Her studio album My Better Self finds Dar at an unequivocally brazen crossroads. Reflecting on American politics, the disillusionment and apathy of youth, and the female experience, Dar makes no apology for her outspoken beliefs.
Her 2008 album, entitled Promised Land. indieduck.com notes that "Williams turns over relationships in all their misunderstood, misconnected glory, and embraces religion, gender and other complications in her very wise songs. Promised Land draws in themes of nature, as well, and on the whole is a pretty piece of work that ends up feeling upbeat despite itself."
Her most recent album, 2012's In The Time Of The Gods, has a theme of Greek mythology running through it. The You Will Ride With Me Tonight Songfacts reports that Williams got the idea whilst driving on an isolated highway, during a trip from New York to Ontario.
Empire
Dar Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who'd question the goodness of the mighty?
We who banish the threat,
When your little ones all go nighty-nighty.
Well, there's no time for doubt right now
And less time to explain.
So get back on your horses,
And the empire grows with the news that we're winning.
With more fear to conquer
And more gold thread for spinning.
Bright as the sun, shining on everyone.
Some would say that we forced our words
And we find that ingenuously churlish.
Words are just words.
Don't be so pessimistic, weak and girlish.
We like strong, happy people
Who don't think there's something wrong with pride,
Work makes them free
And we spread that freedom far and wide.
And the empire grows,
The seeds of its glory,
For every five tanks,
Plant a sentimental story,
Till they worship the sun,
Even Christ-loving ones.
And we'll kill the terror who rises
And a million of their races.
But when our people torture you
That's a few random cases.
Don't question the sun
It doesn't help anyone.
But the journalist cried out
When it was too late to stop us.
Everyone had awakened
To the dream they could enter our colossus.
And now I'm right,
Here you said I'm right,
There's nothing that can harm me.
Cause the sun never sets
On my dungeons or my army.
And the empire fell
On it's own splintered axis.
And the emperor wanes
As the silver moon waxes.
And the farmers will find our coins
In their strawberry fields
While somebody somewhere
Twists his ring as someone kneels.
Oh where is the sun, shining for everyone.
Oh where is the sun, shining for everyone.
The lyrics of Dar Williams's song Empire allude to the manipulative tactics and propaganda employed by those in power to maintain and expand their authority. The first stanza depicts the fear-mongering and dismissal of dissenting voices that are necessary to justify military expansionism. The lines "Who'd question the goodness of the mighty? / We who banish the threat" suggest an unquestioning allegiance to authority, presenting the ruling class as infallible and positioning themselves as protectors of the nation against a vague, external threat. The second stanza emphasizes the importance of language in shaping public perception and encourages blind patriotism. The line "Don't be so pessimistic, weak and girlish" illustrates an anti-intellectual, anti-feminine attitude that characterizes critical thinking as a weakness. The chorus, "And the empire grows with the news that we're winning," highlights the cyclical nature of imperial expansion and the narrative of progress that justifies aggression.
The third stanza reveals the hypocrisy of imperialist powers, who claim to uphold freedom while denying it to those under their control. The lines "Work makes them free / And we spread that freedom far and wide" allude to the infamous slogan at the entrance to Auschwitz, contributing to the irony of claiming to promote freedom through oppression. The verse also alludes to the use of propaganda as a tool for control, as the conquest of hearts and minds is described via the planting of "sentimental stories." The fourth stanza addresses violence and torture, themes that are not uncommon to the atrocities committed by imperialist powers. The claim that torture is a "few random cases" is a dismissal of the systematic and institutional nature of torture, which is used for extraction of information or to produce fear and submission.
The final stanza suggests the inevitable decay of empire, with the decline of power symbolized by the waning of the emperor and the rise of the moon. The mention of "farmers" and "strawberry fields" adds an element of the ordinary and the mundane, suggesting that the collapse of empire will have far-reaching effects on everyday people. The repeated chorus, "Oh where is the sun, shining for everyone," seems to suggest that the sun, which has been used as a metaphor for imperial power, is not shining for everyone, implying that empire is not the solution to societal problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's afraid of the sun?
Who could possibly be scared of the great and powerful Empire?
Who'd question the goodness of the mighty?
