Witch Hunt
Hugh Syme Lyrics
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The air is thick and still
The vigilantes gather on
The lonely torchlit hill
Features distorted in the flickering light
Faces are twisted and grotesque
Silent and stern in the sweltering night
Quiet in conscience, calm in their right
Confident their ways are best
Oh
Oh
The righteous rise
With burning eyes
Of hatred and ill-will
Madmen fed on fear and lies
To beat and burn and kill
They say there are strangers who threaten us
Our immigrants and infidels
They say there is strangeness to danger us
In our theaters and bookstore shelves
That those who know what's best for us
Must rise and save us from ourselves
Quick to judge
Quick to anger
Slow to understand
Ignorance and prejudice
And fear walk hand in hand
The lyrics of Hugh Syme’s song, Witch Hunt, describe a scene that evokes fear and paranoia. The night is dark and still, with no moon in sight. Vigilantes, with their faces distorted by the flickering light of torches, gather on a lonely hill. The scene is surreal and grotesque, with the mob moving like demons possessed. The vigilantes are confident in their righteousness and conviction that their ways are the best. They are fueled by hatred and ill-will, a dangerous combination that can lead to the senseless beating and killing of strangers who are seen as threats.
The song is a social commentary on the dangers of fear, ignorance, prejudice, and xenophobia. The vigilantes in the song are convinced that the strangers among them are a danger to their way of life. They believe that they know what is best for their community and that they must rise up and protect it. However, their judgement is clouded by their fear and ignorance, leading them to demonize those who are different from them. The song reminds us that fear and hatred can lead to violence and that we must strive to overcome our prejudices and embrace diversity.
Line by Line Meaning
The night is black, without a moon
The night is completely dark, without even a sliver of moonlight
The air is thick and still
The atmosphere is dense and stagnant
The vigilantes gather on
A group of self-appointed people come together
The lonely torchlit hill
The dark hill is illuminated only by the light from torches
Features distorted in the flickering light
The faces of the people look strange and twisted due to the flickering light
Faces are twisted and grotesque
The faces of the people are distorted and ugly
Silent and stern in the sweltering night
The people are silent and serious in the hot and humid night
The mob moves like demons possessed
The group of people move in an unnaturally fierce and wild manner
Quiet in conscience, calm in their right
The people are calm and confident that what they are doing is the right thing
Confident their ways are best
They believe that their methods are superior and without faults
Oh
Exclamation expressing surprise or dismay
Oh
Exclamation expressing surprise or dismay
The righteous rise
Those who perceive themselves as being morally right or just become more powerful
With burning eyes
With passionate, fiery gazes
Of hatred and ill-will
Filled with intense dislike and hostility
Madmen fed on fear and lies
Crazy individuals who are manipulated by scare tactics and falsehoods
To beat and burn and kill
To commit acts of violence and murder
They say there are strangers who threaten us
They claim that there are unknown individuals who are endangering us
Our immigrants and infidels
People who come from other countries and those who do not share the same religious beliefs
They say there is strangeness to danger us
They assert that there is something unknown that is putting us at risk
In our theaters and bookstore shelves
In places where we go to be entertained and learn
That those who know what's best for us
People who believe that they know what is best for everyone
Must rise and save us from ourselves
They think they must come together and protect us from our own ignorance or foolishness
Quick to judge
To form opinions hastily
Quick to anger
To become upset and irate easily
Slow to understand
To take time to comprehend unfamiliar ideas or concepts
Ignorance and prejudice
Lack of knowledge and preconceptions or biases
And fear walk hand in hand
They are often associated with each other, and can be powerful motivators for actions and decisions
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Written by: NEIL ELWOOD PEART, GARY LEE WEINRIB, ALEX ZIVOJINOVICH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind