Modern Times
Reflections on Defeat: Navigating the Modern Times
Lyrics
It seems strange to write about these things now
Reflecting on the strangeness of addressing past experiences now.
But the time has probably come when we should
Acknowledging the need to confront and accept the past.
Accept whatever is past and gone and never will return
Coming to terms with irreversible losses and events.
Looking back to the beginning
Reviewing the initial stages or origins of a journey or movement.
I see a flood of painful memories
Recalling a flood of painful memories from the past.
And the bitter hurt and wounded pride that comes with our defeat
Expressing the bitter emotions and wounded pride associated with failure.
We set out with our heads held high
Starting a journey with confidence and pride.
So sure our ground, our righteousness
Believing strongly in one's cause, righteousness, and stable ground.
The new Jerusalem to be built with love and guts and truth
Envisioning a new, idealistic place to be built with love, courage, and truth.
But in the end we surrendered easily
Facing an unexpected and easy surrender in the end.
It's no use pretending otherwise
Admitting the futility of pretending otherwise.
Well most of us had a little something to lose, enough to break our nerve
Acknowledging that most had something to lose, leading to a loss of determination.
Well, some of us made an easy peace and moved into the Brave New World
Some found an easy resolution and adapted to a new world.
It's hard for the true believers to look back now and realize
Recognizing the difficulty for true believers to accept the past.
That for many of the crowd it was just the fashion, the cause of the moment
Realizing that for many, the cause was just a momentary fashion.
Well we if anyone should know that you can look pretty dumb
Reflecting on the potential foolishness of holding onto outdated beliefs.
Standing in last year's clothes
Emphasizing the embarrassment of being stuck in the past.
And some of us, shell-shocked still, ran for shelter and do the rituals
Some, still affected by past events, seek solace in rituals.
The same old way pretending that someone out there cares
Continuing familiar rituals, pretending someone cares despite the futility.
And some of us live in the modern world
Some have adapted to the modern world.
We give unto Caesar what is due
Acknowledging and submitting to societal norms and authority.
And harbor the bitterness of defeat and daydreams of revenge
Harboring bitterness from defeat and indulging in revenge daydreams.
Now nothing you see out there is real
Questioning the authenticity of external experiences.
It matters not what you believe in
Asserting that personal beliefs matter less than objective reality.
It matters less what you say but only what you are
Stressing the importance of actions over words.
It matters what you are
Emphasizing the significance of personal character and identity.
It matters what you are
Reiterating the importance of one's essence or character.
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