Who could possibly doubt the goodness and righteousness of those in power?
We who banish the threat
It is our duty to eliminate any potential threats to the Empire
When your little ones all go nighty-nighty.
While you sleep soundly at night, we are out protecting the Empire
Well, there's no time for doubt right now
We must act quickly without any hesitation or question
And less time to explain.
We don't have the luxury of stopping to explain our actions
So get back on your horses, Kiss my ring, join our next campaign.
Join us in our efforts to expand and conquer, and acknowledge our superiority
And the empire grows with the news that we're winning.
The Empire expands as we continue to spread our influence and emerge victorious
With more fear to conquer And more gold thread for spinning.
As we conquer more territories and instill fear, we have more resources to craft our own narrative
Bright as the sun, shining on everyone.
Our Empire is a shining beacon of light and hope for all
Some would say that we forced our words
Critics may accuse us of oppression and censorship
And we find that ingenuously churlish.
We dismiss these criticisms as foolish and naive
Words are just words.
Speech and rhetoric are simply tools to further our cause
Don't be so pessimistic, weak and girlish.
Dissenters are weak and cowardly, and their pessimism only holds us back
We like strong, happy people
We prefer those who are content with their circumstances, and don't question the status quo
Who don't think there's something wrong with pride,
Our ideal citizens are proud of their nation and their place in it, and view this as a positive attribute
Work makes them free
Through hard work and contribution to the Empire, our citizens earn their freedom and prosperity
And we spread that freedom far and wide.
We seek to share our values and way of life with other nations, for their own benefit
And the empire grows, The seeds of its glory, For every five tanks, Plant a sentimental story, Till they worship the sun, Even Christ-loving ones.
Our Empire continues to expand through force and propaganda, until even those from different religious backgrounds come to revere it
And we'll kill the terror who rises And a million of their races.
We will not hesitate to eliminate those who dare to threaten our way of life, or to crush entire peoples and cultures
But when our people torture you That's a few random cases.
In instances where our own people commit acts of torture, this is merely an aberration and not representative of our greater values
Don't question the sun It doesn't help anyone.
There's no use in questioning the status quo, as this only serves to undermine the greater good
But the journalist cried out When it was too late to stop us.
The media serves only to obstruct our progress and our victories, even if their intentions are good
Everyone had awakened To the dream they could enter our colossus.
People began to see the potential for prosperity and glory by joining our Empire
And now I'm right, Here you said I'm right, There's nothing that can harm me.
Those who criticized or doubted our methods are shown to be wrong, and there's no one who can challenge our power
Cause the sun never sets On my dungeons or my army.
Our Empire continues to thrive and grow, even as we maintain prisons and a large military presence
And the empire fell On it's own splintered axis.
Despite our best efforts and victories, the Empire eventually crumbled under the weight of its own corruption and excess
And the emperor wanes As the silver moon waxes.
The symbol of our power and leadership begins to fade away, while the influence of other powers and factions grows
And the farmers will find our coins In their strawberry fields While somebody somewhere Twists his ring as someone kneels.
Even after our collapse, remnants of our power and influence remain, and our legacy can be found in unexpected places
Oh where is the sun, shining for everyone. Oh where is the sun, shining for everyone.
Where is the light and hope that our Empire once promised, and what will replace it now that it's gone?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: MARK DIXON GABLE, IAN GRAHAM HULME, LINDSAY EDWARD TEBBUTT, BRETT HASTINGS WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Grandmaster Pax
Lyrics~
Who's afraid of the sun?
Who'd question the goodness of the mighty?
We who banish the threat,
When your little ones all go nighty-nighty.
Well, there's no time for doubt right now
And less time to explain.
So get back on your horses,
Kiss my ring, join our next campaign.
And the empire grows with the news that we're winning.
With more fear to conquer
And more gold thread for spinning.
Bright as the sun, shining on everyone.
Some would say that we forced our words
And we find that ingenuously churlish.
Words are just words.
Don't be so pessimistic, weak and girlish.
We like strong, happy people
Who don't think there's something wrong with pride,
Work makes them free
And we spread that freedom far and wide.
And the empire grows,
The seeds of its glory,
For every five tanks,
Plant a sentimental story,
Till they worship the sun,
Even Christ-loving ones.
