Coral for Coal
Coral for Coal: A Poignant Anthem on Environmental Choices
Lyrics
Watch the final sun
Observing the sunset
Rise against the curve
The sun rising against the horizon
Still more fire is spreading fire over what is left to burn
Highlighting the destructive nature of fire spreading over remaining resources
What is left to burn?
Pondering what is still available to be consumed by fire
Have you seen the floating islands?
Asking if one has noticed islands adrift, possibly due to environmental issues
There is so much waste to build a wall
Expressing the wastefulness in building barriers or walls
Have you seen “Angels In Exhile?”
Reference to a group named "Angels In Exhile" facing difficult circumstances
Who sleep with needles on the floor
Depicting a scene of people in dire straits, resorting to drug use
We`re trading coral for coal
Describing a trade-off between preserving coral reefs and exploiting coal resources
Ripping out our roots
Mentioning the removal of fundamental support or origins
For those last few drops of oil
Exploring the sacrifice of essential elements for the pursuit of oil
To polish up our marching boots
Using oil to enhance the appearance of militaristic gear
She tells me the same story
Recounting a recurring narrative of a newborn son and a husband overcoming cancer but lost in war
Of a son barely born
Describing the tragic fate of a son born into hardship
And a husband who beat cancer
Depicting a spouse who survived cancer but perished in war
But never came home from the war
Emphasizing the impact of war on families
We`re trading coral for coal
Reiterating the trade-off between environmental preservation and exploiting fossil fuels
Ripping out our roots
Continuing the theme of sacrificing roots for oil
For those last few drops of oil
Repeating the idea of sacrificing essentials for the sake of appearance
To polish up our marching boots
Emphasizing the militaristic aspect of the sacrifice for oil
The groove in Manhattan, I love that it never goes to sleep
Expressing admiration for the constant activity in Manhattan
Will we call it New Venice when the ocean floods the streets
Pondering whether a flooded Manhattan would be renamed "New Venice"
So I am seeking out fame
Seeking fame to amplify the collective voice
To give more volume to our voice
Clarifying the intention behind seeking fame is not to assign blame but to emphasize choice
Not to point out any blame
Stressing the importance of recognizing choices rather than assigning blame
To point out we have a choice
Advocating for awareness of alternatives instead of the coral-for-coal trade-off
Instead of coral for coal
Reiterating the theme of choosing alternatives over sacrificing coral for coal
Ripping out our roots
Continuing the imagery of uprooting for the last drops of oil
For those last few drops of oil
Highlighting the ongoing sacrifice for the sake of oil
To polish up our corporate shoes
Connecting the sacrifice to corporate interests and the need to project a polished image
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