Funeral
Black and Jay Lyrics
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Storm coming, you'd better hide from the atomic tide
Flashes in the sky turns houses into sties
Turns people into clay, radiation minds decay
Robot minds of robot slaves lead them to atomic rage
Plastic flowers, melting sun, fading moon falls upon
Dying world of radiation, victims of mad frustration
Buildings crashing down to a cracking ground
Rivers turn to wood, ice melting to flood
Earth lies in death bed, clouds cry water dead
Tearing life away, here's the burning pay
Electric funeral
Electric funeral
Electric funeral
Electric funeral
And so in the sky shines the electric eye
Supernatural king takes earth under his wing
Heaven's golden chorus sings, hell's angels flap their wings
Evil souls fall to hell, ever trapped in burning cell
The lyrics to Black and Jay's song Funeral are a haunting portrayal of the collective fears and anxieties that existed around the time of the Cold War. The opening lines of the song speak of an ominous warning, with "reflex in the sky" indicating a missile launch, and the "atomic tide" being the destructive power of nuclear weapons. The suggestion to "hide from the atomic tide" echoes the widespread belief at the time that a nuclear war could mean the end of civilization as we knew it. The flashes in the sky refer to the blinding effect of the explosion, which turns homes into rubble and people into dust. The theme of decay is present in the phrase "radiation minds decay," which refers to the devastating long-term consequences of nuclear fallout.
The second stanza of the song continues the theme of a dystopian world, where even the minds of people have become robotic and enslaved, leading them to the brink of atomic destruction. The image of "plastic flowers and a melting sun" suggests that everything has become artificial and even nature itself is unable to survive the catastrophic effects of a nuclear war. The reference to an "electric funeral pyre" is a powerful metaphor for the burning of the planet and the destruction of all life as we know it.
The final stanza of the song speaks of a supernatural being, who takes control of the world and brings about a final judgment. The "golden chorus" that sings in heaven is contrasted with the "hell's angels" who flap their wings in the underworld, suggesting that there is no escape from the ultimate reckoning. The "burning cell" that evil souls are trapped in is a vivid image of the eternal punishment that awaits those who have brought destruction to the world.
Overall, Funeral is a powerful and haunting song that captures the mood of anxiety and fear that existed in the Cold War era. It is a warning about the devastating consequences of our actions and the need for us to confront the dangers of nuclear war before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Reflex in the sky warn you you're gonna die
The storm that's coming can be seen in the sky, giving a warning that death is coming.
Storm coming, you'd better hide from the atomic tide
The storm is a result of atomic warfare and to survive, one must take cover.
Flashes in the sky turns houses into sties
The bright flashes of the atomic bombs can wreck houses and turn them into ruins.
Turns people into clay, radiation minds decay
Radiation causes destruction of both the mind and the body, leading to death and decay.
Robot minds of robot slaves lead them to atomic rage
People become automated robots when they get brainwashed by dictatorship and their rage leads to atomic war.
Plastic flowers, melting sun, fading moon falls upon
The world loses its beauty and its sources of light and warmth, leading to destruction.
Dying world of radiation, victims of mad frustration
Radiation causes the world to start dying, leading to human frustration and mayhem.
Burning globe of oxy'n fire, like electric funeral pyre
The world is burning due to warfare and becoming a funeral pyre.
Buildings crashing down to a cracking ground
There is so much damage to the world that it's leading to the collapse of buildings and the ground cracking open.
Rivers turn to wood, ice melting to flood
The rivers start to become dry and the ice caps melt leading to floods.
Earth lies in death bed, clouds cry water dead
The earth is dying as it lies in a deathbed, with the clouds pouring tears and the water becoming polluted and unusable.
Tearing life away, here's the burning pay
The consequences of the damage done to the world is leading to a loss of life, and people are paying the price for their actions.
Electric funeral
The constant imagery of death and destruction makes it seem like an electric funeral.
And so in the sky shines the electric eye
The world's doom is foretold by an ominous electric eye that's watching over all.
Supernatural king takes earth under his wing
The only hope of salvation is for the earth to be saved by a powerful supernatural being.
Heaven's golden chorus sings, hell's angels flap their wings
Heaven and Hell are in turmoil as they watch the destruction of the earth and compete to take the souls of the dying.
Evil souls fall to hell, ever trapped in burning cell
The evil souls are condemned to hell and trapped in burning cells as punishment for their actions in life.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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