Brave Saint Saturn is an American rock band started as … Read Full Bio ↴1995-present
Brave Saint Saturn is an American rock band started as a side project by members of Five Iron Frenzy, a now-defunct Christian ska band. Described by the band as "astro-rock," the music of Brave Saint Saturn (often abbreviated to BS2) is generally more serious than the lighthearted FIF. The group was originally an outlet for Five Iron's frontman, Reese Roper, to explore themes of loneliness and abandonment. BS2 also experimented with more melancholy song composition and ambient sounds, with instruments like synthesizer, glockenspiel, accordion, strings and electronic sampling rounding out the simple, guitar-driven music.
The band's trilogy of albums follow the same outer space-themed story that uses space exploration as an extended metaphor, making the three records an extended concept album. The first album, So Far from Home, was about being lost, while their second, The Light of Things Hoped For, focused on being found. Their third album, entitled Anti-Meridian, about returning home, was released on September 15th, 2008, completing the trilogy and the story of the crew of the U.S.S. Gloria.
Mercenary
Brave Saint Saturn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In nineteen-ninety-five
I watched the flashbulbs burst,
Whenever I'd arrive
I'd tape my knuckles up
Cinched and tight; for the ring
Just beneath the gloves
Clenching white for the swing
Before a sellout crowd,
I threw the fight in my head
Before the fat lady bowed
You want a tip-off
Some good advice for the brawl?
Just wear mouth-guard
To keep your teeth when you fall
And when you quit,
Make sure that you can
Wash you hands of it
Armed to the teeth
Score one for treachery
I am a mercenary
There's more lies here
Than we can all bury
I am a mercenary
I've seen the headlines
Swarming thick with flies
I've seen the Billboard Charts
I've heard them spitting lies
Here's to your lame award
Your phony Nobel Prize
Here's to the suckers lining up
To see us compromise
Let's light a campfire
We'll have a sing along
I'll burn some bridges.
You'll bring the crappy songs
And when you quit
Make sure that you can wash your hands of it
There's a part of me I've compromised
Buried somewhere under ghosts of lies
Make it quick, make it sick
Turn the crank and just play the greatest hits... sigh.
There's a part of me that I despise
Pull the curtain back and see what dies
Emerald spires of the near profound
Let's burn this lousy city down
The song "Mercenary" by Brave Saint Saturn is a metaphorical critique of the music industry and the compromises and lies that come with fame and success. The singer describes himself as "the future" in 1995, at the height of his popularity and success. He speaks of the adrenaline rush of performing, taping his knuckles for a fight in the ring, but ultimately admitting that he threw the fight in his head.
The chorus, "I am a mercenary," suggests that he has sold out, become a hired gun, using his talent for profit rather than for artistic expression. He speaks of the lies and compromises that come with this role, with swarms of flies around headlines and phony awards. He even suggests burning bridges and bringing "crappy songs" to the campfire.
The singer acknowledges that he has compromised a part of himself, burying it under the ghosts of lies. He urges himself and others to make a clean break from this mercenary lifestyle, to wash their hands of it and move on. The final lines, "Let's burn this lousy city down," suggest a desire to destroy the industry that has corrupted and compromised the artist.
Line by Line Meaning
I was the future,
I used to believe that I could be anything, that I was destined to succeed
In nineteen-ninety-five
I had a lot of hope and optimism about the future, but things didn't turn out the way I expected
I watched the flashbulbs burst, Whenever I'd arrive
I used to be a big deal, but now I'm just a has-been
I'd tape my knuckles up, Cinched and tight; for the ring
I used to be a fighter, both literally and metaphorically
Just beneath the gloves, Clenching white for the swing
I was ready and willing to fight for what I believed in
I was a sellout, Before a sellout crowd,
I compromised my principles and betrayed my fans
I threw the fight in my head, Before the fat lady bowed
I gave up before I even started, knowing that I couldn't win
You want a tip-off, Some good advice for the brawl?
If you're going to fight, here's some practical advice
Just wear mouth-guard, To keep your teeth when you fall
Protect yourself from harm
And when you quit, Make sure that you can, Wash you hands of it
Don't leave any loose ends when you give up
Armed to the teeth, Score one for treachery
I'm ready and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve my goals
I am a mercenary,
I am a soldier of fortune, willing to fight for anyone who pays me
There's more lies here, Than we can all bury
There's too much deception and dishonesty in the world to ignore
I've seen the headlines, Swarming thick with flies
I'm aware of the media's sensationalism and their tendency to distort the truth
I've seen the Billboard Charts, I've heard them spitting lies
I know how the music industry works and how it can be corrupt
Here's to your lame award, Your phony Nobel Prize
I'm critical of the recognition given by institutions that I think are unjust or corrupt
Here's to the suckers lining up, To see us compromise
I'm dismissive of those who value popularity over authenticity
Let's light a campfire, We'll have a sing along
Let's do something genuinely enjoyable instead of pursuing fame and fortune
I'll burn some bridges. You'll bring the crappy songs
I'm willing to sever ties with people and things that don't align with my values
And when you quit Make sure that you can wash your hands of it
Don't do anything that will leave a bad taste in your mouth or make you feel guilty afterwards
There's a part of me I've compromised, Buried somewhere under ghosts of lies
I've betrayed my true self in pursuit of success and now I'm haunted by my own dishonesty
Make it quick, make it sick, Turn the crank and just play the greatest hits... sigh.
I'm cynical of the music industry's commodification of art and their obsession with profit
There's a part of me that I despise, Pull the curtain back and see what dies
I'm disgusted with myself for giving up my integrity and want to confront the reality of my choices
Emerald spires of the near profound, Let's burn this lousy city down
I want to destroy the establishment and start over with a new, more authentic paradigm
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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