Chosen
Unveiling Chaos: VNV Nation's 'Chosen' Echoes the Terrifying Fracture of Order
Lyrics
Order is shattered in a strange guttural tone that resounded
Expresses the disruption of established order with a guttural tone.
Along the walls of the houses, which seemed dead and deserted,
Describes the desolate atmosphere of houses, emphasizing emptiness.
While, behind the closed shutters, eyes watched the conquerors,
Portrays people observing conquerors from behind closed shutters.
Who, by right of war, were now masters of the city and of the lives
Notes conquerors' authority due to war over the city and its inhabitants.
And fortunes of its people.
Highlights the dominance of conquerors over lives and fortunes of the people.
In their darkened ruins the inhabitants have given way to the same
Depicts panic among inhabitants in the ruined environment.
Feeling of panic which is aroused by natural cataclysms those
Compares panic to that caused by natural catastrophes, overwhelming and uncontrollable.
Devastating upheavals of the Earth, against which wisdom and
Draws parallel to upheavals of the Earth, where wisdom and strength offer no defense.
Strength alike are of no avail.
Emphasizes the futility in the face of devastating forces.
Though the same feeling is experienced wherever the established
Addresses the universal experience of turmoil when established order is disrupted.
Order of things is upset, when security ceases to exist, when all that
Describes the loss of security when the usual order is disturbed.
Was previously protected by the laws of man and nature is suddenly
Points out the vulnerability when the protection of laws is suddenly removed.
Placed at the mercy of brutal unreasoning force.
Highlights the exposure to brutal and irrational force when security is gone.
The earthquake, burying a whole people beneath the ruins of their
Compares the impact to an earthquake, burying a population under ruins.
Houses, the river in spate, sweeping away the bodies of drowned
Equates the upheaval to a river in spate, sweeping away bodies and belongings.
Peasants, together with the carcasses of cattle and rafters torn from
Illustrates the chaos with drowned peasants and wreckage.
Roofs, and the victorious army slaughtering all who resist, making
Details the conquering army's brutality, slaughtering and making prisoners.
Prisoners of the rest, looting by right of the sword, and thanking their
Emphasizes the looting justified by the sword, acknowledging a divine entity.
God to the sound of cannon.
Notes the victorious army thanking their God amidst the sounds of cannons.
All these are terrifying scourges which undermine all our belief in
Describes these events as terrifying scourges, shaking belief in eternal justice.
Eternal justice and all the trust we have been taught to place in divine
Underlines the erosion of trust in divine protection and human reason.
Protection and human reason.
Reflects on the profound impact of these events on fundamental beliefs.
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