This song sounds almost like a comment on the Irish War of Independence.
"Rip the earth in two with your mind"
This sounds like remembering the war, the explosions, the carnage.
"Seal the urge which ensues with brass wires"
The urge being to kill, and making a bomb or destructive weapon out of it.
"I never meant you any harm
But your tears feel warm as they fall on my forearm"
Having a family member or good friend killed in the explosion.
"But close my eyes for a while
Force from the world a patient smile"
Remembering the incident every time one sits down to think.
"How can you say that your truth is better than ours?"
Catholicism vs. Protestantism in a nutshell.
"Shoulder to shoulder, now brother, we carry no arms"
This makes me think of a funeral precession and how both sides are feeling the pain of the war.
"The blind man sleeps in the doorway, his home"
He sleeps in the doorway because his house was destroyed, and he can't go anywhere else because he's a casualty of the war.
"If only I had an enemy bigger than my apathy I could have won"
That feeling after a big event when you know you could have done something better like catch that ball or work harder in school. It's the same thing here, where he wishes he could have done something to save lives.
"But I gave you all"
Tried his best to save someone. Fought for his side.
"But you rip it from my hands
And you swear it's all gone
And you rip out all I have
Just to say that you've won"
What war is: taking something from someone else to satisfy your own goals. His life was ripped from him just because the other side wanted to win, and can say that they won.
This song sounds almost like a comment on the Irish War of Independence.
"Rip the earth in two with your mind" This sounds like remembering the war, the explosions, the carnage. "Seal the urge which ensues with brass wires" The urge being to kill, and making a bomb or destructive weapon out of it. "I never meant you any harm But your tears feel warm as they fall on my forearm" Having a family member or good friend killed in the explosion.
"But close my eyes for a while Force from the world a patient smile" Remembering the incident every time one sits down to think.
"How can you say that your truth is better than ours?" Catholicism vs. Protestantism in a nutshell. "Shoulder to shoulder, now brother, we carry no arms" This makes me think of a funeral precession and how both sides are feeling the pain of the war. "The blind man sleeps in the doorway, his home" He sleeps in the doorway because his house was destroyed, and he can't go anywhere else because he's a casualty of the war. "If only I had an enemy bigger than my apathy I could have won" That feeling after a big event when you know you could have done something better like catch that ball or work harder in school. It's the same thing here, where he wishes he could have done something to save lives.
"But I gave you all" Tried his best to save someone. Fought for his side.
"But you rip it from my hands And you swear it's all gone And you rip out all I have Just to say that you've won" What war is: taking something from someone else to satisfy your own goals. His life was ripped from him just because the other side wanted to win, and can say that they won.
"Well now you've won" He just gives up.
Feel free to add your own ideas as a reply.