Action Drum
Hanalei Lyrics


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Concrete veins and fast fiid chains
Stretch out on purgatory's plains they are ruins still in tact
They are apathetic shrines
They are soul sucking traps

Under the weight of information machines and fabrications
We are crippled in mutation
We are bound to desperation

Billboards hang about gentrified graves
As funeral hymns float from the radio waves
Down on the street sleep walking in the night
Prisoners wither under neon lights

The patrons of starvation
Fall into formation
Collapsing in stagnation
Seeking synthesized salvation

Trembling in the venom air
With atoms splitting in our ears
The hollow kings expected horses hoofs
And now the silence sounds like hell
(Fractured frames cannot confine us)
(Empty names cannot define us)

Sky stabbing witching spires
Tangle their prey in communication wires
In the modern zoo denying their wills
On the brink of extinction buried in their bills

A catostrophics congregation
Built on failed foundations
Obsessed with domination
Destined for disintegration

Looking on from this awkward view
I feel helplessly sick and idealistically construed
Writing manifestos in invisible ink
Torn and formed on the missing link

The drums of liberation
Will rise in orchestration




And the fuel of transformation
Will ignite from devastation

Overall Meaning

Hanalei's song Action Drum paints a bleak picture of modern society, where people are trapped in a cycle of desperation and apathy. The lyrics point out the soul-sucking nature of fast-food chains and the advertising industry, which tries to commodify even death by hanging billboards around graves. The song touches upon modern-day issues like information overload, gentrification, and the ubiquitous presence of technology. The lyrics capture the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness that often plague people in the face of these issues.


The song suggests that people are prisoners of their own making, trapped in a cycle of consumerism and obsessed with domination. The chorus speaks of a looming revolution, as the "drums of liberation" will rise in orchestration, and the "fuel of transformation" will "ignite from devastation." Despite the overall dark tone of the song, its message is ultimately one of hope. Despite our current situation, the possibility of change and resistance is always present.


Line by Line Meaning

Concrete veins and fast fiid chains
The modern world is built on concrete and fast food restaurants


Stretch out on purgatory's plains they are ruins still in tact
These modern constructions are like ruins, still standing but devoid of life


They are apathetic shrines
These buildings are worshiped by people who have lost their passion for life


They are soul sucking traps
These constructions suck the soul out of people, leaving them empty and unfulfilled


Under the weight of information machines and fabrications
The burden of technology and falsehoods is overwhelming


We are crippled in mutation
We are struggling to adapt to a changing world


We are bound to desperation
Our desperation is tying us down and limiting our growth


Billboards hang about gentrified graves
Advertisements for commercialized goods are everywhere, even around cemeteries


As funeral hymns float from the radio waves
The media is playing somber music, adding to the feeling of death and loss


Down on the street sleep walking in the night
People are mindlessly walking the streets at night


Prisoners wither under neon lights
People feel trapped and drained by the bright and artificial city lights


The patrons of starvation
People are starving for something more from life


Fall into formation
They are conforming to society's norms


Collapsing in stagnation
They are losing their sense of vitality, becoming stagnant


Seeking synthesized salvation
They are looking for salvation through artificial means


Trembling in the venom air
The air is polluted and toxic, making people feel ill


With atoms splitting in our ears
People are bombarded with noise and information, causing them to feel overwhelmed


The hollow kings expected horses hoofs
Society's leaders are out of touch with reality, expecting outdated things


And now the silence sounds like hell
The quiet is uncomfortable and reminds people of their problems


(Fractured frames cannot confine us)
People cannot be limited by societal structures


(Empty names cannot define us)
People cannot be defined by labels or stereotypes


Sky stabbing witching spires
Tall buildings are dominating the sky, like ancient sorcery towers


Tangle their prey in communication wires
Technology is trapping people in its web


In the modern zoo denying their wills
Society and technology are restricting people's freedom and spontaneity


On the brink of extinction buried in their bills
People are struggling to survive financially and emotionally


A catostrophics congregation
People are coming together in a destructive manner


Built on failed foundations
Society is built on fragile and unstable structures


Obsessed with domination
People crave power and control


Destined for disintegration
The current system and society is bound to eventually fall apart


Looking on from this awkward view
Observing the world from an outsider's perspective


I feel helplessly sick and idealistically construed
Feeling ill and disillusioned, but still having hope for a better future


Writing manifestos in invisible ink
Inspiring change through unnoticed and subtle means


Torn and formed on the missing link
Inspiration coming from the missing pieces of the world and self


The drums of liberation
The movement towards freedom and renewal


Will rise in orchestration
The movement will come together in harmony


And the fuel of transformation
The catalyst for change


Will ignite from devastation
Change will come from the current state of destruction




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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