Bloodstained Banner
Bloodstained Banner: A Haunting Tale of War's Cost
Lyrics
Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light
Questioning if one can witness the aftermath at dawn.
The body of another soldier fallen in the night
Describing the body of a fallen soldier in the night.
He had his dreams and desires and future in mind
Highlighting the soldier's dreams, desires, and future aspirations.
But no more than a bitter end to his life is what he'd find
Expressing that the soldier's life ended bitterly.
What so proudly they hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
Questioning the pride in what was hailed during the previous evening.
Cannot drown out the noise of the casualties' screaming
Contrasting the proud symbolism with the screams of casualties.
To cinders is reduced another house, school, or town
Noting the destruction of houses, schools, and towns.
As the stars and stripes fly high, while the cities burn down
Observing the juxtaposition of the national flag flying high amidst burning cities.
See the eagle fly, time has come to die
Calling attention to the symbolism of an eagle, signaling death.
Fire in the sky at bombs' release
Describing the sky on fire due to bomb releases.
Waving stripes and stars, the flag to signal wars
Noting the flag as a signal for wars.
To hail another strike in the name of freedom and peace
Connecting the flag to the endorsement of strikes in the name of freedom and peace.
So gallantly streaming, over ruins and demise
Describing the flag gallantly streaming over ruins and demise.
So hard to see what's just, not just warmongering lies
Expressing difficulty in distinguishing justice from warmongering lies.
But say, does that star-sprangled banner yet wave
Questioning if the star-spangled banner still waves over a land of the dead.
Over the land of the dead, and their bones in the grave?
Highlighting the presence of bones in graves amidst the flag.
See the eagle fly, time has come to die
Reiterating the symbolism of an eagle and the inevitability of death.
Fire in the sky at bombs' release
Repeating the imagery of the sky ablaze due to bomb releases.
Waving stripes and stars, the flag to signal wars
Reiterating the role of the flag as a signal for wars.
To hail another strike in the name of freedom and peace
Repeating the endorsement of strikes in the name of freedom and peace.
For freedom and peace
Affirming the actions are for the sake of freedom and peace.
The bombs are released
Stating the release of bombs as a conclusive action.
Comment