The Flower of Carnage
梶芽衣子 (Meiko Kaji) Lyrics
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Stray dog's howls and the footsteps of Geta pierce the air
I walk with the weight of the Milky Way on my shoulders
But an umbrella that holds onto the darkness is all there is
I'm a woman who walks at the brink of life and death
Who's emptied my tears many moons ago
All the compassion tears and dreams
The snowy nights and tomorrow hold no meaning
And thrown away my womanhood many moons ago
On the behalf of heaven, they're our soldiers, the loyal, invicible and brave
Now it's time for them to leave the country of their
Parents their hearts buoyed by encouraging voices
They are solemnly resolved not to return alive, without victory
Here at home, the citizens wait for you
In foreign lands, the brave troops
Instead of kindness from someone
I do not care about
I rather prefer selfishness from you my beloved
Oh, is the world a dream or an illusion?
I am all alone in jail
The Flower of Carnage is a song sung by 梶芽衣子 (Meiko Kaji), famously known for its use in the film Kill Bill. The song paints a vivid image of a woman's journey that is full of pain, betrayal, and vendetta. The first stanza describes a dead morning, with nothing but sorrowful snowfall, a stray dog's howling, and the footsteps of Geta, Japanese traditional footwear that pierce the air. The singer walks with the weight of the Milky Way on her shoulders, indicating that she feels the burden of her life's struggles. The only thing she has to hold onto is an umbrella that embraces darkness, signifying her hopeless and depressive state of mind.
The second stanza portrays the singer as a woman who has had her fair share of tears and dreams, but now those things hold no meaning for her. She has let go of her womanhood and immersed herself in the river of vengeance. The third stanza is about soldiers being sent away from their homes and how they are resolute to win and not come back without victory. The singer then declares that instead of receiving kindness from anyone, she only wants selfishness from her beloved. The song ends with the question, "Is the world a dream or an illusion?" and the singer feeling all alone in jail.
Line by Line Meaning
Begrieving snow falls in the dead morning
Snow is falling in the morning, signifying that something has come to an end, and it makes her feel sorrowful.
Stray dog's howls and the footsteps of Geta pierce the air
She can hear the howling of a dog and the sound of wooden sandals in the distance which only adds to the loneliness she feels.
I walk with the weight of the Milky Way on my shoulders
The weight on her shoulders is immense, like carrying the weight of all the stars in the galaxy.
But an umbrella that holds onto the darkness is all there is
All she has to shield her from the world is an umbrella that only hides her from the light and the truth.
I'm a woman who walks at the brink of life and death
She is constantly on the edge of life and death and every step is a risk.
Who's emptied my tears many moons ago
She's cried so much over the years that she doesn't have any tears left to shed.
All the compassion tears and dreams
The things she used to hold near and dear, like her tears and dreams, no longer have any meaning to her.
The snowy nights and tomorrow hold no meaning
The future no longer holds any hope or promise for her, like the snow that falls silently and covers everything in white.
I've immersed my body in the river of vengeance
She's taken revenge upon those who have wronged her and has given up everything, including her own soul.
And thrown away my womanhood many moons ago
She's given up on the traditional feminine roles and expectations society had for her a long time ago.
On the behalf of heaven, they're our soldiers, the loyal, invicible and brave
The soldiers fighting for their country are seen as heroes who embody loyalty, courage, and strength.
Now it's time for them to leave the country of their
The soldiers are leaving their home country behind to fight in a foreign land.
Parents their hearts buoyed by encouraging voices
The parents of these soldiers are proud of them and support them on their journey with kind words of encouragement.
They are solemnly resolved not to return alive, without victory
The soldiers have made the decision to either come back victorious or not come back at all.
Here at home, the citizens wait for you
At home, everyone is waiting and hoping for the soldiers to come back unharmed and have a happy ending.
In foreign lands, the brave troops
The soldiers are fighting in a foreign land, and they are admired for their bravery and courage in doing so.
Instead of kindness from someone
She doesn't care about anyone else's kindness or empathy because it is meaningless to her.
I do not care about
She doesn't care about anyone else or what they might think, her heart only belongs to one person.
I rather prefer selfishness from you my beloved
She would rather have her beloved be selfish and have his love and attention only for her.
Oh, is the world a dream or an illusion?
She questions the reality of the world and wonders if it's all just a dream or an illusion.
I am all alone in jail
She is isolated and alone, imprisoned in her own thoughts and feelings.
Contributed by London N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.