The Wars, Part Ten

You may begin at Part One. ~

Voilà: another Green Day song. ~ This one I have known for a long time - in fact, it could be called one of my "fall-back" songs; that is, the type of song I listen to when I'm either in a nostalgic mood, or tired of the series of songs I have on rotate at the current time. ~ As a result, I even know all the lyrics by heart. ~ Quite a feat for someone who never exclusively listens to music, but rather chooses to play "bgm" (AKA, "background music"). ~ FYI, I also have a strange affinity for discovering the extended forms of acronyms, in case you haven't caught it. ~ I wonder who else didn't know that "app" = application and "Interpol" = international police? ~

Completely derailing. ~ Enjoy "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," and may your own dreams be whole and satisfactory. ~

As a result, they will feel alienated from society.

Boulevard of Broken Dreams, by Green Day:

I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone

I walk this empty street
On the boulevard of broken dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Till then I walk alone

Ah-ah Ah-ah Ah-ah Aaah-ah
Ah-ah Ah-ah Ah-ah

I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line of the edge
And where I walk alone

Read between the lines
What's f***** up and everything's all right
Check my vital signs to know I'm still alive
And I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Till then I walk alone

Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Aaah-Ah
Ah-Ah Ah-Ah

I walk alone
I walk a...

I walk this empty street
On the boulevard of broken dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a...

My shadow's only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Till then I walk alone

Literary Content

In “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” the individual expresses his alienation through the metaphor of walking down “a lonely road.” He wishes “someone out there will find [him],” yet because he is so different from the rest of society, he is condemned to “walk alone” while “the city sleeps,” another metaphor which indicates his disconnection from society. Furthermore, he feels lost and “[doesn’t] know where [the road] goes.” This “boulevard of broken dreams” represents his shattered vision of war and of humanity; having killed men and seen other men being killed, his former childhood dreams of the glory of war have been forever broken. His shattered internal state is further highlighted through the metaphor of the “line / that divides [him] somewhere in [his] mind.” This line divides not only his new, war-torn self from his formerly innocent and lust-for-violence self, but also divides him from society, driving him to “the edge” of madness. His only way to ascertain that he is “still alive” is to “check [his] vital signs,” which is an action reminiscent of what, as a soldier, he would have done in war; this further illustrates how the individual is still in a battle mindset. However, he yearns to finally escape the horrors of war, wishing that “someone out there will find [him]” and relieve him of his lonely misery.

Auditory Elements

The song begins with a bass riff entrance that resonates and vibrates, conveying the auditory imagery of slow, plodding steps taken by the lonely individual. This establishes a dragging, depressed mood.

Also, the reference to “[the individual’s] shadow” represents the ever-present influence of war and of his memories of fighting. The fact that the previous line, “I walk a…,” is interrupted by “my shadow,” suggests that even in loneliness, he is not free from the horrors of war.

Finally, the heavy bass solo at the end, from 3:44 to 4:17, completes the piece in a dark and despondent mood as the individual continues to persist in loneliness.

The Wars, Part Nine

Part One starts it off. ~

Finally, we have the country song. ~ Amusing factoid: FL thinks, and I agree, that country music is too blatant in its lyrics; that is, it explicitly states everything without using much figurative language or subtleties. ~ This isn't a jab at country music, but simply a fact that does not reflect upon my opinion of the genre overall. ~

Nevertheless, these quite obvious lyrics served my purpose well, and hence "I Just Came Back From A War" is included in my playlist. ~

However, they will soon discover that they have difficulty relating to the rest of society. War divides the individual from the collective by subjecting him or her to life-threatening circumstances, under which the individual becomes so emotionally strained that he or she loses the connection with the commonplace reality of daily life.

I Just Came Back from a War, by Darryl Worley:

The first thing I did when that plane finally landed was kiss the ground
The next thing I did was to go find my friends down at the old hangout
Drank some beer and talked a lot about old times
But when the booze finally hit Billy Joe Grimes
He said I don't know what it is, but you seem different to me

I said I just came back from a place where they hated me
and everything I stand for
A land where our brothers are dying for others who don't even care anymore
If I'm not exactly the same good old boy that you ran around with before
I just came back from a war

The very next morning I took a walk through the neighborhood
I thought it's been so long since I've been in a place where everything is good
People laughing and children were playing
And as I watched ’em I found myself praying
Lord keep ’em safe here at home in the land of the free

