect the attitudes of the solider about to go fight a war. Then the versus, 'we can laugh about it now, we hope everything works out" seems to be the prior hesitations and insecurities of the solider about to go to war. The following versus correspond to the actual war, and at this point the crescendo of the song begins reflecting the intensity of war. During which the solider has the realization of how war really is, "injuries inspire, your throat has been cut several times before, never noticed the size of the flow, it can't be ignored ". Then the song ironiclly repeats the same threat from the beginning, "watch over your shoulder" however the way it is sung seems to be in a paranoid kind of way, where now, the solider seems to be the one that has to 'look over his shoulder' because he has some sort of post traumatic stress disorder from the war, as most have when they return. The song ends that when the solider opens his eyes, the room will be turned on its side, with his world completely messed up from his service in war, but all he is left with is a letter from 'the royal we' or the government.
I think it shines a light on how a solider can be impassioned to fight a war, only to see how devastating and sick the realities of war are. Just how a person gives their life for a government agenda, and how it can completely mess up a life...
It's about revolution and casting down the enemy of the People. (i.e. bruising their knees)
It's about revolution and casting down the enemy of the People. (i.e. bruising their knees)
The Royal We are 'We the People'
The Royal We are 'We the People'
Silly 20-somethings...Must WE, all of us X-ers, constantly be wiping your butts and changing your diapers?
Silly 20-somethings...Must WE, all of us X-ers, constantly be wiping your butts and changing your diapers?