The 20th Century Was Entirely Mine
Fear Before The March Of Flames Lyrics


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On the surface where we fought
That's where your insides rot
So with a blow to your bow, take on water
A diver descends
Hey, did no one tell you?

Sunken ships belong underwater
In their slow descent to the ocean floor
They are so quickly forgotten
So as you disappear into the night time waters
How many will you take with you?

So when your insides rot
A diver descends in pursuit of riches
As he drifts along your bow
He will laugh at the gaping void
That was the cause of your demise
He will enter to find there is no treasure here
Just a hollow mass of waste and death

Take on water




We knew you didn't have it in you
(to sail among the ships)

Overall Meaning

The chorus of Fear Before The March Of Flames's song "The 20th Century Was Entirely Mine" is a metaphorical call to arms against those who would try to rise to the top through deceitful and selfish means. The singer paints a picture of a sunken ship, a symbol for those who are willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead. The ship is sinking, and as it descends into the murky depths, so too do the insides of the person who captained it. The diver who descends to explore the wreckage is a metaphor for the forces that bring down those who lead with hubris and arrogance. As they plummet to the bottom, they are quickly forgotten, replaced by the next rising star. The question posed by the song is how many will they take with them as they go down.


The verses discuss the price of greed and the inevitable fall that accompanies it. The pursuit of riches is hollow and fruitless, as ultimately there is no treasure to be found in the dark depths of the soul. The song is an indictment of those who seek power at any cost, and a warning to those who would follow them. It is a call for honesty, empathy, and true leadership in a world that so often lacks it.


Line by Line Meaning

On the surface where we fought
The physical location of our struggles was on the surface level.


That's where your insides rot
Your emotional and psychological state deteriorated along with the physical battle.


So with a blow to your bow, take on water
A direct hit to your ship will cause you to take on water and ultimately sink.


A diver descends
Someone is coming to investigate the wreckage.


Hey, did no one tell you?
Didn't anyone warn you of the consequences of your actions?


Sunken ships belong underwater
Ships are meant to be at sea, not sunk and forgotten.


In their slow descent to the ocean floor
As they sink, they become less and less significant.


They are so quickly forgotten
Even though they once held importance, they are now disregarded and disregarded.


So as you disappear into the night time waters
As you sink into the depths, the world above grows darker and more distant.


How many will you take with you?
In your downfall, how many others will be dragged down with you?


So when your insides rot
When you are emotionally and psychologically broken.


A diver descends in pursuit of riches
Someone will seek to exploit your misfortune for their own gain.


As he drifts along your bow
As he observes your wreckage.


He will laugh at the gaping void
The observer will take pleasure in seeing the emptiness left behind.


That was the cause of your demise
The emptiness and lack of substance ultimately led to your downfall.


He will enter to find there is no treasure here
The searcher will be disappointed to find that there are no riches to be had.


Just a hollow mass of waste and death
All that's left is a sad, empty collection of debris and loss.


Take on water
A metaphorical statement admonishing the listener to avoid sinking and failing.


We knew you didn't have it in you
We expected you to fail, as you never had the strength or courage to succeed.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

Bezalial

15 years later and this still devours most modern bands.

Audi Joseph

Sacred Hatred EATS THEM ALIVE! , people aren’t this outta the box anymore

Kenny Rattanavong

Sad that this genre/sound or whatever is pretty much dead, I grew up listening to fear before, the number twelve looks like you, and heavyheavylowlow.

Legend4ry

After nearly 20 years, i've got older but this band still sound fresh.

Alex Alex

Truly amazing band

Audi Joseph

I LOVE THIS BAND.

Dean Rutherford

oh and this band is probably one of the best bands ever and i really dont get the negative comments

hunter christensen

where it all started back in the day, love this shit. 

denialrolls

Miss these days so much

ieatbunnies

where can I find these old videos of them live? I can't seem to find them on youtube

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