Collapse
Rise Against Lyrics
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And when our summer grow longer and winters won't snow
From the banks of the ocean and the ice in the hills
To the fight in the desert where progress stands still
When we've lost our will
That's how we'll know, this is not a test, oh no
This is cardiac arrest of a world too proud to admit our mistakes
We're crashing into the ground as we all fall from grace
When the air that we breathe becomes air that we choke
When the marsh fever spreads from the swamps to our homes
When your home on the range has been torn down and paved
The buffalo roam to a slaughterhouse grave
What more will it take?
For us to know this is not a test, oh no
This is cardiac arrest of a world too proud to admit our mistakes
Kissing the ground as we all fall from grace
This is a chance to set things straight
To bend or break the rules back into place
There is no middle ground, no compromise
We've drawn the line
With perfect aim, we stand back and throw
Glass windows break and it's all about to blow
Lights go out as we pass the torch again
In hope that is stays lit, oh
Neutrality means that you don't really care
'Cause the struggle goes on even when you're not there
Blind and unaware
That's how we'll know, this is not a test, oh no
This is cardiac arrest of a world too proud to admit our mistakes
We're crashing into the ground as we all
Yeah, we all, all fall from grace
The opening lines of Rise Against's "Collapse" explore the impact of climate change on the environment and its inhabitants. The image of rivers drying up and crops ceasing to grow is a warning of the dire consequences of neglecting the planet. As temperatures rise and winters become warmer, the song highlights the disconnect between our behavior and its impact. Rather than take responsibility for the damage caused, leaders and their followers are too "proud" to acknowledge their mistakes. As a result, we find ourselves in a somewhat desperate situation - one that's far too advanced to call a test. This is cardiac arrest and the system is about to fail.
As the song progresses, the metaphorical language used takes on something more concrete. We hear of air that we choke on, fever that spreads from swamps to homes, and the destruction of land that was once home to buffalo. The image of a world falling from grace is given greater weight as the lyrics suggest that we've missed our last opportunity to change things for the better. The chorus is a bridge between the song's warning and a call to arms. It is time to take action and put things right, to "bend or break the rules back into place" before it's too late.
The song builds to a climax with the singer hopeful that this time the torch will stay lit. The final lines restate the central concern of the song; neutrality and ignorance are no longer acceptable. We're all in this together, and we all must take responsibility for the irreversible damage we've done. "Collapse" is a powerful and poignant warning about the current state and future of our world.
Line by Line Meaning
When our rivers run dry and our crops cease to grow
As natural resources depleted, and life-giving sustenance diminishes.
And when our summers grow longer, and winters won't snow
The climate's natural balance grows increasingly troubled.
From the banks of the ocean and the ice in the hills
Whether from the coast, the poles, or beyond.
To the fight in the desert where progress stands still
Where the struggle to master the elements have come to naught.
When we've lost our will
When we're indifferent to the peril and its solution.
That's how we'll know, this is not a test, oh no
This is no dry run or rehearsal; we're living the real crisis.
This is cardiac arrest of a world too proud to admit our mistakes
Humanity's hubris caught in stasis, unyielding to the warning signs.
We're crashing into the ground as we all fall from grace
Like a vehicle careening out of control, humanity too is about to crash and burn.
When the air that we breathe becomes air that we choke
The very air we depend upon now threatens us with its toxicity.
When the marsh fever spreads from the swamps to our homes
Disease and pestilence leach from wetlands to turn our abodes into the same.
When your home on the range has been torn down and paved
The country life has now succumbed to urban development leaving nowhere to escape.
The buffalo roam to a slaughterhouse grave
Like the once-dynamic free range, too are the animals suffering the fallout of our shortsightedness.
What more will it take?
How bad must it get before the message is received with sufficient gravity?
For us to know this is not a test, oh no
This is no fanciful exercise; we're in the thick of a global catastrophe.
Kissing the ground as we all fall from grace
Begging for mercy, we lose the fundamental dignity that was once the hallmark of humanity.
This is a chance to set things straight
An opportunity to make amends and take corrective action.
To bend or break the rules back into place
To fix the problems, traditional methods may not suffice.
There is no middle ground, no compromise
We cannot fudge on this; there'll be no acceptable compromise.
We've drawn the line
We've made a clear demarcation that leaves no room for doubt.
With perfect aim, we stand back and throw
With pristine accuracy, we launch the arrow with all our might.
Glass windows break and it's all about to blow
The boundaries are shattered, and the friction is ready to ignite.
Lights go out as we pass the torch again
Leadership and responsibility pass from one generation to the next.
In hope that is stays lit, oh
That the flame of progress continues to survive and not extinguish.
Neutrality means that you don't really care
Indifference means that you're not engaged to positive change.
'Cause the struggle goes on even when you're not there
The war rages on, even in your absence, as its impact affects everyone.
Blind and unaware
Lacking the knowledge or will to make a difference.
That's how we'll know, this is not a test, oh no
Wake up call: the situation is dire and no longer sustainable.
We're crashing into the ground as we all
Humanity's self-destructive behavior will undoubtedly bring a tragic end.
Yeah, we all, all fall from grace
The irrepressible, all-mighty humanity is descending from its lofty status to a deplorable downfall.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRANDON BARNES, JOSEPH PRINCIPE, TIMOTHY MCILRATH, ZACH BLAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind