Crops Are Dead
Harry Gregson-Williams Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You gotta admit Life magazine made 1968 look great.
My father said it sucked, everybody died.
All the troops you couldn't save, no one knew how to be brave.
He said sometimes you were afraid to turn your radio on.
It was enough to make you quit that peacenik scene.
Well I heard about leaders, yeah I hear they're no longer around.
Cause peace was abandoned, and bravery hanged in his town.
And they passed down a sentence for building on the beauty of some dream.

All my heroes are dead. I got them in my head, saying
Never again, never a war, no more fighting.
So I'll stay true to them, and they'll come home again.
I'll carry the light, follow the dream. I'll remember.

The '68 convention was a singing that the times they are a-changing.
Well I guess that they a-changed back.
Oh I miss those peaceful folk, love and humor when they spoke, hey
Phil Ochs you still sound great, should've stuck around to hear it.
They say the compact disc makes songs come true.
But Phil I never expected that I'd miss you like a friend.
Cause I never expected that we would be marching again.
And the soldiers of peace would tumble from this life as in a war.

All my heroes are dead, and all the books I read
Said 'This is greed, this is wrong, fight your war at home.'
So I'll stay true to them, and they'll come home again.
I'll carry the light, follow the dream. I'll remember.

So back to present passion, romance, love, or simply put, a lack thereof.
Shall we just go on?
I don't take it personally, its our post modern history.
You know since Nixon was impeached it's just been hard to commit.
So we cast our allegiance left and right.
But I always believed that our souls would come through.
So I never expected that you'd take her home with you..
And I never detected how hardened and not sorry you could be. Don't you know?
All our heroes are dead, we got ourselves instead.
And oh my friend all of your lies, they won't do you.
You gotta stay true to them, and they'll come home again.




I miss them too. I miss them too, you know I miss them
more than I love you.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Crops Are Dead" by Harry Gregson-Williams explore the disillusionment and loss associated with societal and personal changes. The song begins with a comparison between the idealized image of 1968 portrayed by Life magazine and the harsh reality experienced by the singer's father. The father's perspective presents a contrasting view, emphasizing the loss of lives and the absence of bravery during a time of conflict. This paints a picture of a society jaded by the realities of war.


The lyrics also touch on the decline of peace movements and the abandonment of principles in favor of convenience or personal gain. References to leaders no longer being around and the passing down of a sentence for pursuing dreams highlight the loss of hope and the consequences faced for striving for something better.


The chorus, "All my heroes are dead," reflects a sense of collective loss, both of individuals admired and the ideals they stood for. The singer finds solace and inspiration in the memories and teachings of these heroes, intending to carry their light and continue their dreams of peace. The lyrics convey a longing for a return to a time when peace and love were central themes, expressed through references to influential figures like Phil Ochs.


In the final verse, the lyrics shift towards personal relationships and the challenges of commitment in a post-modern society. The singer expresses disappointment in a lover who has betrayed their ideals, having lost the belief in their ability to stay true to their values. The closing lines suggest that the heroes the singer looks up to are more beloved and missed than even the person they once loved.


Overall, "Crops Are Dead" reflects on the disillusionment with society, personal relationships, and the loss of heroes and ideals.


Line by Line Meaning

You gotta admit Life magazine made 1968 look great.
Despite the positive portrayal of 1968 in Life magazine, my father believed it was a terrible year where many people died.


My father said it sucked, everybody died.
According to my father, 1968 was a dreadful year marked by numerous deaths.


All the troops you couldn't save, no one knew how to be brave.
There were soldiers who couldn't be rescued, and it seemed like nobody knew how to show bravery in such difficult times.


He said sometimes you were afraid to turn your radio on.
My father expressed how fearful one could be to even listen to the radio due to the distressing news and events.


It was enough to make you quit that peacenik scene.
The overwhelming circumstances led many to abandon their peaceful beliefs and movements.


Well I heard about leaders, yeah I hear they're no longer around.
Rumors circulated about the absence or downfall of leaders during that time.


Cause peace was abandoned, and bravery hanged in his town.
Peaceful ideals were forsaken, and instances of bravery met with unfortunate consequences.


And they passed down a sentence for building on the beauty of some dream.
A judgment was imposed on those who tried to pursue a dream of creating something beautiful.


All my heroes are dead. I got them in my head, saying Never again, never a war, no more fighting.
All the people I idolize are no longer alive, but their beliefs continue to resonate in my mind, advocating for an end to wars and fighting.


So I'll stay true to them, and they'll come home again.
I will remain loyal to their ideals, hoping that their spirit will be revived.


I'll carry the light, follow the dream. I'll remember.
I will carry the torch of their ideas, pursue their dream, and keep their memory alive.


The '68 convention was a singing that the times they are a-changing.
The 1968 convention was a demonstration of the belief that society and circumstances were undergoing significant transformations.


Well I guess that they a-changed back.
However, it appears that those changes have reversed.


Oh I miss those peaceful folk, love and humor when they spoke, hey Phil Ochs, you still sound great, should've stuck around to hear it.
I yearn for the presence of those peaceful individuals who expressed love and humor, particularly Phil Ochs, whose music continues to resonate, but I regret his absence to witness it.


They say the compact disc makes songs come true.
There is a belief that the compact disc format actualizes the essence of songs.


But Phil I never expected that I'd miss you like a friend.
However, I never anticipated feeling such a strong sense of loss for Phil Ochs, as if he were a close friend.


Cause I never expected that we would be marching again.
I never anticipated that we would once again be engaged in protest marches or demonstrations.


And the soldiers of peace would tumble from this life as in a war.
Moreover, it is disheartening to witness how those who advocate for peace and harmony face significant challenges and losses, similar to soldiers in a war.


All my heroes are dead, and all the books I read said 'This is greed, this is wrong, fight your war at home.'
All the people I admire are deceased, and the literature I've consumed consistently emphasizes that greed and war are detrimental, urging us to focus on resolving conflicts within our own society.


So I'll stay true to them, and they'll come home again.
I will remain loyal to their values, believing that their spirit will be revived once more.


I'll carry the light, follow the dream. I'll remember.
I will bear their message, pursue their dream, and ensure that their memory endures.


So back to present passion, romance, love, or simply put, a lack thereof.
Returning to the present, there is a notable absence of passion, romance, and love.


Shall we just go on?
Should we simply continue in this state?


I don't take it personally, it's our post-modern history.
I don't interpret it as a personal failing; rather, it reflects the characteristics of our post-modern era.


You know since Nixon was impeached it's just been hard to commit.
Since the impeachment of Nixon, it has become difficult to fully commit to anything.


So we cast our allegiance left and right.
As a result, we find ourselves fluctuating between different ideologies and political affiliations.


But I always believed that our souls would come through.
Despite the challenges, I have always held onto the belief that our inner selves would prevail.


So I never expected that you'd take her home with you...
Therefore, I never anticipated that you would leave in the company of another person.


And I never detected how hardened and not sorry you could be. Don't you know?
Furthermore, I never realized the extent to which you have become callous and unapologetic. Do you not understand?


All our heroes are dead, we got ourselves instead.
All the people we idolized are no longer alive, and now we only have ourselves to rely on.


And oh my friend all of your lies, they won't do you.
My friend, your constant lies and deceit will ultimately fail to benefit you.


You gotta stay true to them, and they'll come home again.
It is crucial to remain faithful to our values, and in doing so, we can revive the spirit of those we admire.


I miss them too. I miss them too, you know I miss them more than I love you.
I also deeply miss those individuals. In fact, I miss them more than I love you.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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