In addition to everyone else, I feel this song is written from the point of view of a diplomat desperately trying to stop a nuclear war. He has temporary successes ("the town is safe again tonight") but can't get something more long-term.
Some have alluded to the FDR quote ("The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.") In that quote, he was talking about taking actions to end the great depression; it has nothing to do with war.
The hyena itself is a formidable foe, but has curious behaviors that are indicitave of being a dog/cat cross breed. They usually kill what they eat (although they're reputed to scavenge what they eat) and have been known to drive other predators away from kills. Hyenas usually hunt in packs
I'm also reminded of a 17th century French story about a wild animal terrorizing a town, killing the people, mostly young women. It was said to be a demon. A local hunter asked that silver bullets be blessed by the catholic church and then went and hunted the creature down. After killing it, the creature was taken to Paris. It turned out to be a hyena.
In addition to everyone else, I feel this song is written from the point of view of a diplomat desperately trying to stop a nuclear war. He has temporary successes ("the town is safe again tonight") but can't get something more long-term. Some have alluded to the FDR quote ("The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.") In that quote, he was talking about taking actions to end the great depression; it has nothing to do with war. The hyena itself is a formidable foe, but has curious behaviors that are indicitave of being a dog/cat cross breed. They usually kill what they eat (although they're reputed to scavenge what they eat) and have been known to drive other predators away from kills. Hyenas usually hunt in packs I'm also reminded of a 17th century French story about a wild animal terrorizing a town, killing the people, mostly young women. It was said to be a demon. A local hunter asked that silver bullets be blessed by the catholic church and then went and hunted the creature down. After killing it, the creature was taken to Paris. It turned out to be a hyena.