For You
Bright Eyes Lyrics
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One for the tyrant, one for the slaughtered lamb
One for the struggle, one for the lasting peace
One for you, and one for me
One for the Fuhrer, one for his child bride
One for the wedding, one for the suicide
One for the bunker, one for the broadcast booth
How did we get so far away from us?
How did we get so far away?
One for the people, one for the parliament
One for the weary, one for the malcontent
One for the master, one for the protege
One for you, and one for me
One for the bread lines, one for the billionaires
One for the missing, one for the barely there
One for the certain, one for the real confused
One for me, okay, now one for you
Now that we've come so far away from us
Now that we've come too far to say
You and me, you and me that is an awful lie
You and me, you and me that is an awful lie
It's I and I
It's I and I
It's I and I
It's I and I
The Bright Eyes song "For You" is a commentary on the inequalities and conflicts that exist in society, and how individuals are often divided and categorized based on their race, social class, political beliefs and other factors. The song is an attempt to reconcile these differences and bring people together, by acknowledging the similarities and shared experiences that exist within all of us.
The lyrics are structured in a way that juxtaposes different groups of people and their struggles, including the righteous and the ruling class, the tyrant and the slaughtered lamb, the people and the parliament, the bread lines and the billionaires. Through these comparisons, the song highlights the disconnect and inequality that exists between these groups, and suggests that each individual has a responsibility to recognize and address these disparities.
The chorus of "For You" is a plea to come together, with the repeated lines "One for you, and one for me." This simple refrain is a call to recognize that we all have shared experiences and a common humanity, and that we must work together to create a more just and equitable society.
Overall, "For You" is a powerful song that encourages listeners to consider their place in society and the ways in which they can contribute to positive change. It recognizes that the world is complex and often unfair, but suggests that by coming together and acknowledging our shared struggles, we can create a better world for everyone.
Line by Line Meaning
One for the righteous, one for the ruling class
There are different songs for different groups of people in society like the morally upright and the wealthy ruling class.
One for the tyrant, one for the slaughtered lamb
There are songs for the oppressors and the oppressed, the cruel rulers and their helpless victims.
One for the struggle, one for the lasting peace
There are songs for the fight for justice and equality and there are songs for the calm and harmony that should follow after the struggle.
One for you, and one for me
There are songs for everyone, each one uniquely tailored to their experiences and emotions.
One for the Fuhrer, one for his child bride
There are songs for controversial figures like Hitler, even for his unconscionable marriage to an underage girl.
One for the wedding, one for the suicide
There are songs for different occasions like weddings and also for tragic events like suicide.
One for the bunker, one for the broadcast booth
There are songs for secret hideouts and also for public forums like radio and TV stations.
One for me, now one for you
There are songs for both the singer and the listener, the message shared across all borders and barriers.
One for the people, one for the parliament
There are songs for the masses as well as the leaders and lawmakers of the nation.
One for the weary, one for the malcontent
There are songs for those who are tired from hard work and those who are generally unhappy with life.
One for the master, one for the protege
There are songs for both the teacher and the student, the experienced and the novice.
One for you, and one for me
There are songs for everyone, each one uniquely tailored to their experiences and emotions.
One for the bread lines, one for the billionaires
There are songs for the impoverished masses lining up for meals and also for the super-rich who seem out of touch with reality.
One for the missing, one for the barely there
There are songs for those who are lost and for those who are scarcely visible or heard in society.
One for the certain, one for the real confused
There are songs for those who are confident and those who are bewildered or uncertain about their lives.
One for me, okay, now one for you
There are songs for both the singer and the listener, the message shared across all borders and barriers.
Now that we've come so far away from us
The singer is questioning how society has lost its values and sense of community amidst all these different songs for different people.
Now that we've come too far to say
It's too late to turn back the clock and bring back a more united society that shares similar experiences and emotions.
You and me, you and me that is an awful lie
The concept of 'you and me' as a simple and shared ideal is now a falsehood because of the many differences and inequalities in society.
It's I and I
The singer concludes that the only 'us' that truly matters is the individual and their inner self, hence 'I and I'.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CONOR M OBERST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind