First of all, this is a kick-ass song and one my favorites of the album. I've always thought this song described the process of humanity's decline, and a possible look at the after effects.
"dry wind chars human storm lies barren wasted"
A description of a dead planet, ravaged by humanity's folly.
"greed taints water thirst"
"death grabs at stillborn child
another low test pesticide"
A pesticide deemed "safe" is actually lethal. Our greed has poisoned the water.
"not until they are dead
believe in words attaching dread
no meaning "
No one pays attention to the warning until they're already dead. Words that tell of the dread to come have no meaning because no one is listening.
"no chance to rectify"
No one cares until they die, so no one can change anything. There is no escape from ultimate obliteration.
"nightmare running races skyward
tower boil black water tea
contagious waste disposal growing"
Suddenly, the song speeds up and gets almost frantic: too much waiting, too little action. Everything spirals out of control. The end of civilization/life as we know it is here.
"blind faith a tragedy
propagate safe history
blind faith a tragedy
propagate safe history"
I don't think this needs much explanation.
"creatures running underground
all the cages rusted
displaced food bowls empty now
fit for the licking"
I can think of two interpretations for this section.
First, all the creatures imprisoned by humanity in zoos or animal testing facilities are free now that we (humans) are gone. They are left to fend for themselves in the inhospitable world we left them.
Second, humans are the creatures mentioned, now reduced to live the lives of their ancestors following the collapse of civilization.
"faces form memory
blind faith stupidity
races run secretly
blind faith a tragedy"
All the faces die and disappear. All that is left is a distant, misunderstood memory.
"not until they are dead
stop breathing
fleas attach themselves
biting bits of flesh consuming
words once hated
words are shit
contracting the disease"
I'm not so sure about this part, but I think it's saying that the words of warning, however unpleasant they might have seemed, are still preferable to having parasites burrowing in your dead body. The final two lines seem to be expressing anger at the fact that nobody seems to pay attention to words anymore: they are shit because they aren't making people change. The disease of apathy and indifference has infected human speech and rendered it worthless. A brutal song about just how badly we've fucked ourselves over.
First of all, this is a kick-ass song and one my favorites of the album. I've always thought this song described the process of humanity's decline, and a possible look at the after effects.
"dry wind chars human storm lies barren wasted"
A description of a dead planet, ravaged by humanity's folly.
"greed taints water thirst"
"death grabs at stillborn child another low test pesticide"
A pesticide deemed "safe" is actually lethal. Our greed has poisoned the water.
"not until they are dead believe in words attaching dread no meaning "
No one pays attention to the warning until they're already dead. Words that tell of the dread to come have no meaning because no one is listening.
"no chance to rectify"
No one cares until they die, so no one can change anything. There is no escape from ultimate obliteration.
"nightmare running races skyward tower boil black water tea contagious waste disposal growing"
Suddenly, the song speeds up and gets almost frantic: too much waiting, too little action. Everything spirals out of control. The end of civilization/life as we know it is here.
"blind faith a tragedy propagate safe history blind faith a tragedy propagate safe history"
I don't think this needs much explanation.
"creatures running underground all the cages rusted displaced food bowls empty now fit for the licking"
I can think of two interpretations for this section.
First, all the creatures imprisoned by humanity in zoos or animal testing facilities are free now that we (humans) are gone. They are left to fend for themselves in the inhospitable world we left them.
Second, humans are the creatures mentioned, now reduced to live the lives of their ancestors following the collapse of civilization.
"faces form memory blind faith stupidity races run secretly blind faith a tragedy"
All the faces die and disappear. All that is left is a distant, misunderstood memory.
"not until they are dead stop breathing fleas attach themselves biting bits of flesh consuming words once hated words are shit contracting the disease"
I'm not so sure about this part, but I think it's saying that the words of warning, however unpleasant they might have seemed, are still preferable to having parasites burrowing in your dead body. The final two lines seem to be expressing anger at the fact that nobody seems to pay attention to words anymore: they are shit because they aren't making people change. The disease of apathy and indifference has infected human speech and rendered it worthless. A brutal song about just how badly we've fucked ourselves over.