Requiem
Aztec Jade Lyrics
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Funeral pyres
Ashes coat the ground
Slaughter
Toxic water
Corporate order
Floral genocide
Nations Aberrations
Culmination
Eroded sand
Miles of Rivers dried up
Tree limbs piled up
A dead wasteland
Now there is no where to run
Can't hide from all the damage done
The world's turning a shade of gray
How can we wantonly throw it all away
Requiem
Mindless
Self destruction
Mass corruption
Watch them rape the land
Plotting
Carcass rotting
Ozone spotting
Earth's betrayed by
Traitors
Terminators
Forest haters
Man's epitaph
Plunder
Nature's wonders
Cast asunder
Our time will pass
The lyrics to Aztec Jade's song "Requiem" reflect the devastation caused by human exploitation of the natural world. The opening lines describe the aftermath of a fire, with funeral pyres burning and ashes covering the ground. The subsequent verses expand upon this imagery to create a picture of widespread ecological destruction. The lyrics mention slaughter, toxic water, and floral genocide, indicating the ways in which human activity is causing harm to various parts of the ecosystem. The song also references rivers drying up, tree limbs piling up, and a dead wasteland, indicating the scale of the damage.
The chorus of the song introduces the idea of a requiem, which traditionally is a musical composition created to honor those who have died. In this context, the idea of a requiem suggests mourning for the loss of the natural world as a result of human activity. The verses that follow continue to describe the harm that people are causing to the environment. The lyrics mention mindless self-destruction, mass corruption, and the plot to rape the land. The chorus repeats the idea of a requiem, and the final verse of the song predicts that humanity's exploitation of the natural world will lead to our downfall.
Overall, the lyrics to "Requiem" reflect a deep concern for the state of the environment and the impact that humans are having on it. The song suggests that unless we take steps to change our behavior, we risk destroying the planet and everything on it.
Line by Line Meaning
Fire burning higher
The intensity of the fire has increased
Funeral pyres
The fires are being used for funerary purposes
Ashes coat the ground
The ground is now covered in ash due to the fires
Slaughter
There is killing taking place
Toxic water
The water is now contaminated
Corporate order
The direction of things are being controlled by large companies
Floral genocide
Flowers and other plant species are being killed off
Nations Aberrations
Countries are behaving irrationally or improperly
Culmination
A final result or end has been reached
Eroded sand
The sand has been worn down over time
Miles of Rivers dried up
Many rivers have lost their water supply
Tree limbs piled up
The remnants of trees have been stacked on top of one another
A dead wasteland
The land is now barren and lifeless
Now there is no where to run
There is no escape from the damage that has been done
Can't hide from all the damage done
The effects of the damage are far-reaching and cannot be avoided
The world's turning a shade of gray
The world is losing its vibrancy and color
How can we wantonly throw it all away
We are recklessly disregarding the value and importance of the natural world
Requiem
A song of mourning or remembrance for the loss of something
Mindless
There is a lack of thought and consideration going into our actions
Self destruction
We are bringing about our own demise
Mass corruption
There is widespread unethical behavior and dishonesty
Watch them rape the land
People are taking advantage of the natural resources for their own gain
Plotting
There is a secretive or planned course of action being taken
Carcass rotting
The decomposition of an animal body is taking place
Ozone spotting
There are areas of damage to the earth's ozone layer
Earth's betrayed by
The earth is being let down or betrayed by people
Traitors
People who have betrayed their duty to the earth and its inhabitants
Terminators
Entities that bring about the end of something
Forest haters
People or entities that intentionally destroy forests
Man's epitaph
The final words or legacy of humanity
Plunder
To take something by force or with disregard to consequences
Nature's wonders
The amazing and awe-inspiring natural phenomena of the world
Cast asunder
To be thrown apart or separated
Our time will pass
Human beings will not be around forever
Contributed by Amelia C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.