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Knights of Cydonia
Muse Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come ride with me
Through the veins of history
I'll show you a God
Who falls asleep on the job

And how can we win
When fools can be kings?
Don't waste your time
Or time will waste you

No one's gonna take me alive
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive

No one's gonna take me alive
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive

No one's gonna take me alive
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive

Overall Meaning

The starting verse of Muse’s Knights of Cydonia takes the listener on a wild ride through history, offering a glimpse of a deity who is falling asleep on the job, hinting at divine inattention, and possibly the eventual downfall of civilization. The following lines, punctuated by a chorus that demands us to never give up, are a call to arms for the listener to fight for what’s right and fair, no matter the cost. The theme of the song is powerfully evocative, asking us to consider what we’re ready to do to maintain or even establish our rights.


The epic sound of the song can be attributed to Muse's frequent use of an orchestra in the background, the driving guitar by Matt Bellamy, and the intense drums by Dominic Howard. Although it was released on the band's fourth studio album in 2006, the song has since been recognized as one of the band's most successful singles, featuring many notable covers by other artists. Its rise to fame is attributed in part to its memorable intro, which is played on a harmonica, and its high energy level. Knights of Cydonia has been described as the perfect blend of rock and sci-fi, and its popularity with audiences continues to endure.


Line by Line Meaning

Come ride with me
Follow me as we journey through history.


Through the veins of history
Travel through the time and events of the past that have shaped our present.


I'll show you a God
I'll guide you to a powerful entity that is revered and worshiped.


Who falls asleep on the job
This God is not actively involved in overseeing and guiding the world, but instead slumbers, leaving humans to fend for themselves.


And how can we win
In light of the God's absence, how can we emerge victorious?


When fools can be kings?
When power can be so easily attained and wielded by the foolish, how can we hope to overcome and establish a just society?


Don't waste your time
Do not squander the limited time you have on this Earth.


Or time will waste you
If you do not seize the moment and take action, time will pass you by and you'll have nothing to show for it.


No one's gonna take me alive
In the face of opposition and threats to one's existence, one will not be taken down easily.


The time has come to make things right
A turning point has been reached where decisive action must be taken in order to correct past wrongs.


You and I must fight for our rights
Both you and I bear the responsibility of standing up and defending our personal freedoms and liberties.


You and I must fight to survive
If we do not fight for what we believe in, we may not survive the harsh realities of life.


No one's gonna take me alive
Reiterated to emphasize the resolve and determination to resist and overcome obstacles.


The time has come to make things right
Reiterated to amplify the sense of urgency and importance in confronting and solving problems.


You and I must fight for our rights
Reiterated to enunciate the significance of everyone's role in safeguarding personal freedoms and human rights.


You and I must fight to survive
Reiterated to reinforce the message of resilience and determination necessary to thrive and prosper in life.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Matthew James Bellamy

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Makeshift innocence

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@florentduchalet8458

Come ride with me
Through the veins of history,
I'll show you how God
Falls asleep on the job
And how can we win,
When fools can be kings?
Don't waste your time
Or time will, waste, you...
No one's gonna take me alive
Time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive
No one's gonna take me alive
Time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive
No one's gonna take me alive
Time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive



All comments from YouTube:

@marinedude_06

"Don't waste your time or time will waste you" one of my favorite lyrics ever, so true.

@Michael80B

Sayed by the man writing comments on youtube ;)

@Michael80B

Sayed by the man writing comments on youtube ;)

@samuelmiller5457

@@Michael80B said by the man who can't spell

@petepentheus2851

It's Shakespeare. Richard II: 'I wasted time, now time doth waste me'

@miralex67

And they say Matt Bellamy isn't great lyricist. You can find at least one great lyric in every Muse song

16 More Replies...

@UTU

15 years later, still one of the best songs and music videos.

@axiomgr33ne

shit its that old

@Sternenmadchens

a

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