Visions
Brother to Brother Lyrics
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Visions of war
The world still turns
With increasing remorse
Reality protests
With tremors and shakes
The angel of history
Slams her feet on the breaks
At exponential speed
Strung out mobs
Clutching their screens
Searching for exits
From a decadent age
With ironic surrender
A desperate escape
Fissures and cracks
Spread through the walls
The houses are empty
The people are gone
Staring into
Vacant eyes
Grinding teeth
The TV streams
With no relief
Faces are locked
A curtain is drawn
Upon a setting sun
A candle is lit
Feel it decay
Watch it crumble
Attention fades
In the opening verses of "Visions" by Brother to Brother, the lyrics paint a picture of a world in turmoil, filled with rumors of wealth and looming visions of war. Despite the chaos, the world continues to turn, but not without a sense of increasing remorse. The harsh realities of life are depicted as protests, with tremors and shakes that suggest a deep-seated discontent and unease. The mention of the angel of history slamming her feet on the breaks hints at a struggle to halt the inevitable march of time and progress.
The lyrics delve into the idea of a "normalized crisis" that is escalating at an exponential speed, emphasizing the urgency and severity of the situation at hand. The imagery of strung out mobs clutching their screens paints a vivid picture of a society consumed by distractions and seeking solace in virtual escapes. The desperation to find exits from a decadent age is highlighted, coupled with a sense of ironic surrender that pervades the atmosphere.
As fissures and cracks spread through the walls, the emptiness of houses and absence of people evoke a haunting emptiness and desolation. The focus shifts to individuals staring into vacant eyes, grinding their teeth in frustration as they are inundated by the relentless stream of information from their TV screens. The sense of isolation and disconnection is palpable as faces remain locked, suggesting a collective detachment from reality.
The final verses of the song capture a sense of decay and decline, as attention fades and the world crumbles before our eyes. The imagery of a setting sun, a lit candle, and the feeling of watching it all disintegrate evoke a sense of helplessness and resignation in the face of an uncertain future. The lyrics convey a poignant message about the fleeting nature of existence and the fragility of the world, urging listeners to reflect on the consequences of societal indifference and the consequences of ignoring the signs of impending collapse.
Line by Line Meaning
Rumors of wealth
Whispers of riches and prosperity
Visions of war
Frightening images of conflict and destruction
The world still turns
Life goes on despite the chaos and turmoil
With increasing remorse
Growing regret and sorrow
Reality protests
The truth resists denial
With tremors and shakes
Shaking with uncertainty and fear
The angel of history
The force of the past affecting the present
Slams her feet on the breaks
Halts progress abruptly
Normalized crisis
Acceptance of ongoing emergencies
At exponential speed
Accelerating rapidly
Strung out mobs
Desperate crowds
Clutching their screens
Holding onto their digital distractions
Searching for exits
Seeking a way out
From a decadent age
Escaping from a corrupt era
With ironic surrender
Giving up in a twisted way
A desperate escape
Fleeing out of desperation
Fissures and cracks
Cracks and gaps
Spread through the walls
Spreading throughout the structure
The houses are empty
The homes are deserted
The people are gone
The inhabitants have disappeared
Staring into
Gazing deeply
Vacant eyes
Empty, expressionless gazes
Grinding teeth
Anxious and frustrated clenching
The TV streams
The television broadcasts
With no relief
Without any comfort or respite
Faces are locked
Expressions are frozen
A curtain is drawn
Closing off from the outside world
Upon a setting sun
As the day comes to an end
A candle is lit
A small source of light shines
Feel it decay
Sense the decline
Watch it crumble
Witness its collapse
Attention fades
Focus diminishes
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Ian Flowers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lowendfella
This is a true steppers-cut from back in the days. Real stepping was taken-off! This song was a classic for those who possesed style & grace. Shouts-out; too those who traveled the "Steppers-circuit" in those glorious days. (I truly miss those real slims & gents.)
swaregirl
I heard this in the early 90's while watching the Dusty Steppers do their thing at Chic Rick's in Chicago. I hunted for this LP for over 10 years and finally found it on eBay.
lilmolens
swaregirl how mich did you pay for it?
drfrankenstein56
Just heard this song for the first time last week on my journy to fine and funky beats. this is definitly one of the top 10 songs I have ever heard, the choppy beat and smooth organ really fill it up right. this is a correctly balanced song and idles along like a finely built engine. IMPRESSED AS HELL! I wish there was more, Thank you so so much for posting this song!
wingchun340
Thank you for posting! After all these years, it's still a great song!
wadie ouazzani
wingchun340 of course it still a great song!!! Ilisten this one every nigth
HipHop Anonymous
Very comforting tune, another one of the seemingly infinite gems of the 70's
KEVIN R WHITLOCK
This is great music from a great forgotten group!!!!!!!
s0alaih
I love this track because it seems to live in two worlds. clearly this is a steppin/skating/old school chicago jam plenty of people probably danced to. at the same time, this joint is seriously steeped in some psychedelic otherworldy vibes, from the album artwork, to the idea of "visions coming to you, coming through you", this song isn't exactly about loving on your girl, it feels more like a colorful fever dream... but at the same time I know people were jamming at parties to this. I love it.
D.J. FOXXXY D.J. FOXXXY
You got that right!!!!