Heaven Shall Burn's musical style has been described as metalcore, melodic death metal, and deathcore. Their lyrics express strong support for anti-racism and anti-fascism, as well as political resistance and animal rights. All members are vegans or vegetarians and most follow a straight edge philosophy.
I Was I Am I Shall Be
Heaven Shall Burn Lyrics
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This world is out of joint
Your order's built on sand
Conspiracy to murder, cold blooded murder
Assassinated the few who fought this wrongful system
And to you, you masters of affliction
We speak our words of truthfulness
This is the way to walk, this is the time to act
I was, I am, I shall be
They heard the tunes of revolution
They felt we'd seize the power
Infamous deeds of desperation
You may take us off the streets,
But nothing stops this righteous rage
We know you sense the coming thunder
Insidious rulers
Never forgive, never forget
Of that there is no doubt
Never forgive, never forget
We know this storm will rage again
The lyrics to the song "I Was I Am I Shall Be" by Heaven Shall Burn encapsulate the feeling of resistance and rebellion against a corrupt system. The first few lines make it clear that the singer is not willing to forgive or forget the injustices they have experienced, and they see the world as out of balance. The idea that "your order's built on sand" is powerful imagery -- suggesting that the foundations on which the established order is built are weak and easily disturbed. The idea of conspiracy to commit murder reveals a deep sense of corruption and dishonesty that the singer is railing against.
The next lines start to shift the tone towards action, and the idea that even death will not stop the resistance. The phrase "masters of affliction" is a pointed indictment of those in power who oppress others. The line "this is the way to walk, this is the time to act" suggests that there is a moment of opportunity for change that the singer is seizing. Finally, the refrain of "I was, I am, I shall be" is a mantra of sorts -- a declaration that the singer exists in multiple forms and will continue to fight in the present and future.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of defiance and determination that is both inspiring and chilling. The singer is not backing down, and they believe in their cause with a conviction that is palpable. The allusions to revolution and thunder suggest that this isn't just a personal struggle, but part of a larger movement for change.
Line by Line Meaning
Never forgive, never forget
We will never forget the injustice that has been done to us and we will never forgive those who perpetrate it.
This world is out of joint
The world is in disarray and chaos, and the right things are not happening.
Your order's built on sand
The structures you have put in place are weak and will ultimately crumble.
Conspiracy to murder, cold blooded murder
There has been a sinister plot to kill those who stand against the wrongs in the system, and the murderers showed no remorse.
Assassinated the few who fought this wrongful system
The individuals who stood up against the wrongs in the system were killed by assassins.
And to you, you masters of affliction
We address the ones who are causing pain and suffering to the masses.
We speak our words of truthfulness
We proclaim the truth without fear or favor.
Our death will hinder nothing
Even our death will not stop the movement for change.
This is the way to walk, this is the time to act
Now is the time to act and keep striving to achieve our goals.
I was, I am, I shall be
We have been, are, and will continue to be involved in the struggle for justice.
They heard the tunes of revolution
Those in power heard the call for revolution.
They felt we'd seize the power
Those in power sensed that we were vying for power.
Infamous deeds of desperation
We have resorted to infamous deeds out of desperation, but we're only fighting for justice.
You may take us off the streets,
Our presence on the streets may be removed by force.
But nothing stops this righteous rage
Our passion for justice cannot be suppressed, no matter what is done to us or our people.
We know you sense the coming thunder
We know the establishment is aware that change is impending.
Insidious rulers
The people in power may appear benign, but they work against the masses.
Of that there is no doubt
We are sure that they are guilty of working against the people.
We know this storm will rage again
We know that the fight for justice is eternal and will go on to bring about a change.
Contributed by Lila P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.