Here are the young men, the weight on their shoulders
Here are the young men, well where have they been?
We knocked on the doors of Hell's darker chamber
Pushed to the limit, we dragged ourselves in

Watched from the wings as the scenes were replaying
We saw ourselves now as we never had seen
Portrayal of the trauma and degeneration
The sorrows we suffered and never were free

Where have they been?
Where have they been?
Where have they been?
Where have they been?

Weary inside, now our heart's lost forever
Can't replace the fear, or the thrill of the chase
Each ritual showed up the door for our wanderings
Open then shut, then slammed in our face

Where have they been?
Where have they been?
Where have they been?
Where have they been?


Lyrics submitted by typo, edited by BlumpkinLord, v00n

Decades [2020 Digital Master] Lyrics as written by Ian Kevin Curtis Bernard Sumner

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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  • +10
    General Comment

    I'm fairly certain this song is about the affects a war will have on the young men who are forced to fight it. It may be specifically about world war two, when the majority of young men (from the nations heavily involved) were called upon by their leaders to risk their lives and commit horrible acts against their enemies (We knocked on doors of Hell's darker chambers Pushed to the limits, we dragged ourselves in). Then, upon returning home these men, in most cases, lied about the truth of the horrors they had scene or remained silent about it ( Where have they been?). In many cases these soldiers could not adjust to civilian life because of traumas, or because they couldn't replace (the fear or the thrill of the chase). For these men, the possibilities in life that they had before the war were gone (These rituals showed up the door for our wanderings . Opened and shut, then slammed in our face). Though I don't think Ian is talking about the Vietnam war, The Deer Hunter is a great illustration of the kind of characters he is talking about.

    Kaguthon January 23, 2005   Link

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