Cities
Doveman Lyrics


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As cities sink into the sea
She'd often turn to look at me
And tell me that the worst was yet to come

The mind I said despairs too fast
History's a looking glass
But eloquence is withered on my tongue
Through the gates and ever on we go
She and I above and you below
And though we may pretend
The party never ends

If now I love the human race
It's cause we wrote amazing grace
The lost are found the blind can see the light

A chill and zero at the bone
I can't defend you all alone
Do not go gentle into that good night

Through the gates and ever on we go
She and I above and you below
And though we may pretend
The party never ends

So here we are before the the flood
But this time round the skies rain blood
The end of all there ever was foretold

I watch as countless cities burn
We've ever lost our chance to learn
The triumph of our breathless sin behold

Through the gates and ever on we go
She and I above and you below




And though we may pretend
The party never ends

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Doveman's song "Cities" hold a sense of ominous foreboding as they speak of a coming disaster. The opening lines speak to cities sinking into the sea, an apocalyptic image of chaos and destruction. The singer of the song has someone by their side, perhaps a lover or friend, who turns to them and warns them that the worst is yet to come. The singer then recognizes that their mind despairs too fast, that they struggle to remain hopeful in the face of such an overwhelming catastrophe. They are caught between history and the present, unsure of what the future holds.


The song shifts to a more optimistic tone as the singer states that they love the human race because "we wrote amazing grace," that even in the face of darkness and despair, there is still hope for redemption. However, the chorus reminds us that the party never really ends, that we continue moving forward even when it feels as though everything is falling apart. The final lines of the song bring us back to the sense of doom that pervades the lyrics, as the singer notes that the skies are raining blood and countless cities are burning. The triumph of humanity's breathless sin, the destruction we have wrought upon the world, is now coming to collect its dues.


Overall, "Cities" is an introspective and melancholic song that speaks to the anxiety of living in a world on the brink of collapse. It addresses the struggle between hope and despair, between the past and future, and ultimately leaves us with a sense of uncertainty about what comes next.


Line by Line Meaning

As cities sink into the sea
The singer's observation of cities (possibly metaphorical for society) falling into chaos and destruction.


She'd often turn to look at me
The singer recalls moments when someone would gaze at them almost seeking comfort or reassurance.


And tell me that the worst was yet to come
The singer was warned that things would get worse than they already were.


The mind I said despairs too fast
The artist sometimes gives up on hope too quickly.


History's a looking glass
The past can serve as a way to understand the present and future.


But eloquence is withered on my tongue
The singer feels unable to express themselves at times, despite their desire to.


Through the gates and ever on we go
The journey through life continues.


She and I above and you below
The artist and someone else are experiencing a different reality from others around them, perhaps due to their perspective or their choices.


And though we may pretend
Even though they are experiencing a different reality, it doesn't necessarily mean they are immune to social conventions and expectations.


The party never ends
Life continues on unrelentingly, no matter what happens.


If now I love the human race
The singer has found appreciation for humanity.


It's cause we wrote amazing grace
The artist has found value in the religious hymn 'Amazing Grace' and believes it represents a hopeful outlook on humanity.


The lost are found the blind can see the light
Through the lens of 'Amazing Grace', there is hope for those who are lost or struggling.


A chill and zero at the bone
The singer is overwhelmed with a sense of dread and despair.


I can't defend you all alone
The singer feels like they don't have enough support to achieve what they desire.


Do not go gentle into that good night
The artist alludes to Dylan Thomas' poem of the same name, urging people to not give up without a fight.


So here we are before the the flood
The artist refers to a biblical story of a great flood, metaphorically representing the end of the world.


But this time round the skies rain blood
The end of the world is more violent and horrific than before.


The end of all there ever was foretold
The end of the world was inevitable and has now come to pass.


I watch as countless cities burn
The artist is witnessing mass destruction and death.


We've ever lost our chance to learn
Humanity missed its opportunity to change its course and avoid its demise.


The triumph of our breathless sin behold
Humanity's self-destructive tendencies have ultimately led to its downfall.




Contributed by Adrian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

jchintube

@ewthmatth woops, thanks.

Matthew H

this isn't House

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