Lyrics
There's no bread, let them eat cake
Reference to the indifference of those in power, suggesting a disconnect from the struggles of the common people.
There's no end to what they'll take
Highlighting the insatiable nature of those in authority, emphasizing their willingness to take more without limits.
Flaunt the fruits of noble birth
Mocking the ostentatious display of wealth by the nobility, exposing the arrogance associated with noble birth.
Wash the salt into the earth
Symbolic expression of disregarding the suffering of the commoners, washing away their tears as if they were salt.
But they're marching to Bastille Day
Refers to the storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution, a symbol of rebellion against tyranny.
The guillotine will claim her bloody prize
Describes the violent consequences of the revolution, with the guillotine representing the price of freedom.
Free the dungeons of the innocent
Advocating for the release of the unjustly imprisoned, portraying a desire for justice and liberation.
The king will kneel and let his kingdom rise
Symbolizing the fall of the monarchy as the king kneels, allowing a new era to begin.
Bloodstained velvet, dirty lace
Depicts the aftermath of conflict, with bloodstained velvet and dirty lace symbolizing the cost of revolution.
Naked fear on every face
Describes the pervasive fear experienced by the people in the wake of rebellion.
See them bow their heads to die
Depicts the inevitability of sacrifice as people bow their heads in the face of death.
As we would bow when they rode by
Reflects the submission of the commoners to authority in the past, contrasting with the present rebellion.
And we're marching to Bastille Day
Reiterates the march to Bastille Day, emphasizing the persistence of the revolutionary spirit.
The guillotine will claim her bloody prize
Repeats the imagery of the guillotine claiming a bloody prize, underlining the violent nature of the revolution.
Sing, O choirs of cacophony
Encourages collective singing amidst chaos, representing a unified voice in the face of oppression.
The king has kneeled, let his kingdom rise
Reaffirms the symbolic rise of a new order as the king kneels, indicating a shift in power dynamics.
Lessons taught but never learned
Expresses the failure of learning from past mistakes, with unresolved anger and discontent prevailing.
All around us anger burns
Highlights the pervasive anger in society, suggesting a cycle of unrest that persists.
Guide the future by the past
Advocates for using historical lessons to guide the future, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past.
Long ago the mold was cast
Conveys the idea that societal patterns were set in the past, influencing the present and future.
For they marched up to Bastille Day
Recalls the historical march to Bastille Day, linking past revolutions to the ongoing struggle for freedom.
The guillotine claimed her bloody prize
Reiterates the violent consequences of revolution, emphasizing the recurring theme of sacrifice.
Hear the echoes of the centuries
Invokes the echoes of centuries past, emphasizing the enduring nature of the struggle for power and freedom.
Power isn't all that money buys
Critiques the idea that power and privilege can be acquired solely through wealth, pointing to its limitations.
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