Last Stand
Catatonic Society Lyrics
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My Grandfather told me one night long ago
the land of my people would turn into stone, into ash
Destroying the future and covering the past
His old eyes were closing, his light growing dim
the Earth opened up, swallowing him, gray and cold
I hear my ancestors calling to me
a voice on the wind, and a song in my dreams, far away
in between the night and the day
I feel a change in the wind and the rain
the hawk speaks to me and she tells me her pain, stay away
blood like a river will flow here today
My mother the Sun and my Sister the moon
look down on my now on this cold afternoon, as I wait
all of the good things have fled from the place
As the men enter the valley below
my friends by my side, and my hands on my bow, be my guide
Don't turn away from me great Father sky
Sister moon shine on me, no man can stop me now
You can't kill me
I'm already dead somehow
I may die today, but I'll never bow
Catatonic Society's song "Last Stand" is a powerful and haunting lament about the destruction of indigenous land and culture. The lyrics describe a dying grandfather's prophetic words about the future fate of his people's land, which will be destroyed and covered in ash, erasing their past and their prospects for a future. The grandfather's death is portrayed as an earthly upheaval, with the earth swallowing him up in a gray and cold void. The singer of the song is left confused and helpless, grappling with an unknown fate and a deep sense of loss.
However, the singer soon hears the voices of their ancestors, who seem to speak through the wind and their dreams. They warn the singer of the coming destruction, promising bloodshed and loss. The singer acknowledges the pain of their fellow creatures, like the hawk, and feels a sense of change brewing in the atmosphere, as if the natural world is in alignment with the coming conflict. They also address the Sun and the Moon, who look down on them on a bleak afternoon, as if to offer recognition of their world's impending doom.
In the final moments of the song, the singer decides to take a stand against the invaders who threaten their way of life. They are joined by their friends and armed with a bow, ready to face the great unknown. The singer speaks to Father Sky, urging not to turn away, as they muster the courage to face their fate. The last lines of the song are a defiant proclamation of their spirit, that no matter what happens, they refuse to bow down to their oppressors.
Line by Line Meaning
My Grandfather told me one night long ago
The singer's grandfather once told him of a prophecy he feared where his tribe's land would become barren and bleak.
the land of my people would turn into stone, into ash
The singer's ancestors prophesized about the impending doom of their land which is feared to turn into a desolate place.
Destroying the future and covering the past
The singer's ancestors predicted the destruction of their future and the erasure of their past heritage as well.
His old eyes were closing, his light growing dim
The artist's grandfather's eyes were shutting down and he was slowly losing his life.
the Earth opened up, swallowing him, gray and cold
The singer's grandfather breathed his last moments and met his doom on this earth, becoming one with the earth itself in his final resting place.
I did not understand, how could I know?
The singer did not understand the prophecy at the time as he was not aware of the gravity of the situation.
I hear my ancestors calling to me
The singer can hear the voices of his ancestors calling out to him from beyond the grave.
a voice on the wind, and a song in my dreams, far away
The artist's ancestors are calling him from a distance through the winds and the chords of their nostalgic melodies reverberating his dreams.
in between the night and the day
The voices of the ancestors call upon the artist in the transition from the night to the day or the other way around.
I feel a change in the wind and the rain
The artist is emotionally charged as he senses changes in the atmosphere and change is bound to happen soon.
the hawk speaks to me and she tells me her pain, stay away
The singer sees the horror and the destruction approaching as the bird of prey speaks to him, indicating that he should stay away.
blood like a river will flow here today
The singer perceives the coming war, which will result in widespread killing and bloodshed throughout the valley today.
My mother the Sun and my Sister the moon
The singer hints at how all of the elements of nature, like sister moon and mother sun, play a vital role in explaining the story of his people.
look down on my now on this cold afternoon, as I wait
The sky is grey and cast down upon the singer as he waits with a heavy heart for the impending doom to approach.
all of the good things have fled from the place
The singer's home and the land once filled with hope and love has become a barren wasteland from which joy and goodness have vanished.
As the men enter the valley below
The armies of men are now entering the valley parallel to that of the artist's homeland.
my friends by my side, and my hands on my bow, be my guide
The artist's group of comrades is beside him, empowering and supporting his mission while holding onto his weapon for dear life.
Don't turn away from me great Father sky
The singer pleads to the heavens to garner hope and strength so that the skies, nature, and life support him in his critical journey.
Sister moon shine on me, no man can stop me now
The singer reaches out and seeks blessings from the moon goddess and assures himself that nothing can stop him from accomplishing his objectives now.
You can't kill me with bullets, I'm not afraid to die, I vow
The artist recognizes that he can't be killed by mere bullets as he is prepared to die for his cause.
I'll take my last stand, for my people, for now
The artist emboldens himself and accepts his fate, deciding to fight till the very end for his people and his homeland.
Contributed by Elena W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.