Lives In The Balance
Havens Richie Lyrics

I've been waiting for something to happen
The singer has been waiting for a significant event to occur, such as a positive change in society or a resolution to a major conflict.

For a week or a month or a year
The duration of time the singer has been waiting is uncertain and can range from a short period to a much longer one.

With the blood in the ink of the headlines
The news reports are filled with stories of violence and tragedy, causing the singer to feel overwhelmed with the gruesome details.

And the sound of the crowd in my ear
The artist hears the voices of a large group of people, expressing their anxiety and fear about the current state of affairs.

You might ask what it takes to remember
The artist challenges the listeners to question how they remember past events, especially when similar situations repeat themselves.

When you think that you've heard it before
The singer is suggesting that people have become desensitized to the news because they have heard similar stories in the past.

How governments lie to their people
The singer accuses governments of deceiving their citizens regarding important issues for their own gain.

And a country is drifting to war
The artist is concerned that his country is moving closer to armed conflict and that people are not aware of the gravity of the situation.

There are shadows on the faces
The artist observes that the faces of certain people, such as those supporting the war effort, appear ominous and shady.

Of the men who fan the flames
The artist believes that there are influential people who provoke and encourage hostility in their society.

To those wars that are fought in places
The singer acknowledges that there are wars being waged in territories that his audience may not recognize or understand.

Where we cant even pronounce their names
The artist notes that some of the places where conflicts are taking place are so remote or obscure that people do not even know how to say their names correctly.

On the radio, talk shows and TV
The singer observes that the media constantly feeds the public a particular narrative resulting in a limited perspective of events.

You hear one thing again and again
The singer is stating that the media repeats the same message constantly with little room for alternative viewpoints.

How the USA stands for freedom
The singer is critical of the USA's self-proclaimed stance of freedom and suggests that this image is a facade.

And how we come to the aid of a friend
The artist is reacting to the notion of the USA intervening in foreign conflicts claiming to have altruistic motives.

But who are the ones that we call our friends
The artist is questioning the legitimacy of the allies of the USA, and whether they are genuine supporters or merely opportunistic in their motives.

These governments killing their own?
The singer is implying that the allies of the USA could be killing their own citizens or withholding their rights.

Or is it the ones who can't take any more?
The singer highlights that there may be people within these nations who are desperate and have no other option but to fight back.

So they pick up a brick, or a gun, or a stone
The artist describes how people, upon being oppressed, may resort to violence in order to have their voices heard.

There are lives in the balance
The artist asserts that innocent people are at risk due to widespread conflict occurring, and that every life is significant.

There are people under fire
The artist is emphasizing the immediate, physical danger of individuals who are caught in the middle of conflicts they are not responsible for.

There are children at the cannons
The singer is lamenting the fact that even young and innocent children are being forced to participate in violent conflicts.

There is blood on the wire
The artist concludes by saying that even the media stations, who are often the source of how people get news, are not immune to the consequences of war, as evidenced by reports of physical harm and injury sustained by journalists in conflict zones.