Shot 18
Shot 18: Echoes of Morality and Retribution
Lyrics
Thou shalt not kill, remember that?
Thou shalt not kill, a reminder of the moral prohibition against taking lives.
You learnt it again and again when you were young
Learning the commandment against killing repeatedly during youth.
They said weapons have this safety catch
Weapons are presented as having a safety catch, implying control over violence.
Your moral conscience tells you kid what's right, what's wrong
Moral conscience guides understanding of right and wrong.
Well they make out like they're so surprised
Expressing surprise or disbelief at the feigned innocence of some.
But it's easy when you're civilized
Civilized societies may find it easy to overlook or justify violence.
Count to ten, close your eyes
Traditional advice to count to ten and calm down in moments of anger.
The way it's always been
Highlighting the perpetuation of violent tendencies throughout history.
Shot 18
Introduction of "Shot 18," a pivotal event in the narrative.
I think I was a bit surprised
The narrator is surprised by their own emotional response.
I never knew I was so anaesthetized
Realization of emotional numbness or desensitization.
And triggers pull so lightly and people die so easy
Reflection on the ease with which triggers can cause death.
I never realized
Failure to comprehend the gravity of the situation until now.
Well I believe in common laws
Belief in adhering to common laws and principles.
I believe in even scores
Advocacy for fairness and equality in retribution.
I understand the rules of war
Understanding the established rules of war and conflict.
The way the slate is cleaned
Reference to the cleansing or resetting of the moral slate.
Shot 18
Reiteration of "Shot 18" as a significant incident.
Who wants another Christian martyr?
Rhetorical questioning of the desire for more martyrs.
Who wants someone else's pain?
Questioning the willingness to experience someone else's pain.
Who wants the world on their shoulder?
Expression of reluctance to bear the weight of the world's troubles.
Who wants to have to cry in vain?
Reluctance to cry in vain, suggesting a desire for meaningful expression of grief.
Who wants to have an open sore
Metaphor for internal suffering that festers and consumes.
Eating away deep inside you?
Questioning the desire to inflict pain on oneself when others are willing to do it.
Who wants to torture themselves
Contemplating self-inflicted torment in the face of external threats.
When there's plenty eager to do it for you?
The availability of others eager to cause harm, relieving the need for self-torture.
Well, years might heal all the scars
Time may heal emotional wounds, but doubt about having enough time.
But I don't know if you feel like you have that time
Questioning if time can truly heal the scars left by traumatic events.
And if I was the man that killed your father
Putting oneself in the shoes of someone who caused harm.
And if I said I'm sorry, would that change your mind?
Apologizing and questioning if an apology can change the perception of the harmed.
Well no one should be so surprised
Expressing the inevitability that mere words cannot compensate for loss.
That words don't pay for victims' lives
Rejecting the idea that words can repay the lives lost due to violence.
It's teeth for teeth, eyes for eyes
Advocating for a retaliatory approach, an eye for an eye.
The way it's always been
Highlighting the enduring nature of reciprocal violence throughout history.
Shot 18
Reiteration of "Shot 18" and its place in the established cycle of violence.
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