And we'll kill the terror who rises
And a million of their races.
But when our people torture you
That's a few random cases.
Don't question the sun
It doesn't help anyone.
But the journalist cried out
When it was too late to stop us.
Everyone had awakened
To the dream they could enter our colossus.
And now I'm right,
Here you said I'm right,
There's nothing that can harm me.
Cause the sun never sets
On my dungeons or my army.
And the empire fell
On it's own splintered axis.
And the emperor wanes
As the silver moon waxes.
And the farmers will find our coins
In their strawberry fields
While somebody somewhere
Twists his ring as someone kneels.
Oh where is the sun, shining for everyone.
Oh where is the sun, shining for everyone.
Skeleton Wizard
Me In Real Life: Colonialism is responsible for every single problem facing us right now.
Me in Grand Strategy: THE SUN NEVER SETS ON MY DUNGEONS OR MY ARMIES.
Grandmaster Pax
Lyrics~
Who's afraid of the sun?
Who'd question the goodness of the mighty?
We who banish the threat,
When your little ones all go nighty-nighty.
Well, there's no time for doubt right now
And less time to explain.
So get back on your horses,
Kiss my ring, join our next campaign.
And the empire grows with the news that we're winning.
With more fear to conquer
And more gold thread for spinning.
Bright as the sun, shining on everyone.
Some would say that we forced our words
And we find that ingenuously churlish.
Words are just words.
Don't be so pessimistic, weak and girlish.
We like strong, happy people
Who don't think there's something wrong with pride,
Work makes them free
And we spread that freedom far and wide.
And the empire grows,
The seeds of its glory,
For every five tanks,
Plant a sentimental story,
Till they worship the sun,
Even Christ-loving ones.
And we'll kill the terror who rises
And a million of their races.
But when our people torture you
That's a few random cases.
Don't question the sun
It doesn't help anyone.
But the journalist cried out
When it was too late to stop us.
Everyone had awakened
To the dream they could enter our colossus.
And now I'm right,
Here you said I'm right,
There's nothing that can harm me.
Cause the sun never sets
On my dungeons or my army.
And the empire fell
On it's own splintered axis.
And the emperor wanes
As the silver moon waxes.
And the farmers will find our coins
In their strawberry fields
While somebody somewhere
Twists his ring as someone kneels.
Oh where is the sun, shining for everyone.
Oh where is the sun, shining for everyone.
CelestiaLily
I know this song was probably meant for contemporary US politics, but "the sun never sets on my dungeons or my army" sounds very close to the famous phrase "the sun never sets on the British Empire" which reflects their history of imperialism and colonialist expansionism. This song could easily apply to older empires as well as newer ones, because they can have similar characteristics of their reign throughout world history.
Claire E
The Roman empire "kiss my ring and join my next crusade" "and the farmers will find old coins in their strawberry fields"
The Japanese Empire "Bright as the sun, shining on everyone" - because Japan was the "Empire of the Sun", but yes "the sun never sets on the British Empire" - I didn't get that take on it and I'm British (part Irish)
The Nazis "work sets you free"
Not sure what "for every five tanks plant a sentimental story" refers to?
I suppose it’s a compare and contrast rather than saying that these were all the same as one another.
She did one about nationalism which I think is kind of the other side to this - called "Beautiful Enemy"! Also a really good song with a lot of truth to it. :-)
Kenya Lewis
@Claire E Every five tanks is the US, for how we like to create sentimental stories while we're invading to justify what's happening
Claire E
@Kenya Lewis OK. Thanks. Thought it might have been about the Soviet Union. All countries do this sentimentalism about "our boys" I suppose. We've just had Rememberence Sunday, where we hug squaddies in supermarkets and forget any wrongs done by the British military! Anybody not buying into poppy mania is very suspicious and probably a terrorist! OK, I over exaggerated somewhat! ;-)
Rajaat
I think it is meant to criticize many empires and compare their logic. Lot of symbols from many cultures and comments from Nazi camps as well. It's interesting.
ravenouscolonelhart
"the sun never sets on my dungeons or my armies." my god can't we as a species do better than this.
Cynthia Manning
Sadly we're a very murderous species.
Octoberfurst
Wonderful song!