Servant To The Slave
Capercaillie Lyrics
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With every breeze just like a sigh
The sea is deep with tears of those before
With feelings like the sea birds cry
It gently took me by the hand
Across the ocean blue
And placed me in a foreign land
Far away from you
No more the ancient conversation
Replies with just a nod
No fiddle plays a lamentation
No slowly burning sod
No smiles await on Ellis
Fears of the unknown
Only tired hearts of the countless
People taken from their homes
To be drawn across an ocean
This crooked path we pave
On earth's eternal motion
To be a servant to the slave
Wait and yearn to be released
As the ground beneath you heaves
Turn your gaze to the East
Reflect on what the cold wake leaves
To be drawn across an ocean
This crooked path we pave
On earth's eternal motion
To be a servant to the slave
To be drawn across na ocean
This crooked path we pave
On earth's eternal motion
To be a servant to the slave
To be drawn across an ocean
This crooked path we pave
On earth's eternal motion
To be a servant to the slave
The lyrics of "Servant to the Slave" by Capercaillie speak to the theme of being taken away from one's familiar surroundings and forced to live in a foreign land. The verses describe the emotions of someone who has left everything they knew behind, with a feeling of grief and longing for what they left behind. The first verse describes the sea as deep with tears, likely referring to the countless lives that were taken away from their homes and forced into slavery across the ocean. The second verse then talks about the loss of cultural identity, with no ancient conversations or music to accompany them. The mention of Ellis refers to Ellis Island in New York City, which was the gateway for immigrants coming to the United States. The song then stresses the gravity of the situation and how it can be an eternal struggle, conveying a sense of being trapped and forced to be a servant to the slave. The final lines suggest the importance of reflection and looking back to the past, contemplating the meaning behind such a cruel fate.
Overall, the song draws attention to the issue of forced migration, and the emotional impact that comes with being uprooted and placed in an unfamiliar place. It highlights the pain and suffering that such a situation can cause.
\textbf{Interesting facts about the song "Servant to the Slave":}
\begin{itemize}
\item The song was written by Scottish musician Donald Shaw, who founded the Celtic band Capercaillie in the mid-1980s.
\item The song is from Capercaillie's 1997 album "Beautiful Wasteland".
\item The album was inspired by a trip Shaw took to South Africa, where he was struck by the struggles of the people living there and the parallels to the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
\item The song features a mixture of traditional Celtic music and modern instrumentation, featuring elements of folk, pop, and rock.
\item The music video for the song was directed by Scottish filmmaker David Scott, who has also worked on music videos for artists like Radiohead and Depeche Mode.
\item The song has been covered by other artists, including Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Frechette and Scottish musician Findlay Napier.
\item "Servant to the Slave" was featured in the soundtrack for the 1998 film "What Dreams May Come", which starred Robin Williams and Cuba Gooding Jr.
\item Capercaillie has won numerous awards for their music, including a Grammy nomination in 1992 for their album "Dusk Till Dawn".
\item The band has collaborated with other artists from around the world, including musicians from Spain, Bulgaria, and Quebec.
\item Capercaillie has been credited with helping to revive interest in traditional Scottish music, and they have inspired other Celtic bands like Clannad and Altan.
\end{itemize}
\textbf{Chords:}
Unfortunately, the chords to "Servant to the Slave" are not readily available.
Line by Line Meaning
Leaving for an unknown shore
Departing from familiar surroundings towards an uncertain destination
With every breeze just like a sigh
Feeling the wind's mournful lament that echoes inner emotions
The sea is deep with tears of those before
The ocean contains the sorrowful memories of the people who have traveled it before
With feelings like the sea birds cry
Emotions that are comparable to the melancholic call of the seabirds
It gently took me by the hand
The experience of being carefully led across the water
Across the ocean blue
Traveling over a seemingly endless expanse of water in a remote location
And placed me in a foreign land
Being deposited in an unfamiliar territory
Far away from you
Being separated from someone who is missed dearly
No more the ancient conversation
The old ways of communication have been lost
Replies with just a nod
Responses have been reduced to a single gesture
No fiddle plays a lamentation
The traditional music of grief is no longer heard
No slowly burning sod
The symbolic earth used in burial is no longer present
No smiles await on Ellis
There is no welcome on arrival, only apprehension
Fears of the unknown
Anxiety about what is to come
Only tired hearts of the countless
The vast numbers of people who have undergone similar experiences now share a common weariness
People taken from their homes
Individuals who have been uprooted from their familiar surroundings
To be drawn across an ocean
To be taken away from one's native environment and transported across the sea
This crooked path we pave
The difficult and circuitous route we must follow
On earth's eternal motion
The continuous movement of the planet that shapes our destiny
To be a servant to the slave
To serve and endure hardship for those who are in bondage and have no freedom
Wait and yearn to be released
The longing to be set free from the current situation
As the ground beneath you heaves
The earth is unstable and unpredictable
Turn your gaze to the East
Look towards the horizon with hope for a better future
Reflect on what the cold wake leaves
Consider the legacy of the journey and its impact on oneself and others
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LUNNY
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