A Storm Is Coming
Carl Barât & The Jackals Lyrics

Rain, rain, rain for forty days
Heavy rain for forty days as a metaphor for washing away those without faith.

To wash away the faithless sons
The rain will wash away those who lack faith.

They say when all is said and done
It is believed that once everything is finished or concluded in life an event of significance will occur.

The rains will come, the rains will come
A repeated reference to the cleansing power of rain and its coming arrival.

Tiger, tiger burning bright
A tiger burning brightly is meant to signify an impending reckoning.

A reckoning will come tonight
Tonight there will be a reckoning of some sort.

We're born with masks and bred to lie
As humans, we are born with a figurative mask or guise, and then conditioned to be dishonest.

One has to try, the heavens sigh
Trying is essential, but it can be challenging and take a toll.

I don't mind,
The artist doesn't seem to have a problem with an impending storm or reckoning.

I know a storm is coming
The artist is aware of an imminent storm, whether literal or figurative.

Things won't ever be the same again
Whatever event is on the horizon will have a significant impact on the present and future.

You can't run this time
Whatever is going to occur cannot be avoided or escaped.

It has to be now or never
Whatever action needs to be taken must be done promptly or it will be too late.

Sooner or later it has to end
Whatever event is on the horizon will come to a conclusion eventually, and there will be a resolution of some kind.

I saw your mark, it's on the wall
The singer has seen evidence of someone or something through marks on the wall.

So nothing else will hurt at all
Once the event has occurred, there will be no additional harm or pain.

When they all go the other way
When everyone else is moving in a different direction, pursuing their own objectives or facing different problems.

This world is ours and we will stay
The world belongs to the singer and their group, and they will not be swayed.

The cloud froze up a dying sky,
The darkening sky represents a situation that has been in decline or is in its final days, and is now frozen or stagnant.

The rivers rise, the flames are high
The imagery of rising rivers and high flames connotes a disaster of some sort.

Now they can sail with all the thieves
Others are free to depart on the last ship, including criminals and wrongdoers.

And we can watch the last ship leave
The artist and their group will stay behind and bear witness to the aftermath of whatever is occurring.

I won't run this time
The singer will confront the situation head-on and not attempt to evade or avoid it.