Brother
City Burning: A Tale of Social Strife in New Model Army's 'Brother'
Lyrics
It's been a long dry season in tinderbox town
Describing a prolonged period of drought and tension in the town.
And the ghetto cars go cruising up and down and round and round
Highlighting the presence of cars in the ghetto, suggesting a restless atmosphere.
With tinted windows and the screech of tires
Depicting cars with tinted windows and the sound of screeching tires, implying a sense of danger.
Poverty likes to ride in the best disguise
Expressing how poverty often goes unnoticed, hiding behind a facade.
The boys get bored, set fire to the sheds at the end of my street
Describing the destructive behavior of bored boys setting fire to sheds.
The thick black smoke rises up into the dusk
Depicting the rising smoke as a consequence of the destructive act.
Sirens scream out across the hills
Noting the response of emergency services with sirens across the hills.
Turn into the close as the boys all swagger.
Describing the swaggering demeanor of boys as they approach.
I've got no quarrel with you brother
Expressing a lack of conflict with a fellow man.
But the war is getting closer
Indicating the proximity and escalation of war-like conditions.
Down at the Union there we stood
Recalling a moment of unity at a union, emphasizing brotherhood.
And embraced like brothers should
Describing an embrace that symbolizes solidarity.
The fire catches when your back is turned
Warning about hidden dangers that arise when one's back is turned.
And now we watch as the city burns
Observing the city burning as a consequence of unchecked conflicts.
And now we watch as the city burns
Reiterating the impact of the city burning as a recurring theme.
We used to joke about the colour of our skins
Reflecting on past camaraderie regarding race and religion.
We used to joke about the names of God
Recalling lighthearted jokes about religious concepts.
But now the racist cops come round
Highlighting a shift in the community dynamics with the arrival of racist law enforcement.
Put your cousin up against the wall
Depicting a confrontational scene with a family member against a wall.
A little crowd gathers round and takes up sides
Describing a gathering of onlookers, taking sides in a tense situation.
The white trash come out of their doorways and mutter
Noting the emergence of prejudiced attitudes from certain individuals.
There's a macho stand off with sullen faces all around
Describing a standoff with aggressive postures and hostile expressions.
And all the middle ground is washing away
Expressing the disappearance of neutral ground in the conflict.
And no one really wants it there anyway
Suggesting that no one desires the current state of affairs.
It's a time of pack dogs brother
Referring to a time of aggression and hostility.
And the war's getting closer
Reiterating the growing proximity of war-like conditions.
Down at the Union there we stood
Recalling a moment of unity at a union, emphasizing brotherhood.
And embraced like brothers should
Describing an embrace that symbolizes solidarity.
The fire catches when your back is turned
Warning about hidden dangers that arise when one's back is turned.
And now we watch as the city burns
Observing the city burning as a consequence of unchecked conflicts.
And now we watch as the city burns
Reiterating the impact of the city burning as a recurring theme.
And I, I accuse you, you want so much
Accusing someone of wanting much but giving little of themselves.
But you give nothing of yourself
Expressing a belief in the person's desires but noting a lack of personal investment.
And I, I believe you, you want so much
Accusing someone of wanting much but keeping everything to themselves.
But you keep nothing of yourself
Highlighting a theme of selfishness and lack of sharing in relationships.
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