Cuz I just came back from a place where they hated me
And everything I stand for
A land where our brothers are dying for others who don't even care anymore
If I'm not same little freckled face boy
That grew up in that house next door
I just came back from a war

I hope you cherish this sweet way of life
And I hope you know that it comes with a price

I just came back from a place where they hated me
And everything I stand for
A land where our brothers are dying for others who don't even care anymore
Chances are I never will be the same
I really don't know anymore
I just came back from a war

I just came back from a war

[Background]
You don’t know me (repeated)

I just came back from a war

Literary Content

In “I Just Came Back from a War,” the individual begins to realize to what extent he has been changed by the war. His friends back home notice that he “seem[s] different,” which causes the individual to relate the hate he’s been forced to endure during the war. His pain regarding his fellow soldiers’ deaths is further underscored by the fact that they “are dying for others who don’t even care anymore;” namely, that they no longer fight for a purpose. He also explains his tarnished innocence by juxtaposing his current self with the “little freckled face boy / That grew up in that house next door,” suggesting that he was forced to grow up and grow burdened with suffering during the war and that he no longer has those same urges to be a “killing machine.” However, he can no longer see anything without thinking about the war; the “people laughing and children […] playing” remind him of just how fragile peace is. This shows the extent to which he has been permanently affected; “chances are [he] never will be the same.”

Auditory Elements

The country style of this song contributes to establishing a peaceful and slightly nostalgic mood, as this type of music is reminiscent of the traditional American hometown. The use of the Am chord, combined with the Cadd9 and G chords, adds a slight tinge of sadness to the joy and relief of homecoming.

Also, the individual’s further alienation is hinted at the line, “you don’t know me,” which, as it repeated, fades to silence, suggesting that he is retreating into himself more and more as time goes by. This creates a melancholic and lonely tone.

The Wars, Part Eight

Part One is where it all begins. ~

So, I admit it: I did go a little overboard with the A7X songs. ~ However, they fit so perfectly with the theme that I couldn't resist. Stumbling upon this band was like uncovering a treasure trove of beautifully suitable gold to match the otherwise bland outfit. ~

"Gunslinger" helps illustrate my previous point in Part Two about A7X's music being "flexible." ~ This song begins in a near-country style, then transitions to rock. Both convey emotions of despair and anguish, but in distinct ways. ~ This contrast keeps the song interesting, as it does in so much of their other music. ~

After leaving the battlefield of war, individuals will initially be relieved at the prospect of returning home and filled with the hope that they can return to a sense of normalcy because they are unable to grasp the full extent of the war’s influence upon themselves.

Gunslinger, by Avenged Sevenfold:

Yeah, you've been alone
I've been gone for far too long
But with all that we've been through
After all this time I'm coming home to you

Never let it show
The pain I've grown to know
'Cause with all these things we do
It don't matter when I'm coming home to you

[Chorus]
I reach towards the sky I've said my goodbyes
My heart's always with you now
I won't question why so many have died
My prayers have made it through yeah
'Cause with all these things we do
It don't matter when I'm coming home to you

Letters keep me warm
Helped me through the storm
But with all that we've been through
After all this time I'm coming home to you

[Chorus]

I've always been true
I've waited so long just to come hold you
I'm making it through
It's been far too long, we've proven our
love over time's so strong, in all that we do
The stars in the night, they lend me their light
to bring me closer to heaven with you

(Bring me closer)

But with all that we've been through
After all this time I'm coming home to you

[Chorus]

And with all that we've been through
After all this time I'm coming home to you

Lyrical Content

In “Gunslinger,” the individual is coming home after the war has ended. Through this song, he is addressing a lover he left at home and is now returning to. He wants to forget the war and return to his civilian life, wanting to believe that “[his] heart [will] always [be] with [his lover] now,” and that he “won’t question why so many have died.” This belief that love can overcome the grim reality of war’s impact is unfounded, considering how the individual already exhibits thoughts about “never let[ting] show / The pain [he’s] grown to know” in war, thus foreshadowing his inevitable distancing from society as a result of concealing his memories and emotions. His fervent use of “it don’t matter” undermines the gravity of all that he has faced; his hope at finding happiness anew so simply is therefore based on the fact that he is lying to himself.

Auditory Elements

The song opens with a soft guitar accompaniment, in a near-country style, which hints at an image of a lone horseman riding home. The tone established with this calm accompaniment is a sad, mournful one, as appropriate for one returning from war. Furthermore, the sudden rise in pitch on each “all” sounds somewhat strained, hinting at the deeper pain that the individual has suffered in war.

