1984
Devarrow Lyrics
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Roundin up the old folks and sticking em in the ground,
People light their smoke stacks in this little town,
Burning up the old folks belongings by the pound
OH my God, what have we done?
History waits for no one
In this little town
Teach your sons and daughters the (?)
History waits for no one in this little town,
Granted it's the only place where evidence can be found
OH my God we killed our only son...
OH my God what have we done?
Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
I used to be, always on the run
Running from nothing, but my only bloodline
And I am afraid the ones that we want are gone
And I am afraid that the ones we want are gone
Cause OH my God we killed our only son
And oh my God what have we done?
Teach your sons and daughters,
Dream gonna be ok
Teach your sons and daughters,
Dream gonna be ok
Teach your sons and daughters,
Dream gonna be ok
The song "1984" by Devarrow portrays a dystopian society in which an uncontrolled government takes over the control of the town's population. The lyrics reflect a bleak reality where history is easily forgotten, and the townspeople's common sense is consumed by fear. The opening line, "devil rides on horseback through this little town," creates an image of the government agents coming to haul off the elderly citizens, who become disposable with age. The town remains silent about the situation, and those who have power to speak up are intimidated to keep their thoughts subdued.
The chorus, "oh my God we killed our only son, oh my God what have we done?" seems to address the guilt and regret of the townspeople who have allowed their children to grow up in such a society where fear and destruction rule. The following lines, "teach your sons and daughters, dream gonna be okay," suggest that there is still hope for change, and parents are encouraged to guide their children and nurture a better future. However, in such an oppressive society where freedom is taken away, it is unclear if there will ever be hope for a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Devil rides on horseback through this little town,
The devil symbolizing destruction and chaos is present and active in this small town, causing havoc and misery.
Roundin up the old folks and sticking em in the ground,
The devil is causing harm to the elderly by capturing them and burrying them without mercy.
People light their smoke stacks in this little town,
The people of the town are using up their resources without care or thought for the future or consequences.
Burning up the old folks belongings by the pound
The devil and townspeople are destroying the possessions of the elderly population with disregard for the value and memories attached to them.
OH my God we killed our only son...
An expression of extreme grief, realizing the terrible tragedy of destroying something that was precious and irreplaceable.
OH my God, what have we done?
A plea of agony and regret for the irreversible harm that has been caused.
History waits for no one
The importance of understanding and learning the past because it cannot be changed or undone.
In this little town
Pointing out the specific significance and relevance of the town in the narrative.
Teach your sons and daughters the (?),
Encouraging future generations to learn and understand what came before them in order to create a better future.
Granted it's the only place where evidence can be found
The town is emphasized again as a central component of understanding the past because it holds the evidence and information needed to learn from it.
Ooh ooh ooh
Repeating the previous line.
I used to be, always on the run
The artist has a history of running away or avoiding responsibility.
Running from nothing, but my only bloodline
The singer recognizes that they have no justifiable reason for running, but they still feel compelled to do so, despite it being their only family.
And I am afraid the ones that we want are gone
Expressing fear that those who are desired or needed are no longer available or accessible.
And I am afraid that the ones we want are gone
Repeating the previous line.
Cause OH my God we killed our only son
Repeating the tragedy and devastation of losing something so valuable and unique that can never be replaced.
And oh my God what have we done?
Repeating the expression of regret and grief over the actions taken.
Teach your sons and daughters
Reiterating the importance of transferring knowledge and understanding to future generations.
Dream gonna be ok
Encouraging that hope and positivity can still exist despite the tragedies and harm caused in the past.
Contributed by Ethan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.