Tears of the Sun
Royal Hunt Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

While all of us walk alone... no help, we're on our own
The end - as they say - is a heartbeat away,
so give me a reason to stay...

Roaring silence...you walk down the street in Belfast -
think of it as every step that you take is your last...
It could be, easily, just keep on watching your back:
highest alert all the time - you are under attack,
better keep moving

Rain's falling down on me as trying to make me see
the scars of this town. Just leave it and run
surrounded by tears of the sun

Shot in the distance - and fear bounces back from these walls,
someone ahead of you screams and suddenly falls
Killings are random but there is a reason behind
Retaliation? Well, half of the nation went blind

while children in church are singing so peaceful,
bells are ringing a lovely tune... I'm going mad!

Rain's falling down on me as trying to make me see
the scars of this town. Just leave it and run
surrounded by tears of the sun
Rain's falling down on me... I wish it will let me be
One day I'll be gone but whatever I've done's
remembered by tears of the sun

You can't ask for forgiveness from Heaven
'til you've asked for forgiveness from men...
In this town it will take you forever, so who gives a damn?

Overall Meaning

The song "Tears of the Sun" by Royal Hunt takes a dark and emotional path towards reflecting on the difficulties of living in a dangerous and conflict-ridden world. The opening lyrics set the tone for the song, as it acknowledges the reality that each person is individually responsible for their own survival and that there may be no help or support for them. It also presents the idea that death is always close, something that can happen without any prior notice. However, despite these negative thoughts, the singer seeks a reason to stay, to fight and survive in this world.

The second half of the first verse takes a more specific and descriptive tone, painting a picture of the world and the city around the singer. The use of "roaring silence" creates a sense of contradiction and tension, hinting that there's a strong undercurrent of violence or conflict waiting below the surface. The scene is set in Belfast, which is significant as it's a city with a long and difficult history of sectarian violence. The line, "It could be, easily, just keep on watching your back" further emphasizes the sense of danger in this setting. The rest of the verse continues to describe the situation as one where one has to constantly be vigilant and aware of their surroundings.

The chorus, "Rain's falling down on me as trying to make me see the scars of this town. Just leave it and run surrounded by tears of the sun" speaks to the emotional weight that comes with living in this kind of environment. The use of "tears of the sun" is noteworthy, as it refers to the idea that even though the sun is thought of as a source of light and positivity, it too can be a source of pain and tears. There's a sense of inevitability in the chorus, as the rain serves as a metaphor for the emotional anguish that people have to endure, while being constantly reminded of the scars and damage done to their surroundings.

Line by Line Meaning

While all of us walk alone... no help, we're on our own
Everyone goes through struggles in life and has to face it alone without any external help

The end - as they say - is a heartbeat away, so give me a reason to stay...
Life is too short and can be uncertain, so why should I stay if I cannot find a reason to live?

Roaring silence...you walk down the street in Belfast - think of it as every step that you take is your last... It could be, easily, just keep on watching your back: highest alert all the time - you are under attack, better keep moving
Walking down the street of Belfast is like walking on the edge of a cliff, where every step could be your last. Stay aware and vigilant, as danger lurks around every corner

Rain's falling down on me as trying to make me see the scars of this town. Just leave it and run surrounded by tears of the sun
The rain symbolizes the harsh reality of the town and its troubled history. Running away from it all, while the weight of the memories from the past cling to you like the tears of the sun

Shot in the distance - and fear bounces back from these walls, someone ahead of you screams and suddenly falls. Killings are random but there is a reason behind, Retaliation? Well, half of the nation went blind
The violence and fear in the town are so intense that even a gunshot seems normal. Killings are arbitrary, but there is always a motive behind them. Even half of the nation is lost in this cycle of violence

while children in church are singing so peaceful, bells are ringing a lovely tune... I'm going mad!
The peaceful and serene environment of the church only highlights the contrast with the violent surroundings. The beauty of the music makes the situation more unbearable, hence the feeling of going mad

Rain's falling down on me... I wish it will let me be. One day I'll be gone but whatever I've done's remembered by tears of the sun
Sometimes one wishes to escape from the harsh reality of life that constantly bears down on you, but in the end, the memories of the past will always be with you

You can't ask for forgiveness from Heaven 'til you've asked for forgiveness from men... In this town, it will take you forever, so who gives a damn?
Forgiveness is an important moral value, but it is difficult to achieve it here due to the constant violence and the never-ending cycle of vengeance. Hence, who cares about forgiveness when life itself is threatened?

Contributed by Nolan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it