Then, a rock style begins at end of third stanza as the individual begins to remember the war, as evidenced by his use of the metaphor “storm” to describe his grueling experience. His voice becomes more strained as he repeats the chorus, conveying a sense that he is trying to convince himself that he can readjust to civilian life despite his evidently lingering pain from the memories of war. He succeeds in part, as the tone becomes more hopeful in the sixth stanza, after the second rendition of the chorus. This is conveyed through the ascending melody line in both the vocal accompaniment, and then in the solo electric guitar from 2:59 to 3:22. These rising musical lines in the background subtly hint at the brighter future that the individual is hoping for.

The Wars, Part Seven

Look! You can start at Part One! ~

The Devil Wears Prada was known only as a movie to me before having tackled this assignment. ~ Nevertheless, I decided to listen to this song through the suggestion of FL, who helped a great deal by being there to listen to my ramblings and explanations while working on this playlist and ensuring me that I was still staying coherent... or not. ~ Regardless. "Louder Than Thunder" is a short but very unique song, calm yet haunting all at once. ~ One more interesting factoid before you listen: The Devil Wears Prada is a Christian band. ~

This will lead individuals to desire peace in the place of war.

Louder Than Thunder, by The Devil Wears Prada:

What would it take?
For things to be quiet, quiet like the snow.

I know this isn't much, but I know, I could, I could be better.

I don’t think I deserve it, selflessness.
Find your way into my heart.

All stars could be brighter,
All hearts could be warmer.

What would it take for things to be quiet?
Quiet like the snow.

Are we meant to be empty handed?
I know I could, I could be better.

I don’t think I deserve it, selflessness.
Find your way into my heart.

All stars could be brighter,
All hearts could be warmer.

What would it take for things to be quiet?

Literary Content

“Louder Than Thunder” conveys the individual’s longing for peace. The thunder is a symbol for war, whereas the “quiet” represents peace. The simile of “quiet like the snow” expresses the individual’s belief that peace is pure and innocent, untainted and unlike the fear that comes with “thunder,” and thus war. Having endured so much already, the individual does not think he “deserve[s]” be fighting in this war, amid all this violence, and exhibiting this “selflessness;” as a result, he starts to doubt the validity and justification behind fighting in the war. Even though he realizes that his desire for peace “isn’t much,” he knows that he “could be [a] better [person]” if peace were to finally come. His hope for this better future is conveyed through the lines “all stars could be brighter” and “all hearts could be warmer,” where the stars represent the brilliance of mankind and the hearts represent the potential kindness of human beings.

Auditory Elements

The piano and cello introduction establishes the slow tempo and longing mood that is to characterize the entire piece. The generally minimal accompaniment allows the lyrics to sound more unadorned and thus more heartfelt. Also, the swell that ends abruptly on the word “quiet” at 1:23, in addition to the end of all accompaniment on the last “quiet” at the very end, serve to draw the listener’s attention to the brief pause, which ends with a feeling of more to come. This parallels the individual’s urging and almost breathless desire for peace.

The Wars, Part Six

As always, start at Part One. ~

Ah, so we've arrived at the inevitable Green Day song. ~ Indeed, "21 Guns" seems to be one of the more well-known songs in my list. ~ In fact, Green Day is one of the rare rock bands that I was familiar with since earlier childhood; "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" are two of the very first English songs I ever heard. ~ "21 Guns" was a new one to me, though. ~ Quite a pleasing melody, with a catchy chorus. ~ The music video puzzled me, but I did enjoy the effect of the bullets piercing the drywall and letting light shine through the holes into the room. ~ Now, without further ado, I shall let you succumb to the sounds of Green Day and your own thoughts on the wars. ~

As a result, individuals may begin to question the validity behind the reasons for war and gain a sense of futility regarding the war.

21 Guns, by Green Day:

[Verse 1]
Do you know what's worth fighting for?
When it's not worth dying for?
Does it take your breath away
And you feel yourself suffocating?

Does the pain weigh out the pride?
And you look for a place to hide?
Did someone break your heart inside?
You're in ruins

[Chorus]
One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky, you and I

[Verse 2]
When you're at the end of the road
And you lost all sense of control
And your thoughts have taken their toll
When your mind breaks the spirit of your soul

Your faith walks on broken glass
And the hangover doesn't pass
Nothing's ever built to last
You're in ruins

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
Did you try to live on your own
When you burned down the house and home?
Did you stand too close to the fire
Like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone?

[Verse 3]
When it's time to live and let die
And you can't get another try
Something inside this heart has died
You're in ruins

[Chorus, repeat]

Literary Content

In “21 Guns,” the individual comes to the realization that he’s fighting a war that is “not worth dying for.” This echoes his friend’s earlier comment that “no cause could be […] worthy” of dying for (see “Everybody’s Gone to War”); his point of view now resembles hers. He even takes up her role, speaking to a fellow soldier and attempting to convince him to “throw up [his] arms into the sky” so that they can surrender together in a war that is not “worth fighting for.” In explaining his decision, the individual uses the word “ruins” to evoke the image of a desolate battlefield ravaged by war; this image has transferred itself onto the individual, who likewise has been torn asunder by the psychological effects of war. His “pain weigh[s] out the pride” of fighting for his country; his “[mind broke] the spirit of [his] soul,” as slowly, the thoughts of the deaths of his fellow soldiers combined with his own heinous deeds of murder overtook his initial “killing machine” desire and instinct. His sadness and inability to forget those whom he killed is reflected by his “looking for forgiveness in a stone;” he tries to apologize to the graves of the dead, yet is unable to find repentance because he is a “liar,” having pledged his duty to a cause he no longer believes in. Scorched because he “[stood] too close to the fire” of war, the individual is unable to heal from the burns inflicted by his deeds on his memory. Hence, he realizes that “something inside [his] heart has died” and that he can no longer go back to the way he was before; as such, he wants to “lay down [his] arms [and] give up the fight.”

Auditory Elements

The chord progression for each line throughout the song is Dm, A#, F and C, resolving from a minor to a major instead of the opposite, like in “Everybody’s Gone to War.” This evokes a more hopeful tone in the overall song, though it is still tinged with a slightly mournful mood reflecting the “ruins” caused by the war.

Furthermore, after verse 3, there is a pause that last from 3:38 to 3:41; at this time, it seems as if the song has ended. However, the lyrics and accompaniment suddenly restart with the chorus. This pause, located right after the words “you’re in ruins,” suggests that the individual is overcome by his sense of futility in the war; nevertheless, the louder and more vigorous sound caused by the addition of bass accompaniment in the chorus that follows shows his renewed hope for the future. This combination further conveys an initially futile tone that blends into one of hope for peace.

The Wars, Part Five

Read Part One first! ~

Another A7X song. ~ Heart-wrenching and catchy at the same time. ~ Written and performed as a tribute to the belated James Owen Sullivan (aka "the Rev"), I found "So Far Away" a fitting song to fit into my wars playlist. ~

Humans deal with death even in day-to-day life, not just in war. ~ Death is presented in many ways, and its effect on those around the deceased person have sparked many a novel, song and painting. ~ Pain, memories and, to a certain extent, fear of the future. ~ A sickening mixture that amalgamates to grief and loss. ~ With these emotions in mind, please approach the song and the analysis with an open perspective and a certain understanding. ~

Furthermore, the increasing amounts of lives lost will cause individuals deep emotional pain and suffering, furthering their disenchantment as a consequence of facing the realities of war.

So Far Away, by Avenged Sevenfold:

Never feared for anything, never shamed but never free
A life that healed a broken heart with all that it could
Lived a life so endlessly, saw beyond what others see
I tried to heal your broken heart with all that I could
Will you stay? Will you stay away forever?

[Chorus]
How do I live without the ones I love?
Time still turns the pages of the book it’s burned
Place and time always on my mind
I have so much to say but you're so far away

Plans of what our futures hold, foolish lies of growing old
It seems we're so invincible, the truth is so cold
A final song, a last request, a perfect chapter laid to rest
Now and then I try to find a place in my mind
Where you can stay, you can stay awake forever

[Chorus]

Sleep tight, I'm not afraid
The ones that we love are here with me
Lay away a place for me
'Cause as soon as I'm done I'll be on my way
To live eternally

[Chorus, modified]
How do I live without the ones I love?
Time still turns the pages of the book it’s burned
Place and time always on my mind
And the light you left remains but it's so hard to stay
When I have so much to say and you're so far away

I love you, you were ready
The pain is strong enough despise
But I'll see you when he lets me
Your pain is gone, your hands are tied

