Shadows
Aiboforcen Lyrics
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All I can see
Dark shadows
Where once the sun shone
From sea to shining sea
Our golden dreams are dying
Freedom is not for free
Where once the truth thrived
From land to living land
Our leaden lies are finding
Faith slips away like sand
Is it too late to hope
Past time to make us pure
How deep grows a cancer
Is death our only cure
The lyrics to Aiboforcen's song Shadows speak to the decline of society and the loss of freedom, truth, and faith. The opening lines "Shadows, all I can see, dark shadows" set the tone for a bleak and desolate worldview. The sun that once shone from "sea to shining sea" is now blocked out by these shadows, representing the darkness that has crept into our world. The use of the word "golden" to describe our dreams emphasizes the positive and hopeful nature of our aspirations, while the phrase "dying freedom" highlights the fact that these dreams are fading away.
The next few lines switch from dreams and aspirations to truth and lies. The truth that once thrived "from land to living land" has been replaced by "leaden lies" that cause "faith [to] slip away like sand". This speaks to the fact that in many cases, people are no longer able to trust those in power or those who are supposed to uphold truth and justice. The final lines of the song offer a bleak outlook for the future: "Is it too late to hope, past time to make us pure. How deep grows a cancer, is death our only cure?" This serves as a warning against the dangers of inaction and apathy, and asks the listener to question whether it's possible to prevent society from further decline.
Line by Line Meaning
Shadows
The presence of dark thoughts and negative emotions
All I can see
The singer's current outlook is bleak, and all they perceive is darkness
Dark shadows
The negative emotions and thoughts that are overshadowing everything else in the singer's life
Where once the sun shone
A reference to a time when things were better/lighter
From sea to shining sea
Across the entire country
Our golden dreams are dying
The hopes and aspirations that the singer once had are slowly fading away
Freedom is not for free
The price of true freedom may not be immediately evident
Where once the truth thrived
A reference to a time when honesty and transparency were more valued
From land to living land
Throughout all areas of life
Our leaden lies are finding
Deceit and dishonesty are becoming more prevalent and accepted
Faith slips away like sand
The singer is losing faith in humanity
Is it too late to hope
The artist wonders if it's still possible to have optimism for the future
Past time to make us pure
It's too late for redemption or fixing past mistakes
How deep grows a cancer
A metaphor for how destructive negative thoughts and emotions can become
Is death our only cure
The singer is contemplating the extreme measure of death as a release from their pain
Contributed by Sophie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.