When the War Came
Echoes of Babylon: Unveiling the Hidden Meanings in 'When the War Came'
Lyrics
With all the grain of Babylon
Refers to the wealth or abundance of Babylon, symbolizing prosperity.
To cultivate, to make us strong
Emphasizes the use of resources to strengthen and empower the community.
And hidden here behind the walls
Suggests hidden elements or secrets behind societal structures.
Are shoulders wide and timber on
Describes the support and foundation (wide shoulders and timber) of society.
'Til the war came
Introduces the disruption caused by war.
'Til the war came
Reiterates the impact of war on the community.
A terrible autonomy
Describes a negative independence or self-governance imposed by war.
Has grafted onto you and me
Addresses the influence of war on personal autonomy.
Our trust put in the government
Reflects trust in the government and its betrayal during the war.
They told their lies as heaven-sent
Highlights government deception presented as divine truth.
'Til the war came
Repeats the impact of war on trust and societal values.
'Til the war came
Reiterates the transformative effect of war on individuals and society.
And the war came with a curse and a caterwaul
Describes the arrival of war with negative consequences and chaos.
And the war came with all the poise of a cannonball
Compares the war's arrival to a cannonball, emphasizing its force.
And they're picking out our eyes by coal and candlelight
Illustrates the brutality of war, symbolized by the destruction of sight.
When the war came, the war came hard
Expresses the intense and harsh impact of war on the community.
We made our oath to Vavilov
References the oath to Vavilov, a scientist who preserved crop diversity.
We'd not betray the solanum
Commits to protecting essential crops despite challenges.
The acres of asteraceae
Lists specific crops (asteraceae) crucial for survival during scarcity.
To our own pangs of starvation
Addresses the struggle against starvation during wartime.
When the war came
Repeats the impact of war on the ability to safeguard essential resources.
When the war came
Reiterates the effect of war on the commitment to preserving resources.
And the war came with a curse and a caterwaul
Recalls the arrival of war with its negative consequences and chaos.
And the war came with all the poise of a cannonball
Reiterates the forceful and destructive nature of war.
And they're picking out our eyes by coal and candlelight
Highlights the brutality of war, including the deprivation of sight.
When the war came, the war came hard
Emphasizes the intense and harsh impact of war on the community.
With all the grain of Babylon
Repeats the initial reference to the abundance or prosperity of Babylon.
With all the grain of Babylon (with all the grain of Babylon)
Repetition emphasizes the abundance and potential loss of prosperity due to war.
With all the grain of Babylon (with all the grain of Babylon)
-With all the grain of Babylon (with all the grain of Babylon)
-With all the grain of Babylon (with all the grain of Babylon)
-With all the grain of Babylon (with all the grain of Babylon)
-With all the grain of Babylon (with all the grain of Babylon)
-With all the grain of Babylon
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