Lyrics
Our Rust Belt town slowly breaking down
Describes a deteriorating Rust Belt town.
There’s no more blood in the vein
Suggests a lack of life or vitality in the community.
We prayed right up and we knelt to the ground
Reference to prayers and kneeling, possibly seeking help.
But never got the rain
Despite prayers, the town does not receive the needed rain.
Our Rust Belt town slowly breaking down
Reiteration of the town's gradual decline.
No more work for our hands
Emphasizes unemployment and lack of manual labor.
We gave control to the big machine
The community yielded control to a larger, possibly oppressive force.
Made worthless our demands
The demands of the people are disregarded and devalued.
We lost track of the land
The community loses connection with the land.
Lost track of the skies
The loss of connection with natural elements (skies, seas).
Lost track of the seas
Reference to environmental degradation and deceit.
We lost track of the poison lies that slowly turn you against me
The lies contribute to a breakdown in relationships.
And it all comes tumbling down
Repetition emphasizes the cascading consequences.
And it all comes tumbling down
Continuation of the falling apart of the town.
Down
Reinforces the descent and deterioration.
Right down right to the ground
Describes the decline reaching its lowest point.
Our Rust Belt town slowly breaking down
Reiterates the ongoing decay of the Rust Belt town.
Armed guards on playgrounds still
Introduction of armed guards, suggesting a militarized presence.
We read the same book and heard the same words
Despite shared knowledge, different choices were made.
But I chose “love one another” not “kill or be killed”
Choosing love over violence or aggression.
Lost track of our hearts
The community loses touch with compassion and emotions.
Lost track of our minds, our humanity
Loss of rationality, empathy, and overall human qualities.
Lost track of the screens burning brightly shouting
Focus shifts to divisive screens, identifying perceived enemies.
Here is the enemy
The screens amplify the sense of an external enemy.
And it all comes tumbling down
Repetition of the consequences intensifying.
And it all comes tumbling down
Continued emphasis on the town's collapse.
Down
Reinforces the ongoing descent.
Right down right to the ground
Describes the depth of the downfall.
And it all comes tumbling down
Repetition highlights the inevitability of the collapse.
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
Reference to mortality and the transience of life.
And it all comes tumbling down
Reiteration of the town's decline using ashes and dust metaphor.
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
Repeated emphasis on the town's demise.
And it all comes tumbling down
Continued emphasis on the inevitability of collapse.
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
Reiteration of the metaphor of decay.
And it all comes tumbling down
Emphasizes the unavoidable collapse.
Ashes to ashes, down, right down to the ground
Final confirmation of the town's complete downfall.
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