Holland
Cold Specks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This starving go against
And then tar mulling up the opposed modernity
And I heard them scream
We are many, we are many, we are
And in the Hague, I did proclaim
You'll catch the dead and bury them with old words
When the hours begin to flee I will sing
Recover me
We are many
We are many
We are dust
We are many
We are many
We are dust
Into dust we will all return
Oh I, whole night, I heard you sing
Only dreamers, dead times, and dirty kings
Oh I, whole night, I heard you sing
O death, where is thy sting?
Does it feed on eager limbs?
How will the body know?
I was caught in the eye with a nightingale
Hold the water, let it burn
Some lives may dig deep but my cold crime is clean
If I show you my hands, will you carry the beast?
We are many
We are many
We are dust
Into dust we will all return
The song “Holland” by Cold Specks is a poignant and stirring rendition of the bleak and dismal reality of life. The first few lines of the song, “Rotterdam, goddamn, This starving go against, And then tar mulling up the opposed modernity”, sets a desolate tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics seem to suggest that the singer is describing the state of a place that is impoverished and neglected by the world, where people are struggling to make ends meet. The phrase “tar mulling up the opposed modernity” could be interpreted as a metaphor for how people in this place are resisting the modernization and globalization that has led to the erosion of their culture and way of life.
The song then delves into the idea of humanity’s transient existence as “dust”. The line “Into dust we will all return” is a reminder of our mortal nature and the inevitability of death. However, perhaps in the face of such a grim reality, the singer is urging listeners to find solace in the fact that life is a collective experience. The repeated line “We are many, we are many, we are” suggests that despite our individual struggles, we are all in this together and should find comfort in our shared experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Rotterdam, goddamn
Expressing frustration with something that's happening in Rotterdam city
This starving go against
Opposing an idea or situation that's causing hunger or desperation
And then tar mulling up the opposed modernity
Agreeing to tar or smear the proponents of modernity who oppose something
And I heard them scream
We are many, we are many, we are
Hearing a group of people screaming that they are numerous
And in the Hague, I did proclaim
'Cause then I'll find god in the gutter
Proclaiming to find God in the dirtiest place in the Hague city
You'll catch the dead and bury them with old words
Burying dead people using archaic practices and traditions
When the hours begin to flee I will sing
Recover me
Singing when time is running out, hoping for a revival
We are many
We are many
We are dust
Repeatedly stating that there are many people, but they are also mortal
Into dust we will all return
Death is the ultimate fate of all living beings
Oh I, whole night, I heard you sing
Only dreamers, dead times, and dirty kings
Hearing someone sing all night, about a world of dreams, old times, and corrupt leaders
O death, where is thy sting?
Does it feed on eager limbs?
Asking where the sting of death is, and whether it targets those who are too eager
How will the body know?
I was caught in the eye with a nightingale
Wondering how the body will react to death, while being emotionally moved by a nightingale
Hold the water, let it burn
Some lives may dig deep but my cold crime is clean
Holding back tears, allowing anger to prevail, and acknowledging a crime that's free from emotion
If I show you my hands, will you carry the beast?
Asking someone to help with a difficult task
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LADAN HUSSEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
El Stötzo
I was lucky enough to win tickets for a live Performance years ago. I don´t say concert because it was in a really small establishment and there were so shockingly few people, that it was Live Music in its purest form. Still got this haunting voice in my head and cry Happy Tears when I hear those songs again.
Django
Wow! This production should win 2 awards - BOTH for the video and for her song. Obviously a lot of thought went into both. Hats off to a young self-taught Canadian singer/songwriter, now on tour in England.
Dorn Lonnsun
she is gone be huge....talent at its best
Ray Dorey
Heard this song on CBC Radio 2 on the way home and had to look it up right away on YouTube. It is amazing. I don't know if the album will walk away with the Polaris, but it certainly will the get the publicity it deserves.
LadyMichishio
This is beautiful! Thank you for sending it to me. I subscribed and I can't wait to see the rest of your work. :)
Gabriella Cappo
Great video and I think her voice is really amazing and different, not so generic.
tangentialize
i very much approve of this video and song. nice visual comparisons/contrasts and metaphors that suit the lyrics very well.
bjam70
I had never heard of Cold Specks until I saw Moby last week. I am officially in love. Absolutely amazing album!
Bahati Banks
this has got to be some of the best music I've heard in a while
Bonny Moorhen
A perfect cinematic art work ......perfect marriage of visual , lyric , music and voice.......a killer piece....it reminds me of Leonard Cohen masterpiece, first we take Manhattan..I am staggered by the beauty of our weapons...this is a Love Bomb of Plutonic proportions! Thank you so much from a Scottish great granny who has been waiting to hear this for 67 years....ya wee geniuses that you are!!