Texarkana Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Idonotknow2 

Cover art for Texarkana lyrics by R.E.M.

A Canticle for Liebowitz (sp?) is the novel being referred to (a classic of Science Fiction).

Society is rebuilt after a devastating nuclear war by using the relics of Saint Liebowitz (an engineer from the 20th century) since all books are burned and all intellectuals killed after the "flame deluge" (nuclear war). In the end two new superpowers destroy each other, the North American superpower has its capitol in Texarkana.

Twenty thousand are the years of savagery. He would give his life to find the technology to rebuild society. The forty thousand tears in your eyes is the sadness that after all was rebuilt even greater than before the first war, the second war wipes in all away.

My Interpretation