So far away and I need you to know
So far away and I need you to, need you to know

Literary Content

The death of his fellow soldier in “Sink or Swim,” coupled with the many other deaths as a result of the war, have affected the individual deeply. He questions “how [he can] live without the ones [he] love[s],” relating his pain through the use of a burnt book metaphor. For the individual, the pages of the book that is his life are scorched irreparably by the loss of so many of his fellow soldiers. He “ha[s] so much to say,” yet because his friends are “so far away,” a euphemism for death, the individual alone must feel “the [cold] truth” of the war. His use of irony in the words “a perfect chapter” convey his bitter feelings regarding the war, which he feels was “perfect” because his fellow soldiers were still alive, yet truly imperfect because it caused their deaths.

Auditory Elements

The song is in a minor key, with a sad melody that conveys the melancholy that accompanies the individual’s memories of his friends. The quiet acoustic guitar interlude after the modified chorus begins calmly and in the same sad mood, yet builds with the addition of the drumset and electric guitar, conveying his growing anger at the deaths of his fellow soldiers. Finally, the entrance of the singer in an unusually strained voice in the seventh and eighth stanzas conveys the individual’s pain-filled tone despite his acceptance of his friend’s death, foreshadowing his further disenchantment with the war.

The Wars, Part Four

Start at Part One. ~

Tyrone Wells is a brilliant singer. (Seems that I haven't disliked a single artist in my playlist yet... Perhaps over-long exposure to their music has fine tuned my ears to their nuances and styles.) ~ This song was first introduced to me by my good friend FL, whose taste in music is very much like my own. ~ Oddly enough, "Sink or Swim" reminds be of the How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell, recently made into an animated movie. ~ One of the characters is named Camicazi, which could hint at the reason behind my train of thought. ~ Regardless, I suggest anyone with free time to take a lot at both Tyrone Wells' other music and the book series aforementioned. ~ Enjoy! ~

Nevertheless, the continuous, taxing effect of war will eventually drive some individuals mad, at which time they will consider suicide.

Sink or Swim, by Tyrone Wells:

[Verse 1]
Caught in the middle of a cross-fire
Lost my balance on a high-wire
Trying to figure out what to do

[Verse 2]
Pushed to the edge of my reason
Everywhere around me in treason
I don't want to do that to you

[Chorus]
Kamikaze airplanes in the sky
Are we going down or will we fly
This could be a ship wreck on the shore
Or we could sail away forevermore
This time it's sink or swim

Sink or swim

[Verse 3]
Hearing the song in your laughter
A melody I chase after
No one else has done this to me

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
Take a deep breath
No more time left
This is what I thought I wanted
Why am I afraid

[Chorus, repeat]

Sink or swim

Lyrical Content

In “Sink or Swim,” the individual speaks to a fellow soldier about his thoughts on suicide, as reflected by the use of the metaphor of “kamikaze airplanes.” In war, the individual’s life is “balance[d] on a high-wire,” precariously hinged on every decision and movement. Having been “pushed to the edge of [his] reason” by the continuously taxing effect of fighting, the individual remarks that there is a very fine line between life and death in war through his metaphor of “sink or swim.” To sink would be to give in to his thoughts on suicide, whereas to swim would be to retake hold of his life and thereby do his best to survive the war. These suicidal thoughts are sparked by his fellow soldier, who, having gone mad and desiring death himself, entices the individual with “the song [of death] in [his] laughter.” Seeing that there is a certainty in death as compared to the dilemmas and horrors in war life, the individual feels as though he, too, should resort to suicide. However, just as his fellow soldier has “no more time left” and chooses to take his own life, the individual realizes that he is actually “afraid” of death.

Auditory Elements

The brief pause in accompaniment during the word “kamikaze” parallels a simulated feeling of the individual’s stomach dropping as he falls from a tall height, thereby evoking the image of jumping from an airplane. This moment of musically-unsupported free-fall reflects the individual’s sense of hopelessness and alarm. Also, the addition of the drumset during the chorus raises the volume of the song, emphasizing the individual’s desperate tone.

To the very end, the individual seems to be “caught” in his dilemma of “sink or swim,” repeating the chorus twice as he struggles to make his decision. However, after the lyrics end at 2:45, the calm acoustic guitar accompaniment continues on, striking a definitive chord at 2:49 and conveying a tone of finality, thereby suggesting that the individual has made his choice – to live, as hinted at by the final major chord’s bright and relaxed sound.