Requiem
A Million Dead Birds Laughing Lyrics


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I have wrestled with the best
May heaven be tested
A million angels laid to rest
But I am mourning

My hastiness too late to be erased
A million dead birds
My hastiness too late to be erased
A million dead birds laughing




For I am nothing
Without my nemesis

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Requiem" by A Million Dead Birds Laughing are complex and emotionally charged. The opening lines "I have wrestled with the best/May heaven be tested" suggest that the singer has been struggling with something monumental, perhaps a spiritual or existential crisis. The reference to heaven being tested implies that this struggle may be greater than anything that even God himself has faced. The next lines, "A million angels laid to rest/But I am mourning," suggest that the singer has undergone a great loss or tragedy, perhaps the death of loved ones or the loss of something important to him.


The chorus of the song is perhaps the most intriguing and difficult to interpret. The lines "My hastiness too late to be erased/A million dead birds/My hastiness too late to be erased/A million dead birds laughing/For I am nothing/Without my nemesis" are jarring and surreal. They seem to suggest that the singer has made a mistake or committed a great wrong, possibly resulting in the death of millions of birds. The birds' laughter is eerie and unsettling, perhaps a reference to their mocking the singer for his actions. The mention of the singer's nemesis suggests that he may have acted out of revenge or anger, and that without this enemy, he is powerless and empty.


Overall, the lyrics of "Requiem" are open to interpretation and invite listeners to delve deep into their subconscious and explore their fears, desires, and emotions. The song is a powerful meditation on loss, regret, and the fragile nature of existence.


Line by Line Meaning

I have wrestled with the best
I have struggled with the most skilled and proficient opponents


May heaven be tested
May even the divine powers be challenged, tested or examined


A million angels laid to rest
Countless holy beings, now deceased


But I am mourning
I am grieving or lamenting over the loss


My hastiness too late to be erased
My rashness or impulsivity cannot be undone, as it's already too late


A million dead birds
Numerous lifeless avian creatures


My hastiness too late to be erased
My impulsiveness cannot be corrected or changed


A million dead birds laughing
Despite the gravity of the situation, death and destruction are mocking or contemptuous


For I am nothing
I am worthless or insignificant


Without my nemesis
I cannot exist or function without my arch-rival or opponent




Contributed by Max K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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