The Art Of War
Ill Niٌo Lyrics

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Scream the words that I would scream for you.
Rise the world that I will rise for you.
Hold position by submission
and cause affliction.
Love for you, one by one.
This war has just begun.

I'm not defenseless anymore, but no more.

You've built this wall to hide in shame, but no shame.
I will not fear your art of war.
No war, it makes me sick, it makes me cringe.
I will not fear your art of war.

Guns to hold me, and chains to pull me.
With Gods for armies, which are made of hate.
Clipped my wings before I dare to fly again.
To pull the strings of my dying bride.
It makes me sick to sleep.
War for treason, that's your reason.
I did not commit this crime.

I'm not defenseless anymore, but no more.
You've built this wall to hide in shame, but no shame.
I will not fear your art of war.
No war, it makes me sick, it makes me cringe.
I will not fear your art of war.

Of war and of war,this art of war, this art of war.
Guns will not hold me down.
Your war, guns will not hold me down, your war.

I'm not defenseless anymore, but no more.
You've built this wall to hide in shame, but no shame.
I will not fear your art of war.
No war, it makes me sick, it makes me cringe.
I will not fear your art of war.

I'm not defenseless anymore, but no more.
You've built this wall to hide in shame, but no shame.
I will not fear your art of war.

No war, it makes me sick, it makes me cringe.
I will not fear your art of war

Overall Meaning

The song "The Art of War" by Ill Niño is about being a fighter and standing up against the forces that seek to hold one down. It speaks of the power of love and the courage that can come from it. The lyrics express a sense of defiance, bravery, and determination in the face of oppression and an unwillingness to give into the "art of war" tactics that try to control and manipulate.

The first couple of lines in the lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to take on the battles and struggles of the person they are speaking to. The lines "Scream the words that I would scream for you. Rise the world that I will rise for you" suggest that the singer is ready to be their ally in the fight. The next few lines mention submission and affliction, possibly indicating that the singer is prepared to take a back seat and let the person they're addressing take the lead, but offering their support throughout the journey. The line "This war has just begun" could mean that the singer is ready to take on whatever comes their way.

The second verse refers to the forces that are trying to keep the singer down. They speak of being held back by "Guns to hold me, and chains to pull me" and "Gods for armies, which are made of hate". The imagery seems to suggest a powerful force that is trying to keep them from achieving their goals. The line "Clipped my wings before I dare to fly again" may indicate that the singer has been held back before and is now ready to take on their adversary. The chorus reiterates their determination not to give in to fear or shame and instead to embrace their strength and resilience.

Line by Line Meaning

Scream the words that I would scream for you.
I will fight for you, even if you can't. I will speak out for you and demand justice in your name.

Rise the world that I will rise for you.
I will not stand idly by and watch as you suffer. I will do everything in my power to change the world for the better for you.

Hold position by submission and cause affliction. Love for you, one by one. This war has just begun.
I will fight for you with every fiber of my being. Despite the odds, I will hold my ground and fight for your love and freedom, one person at a time. The fight has just begun and I am in it for the long haul.

I'm not defenseless anymore, but no more.
I refuse to be a victim any longer. I will not allow myself to be helpless or defenseless in the face of your oppression.

You've built this wall to hide in shame, but no shame.
You have tried to wall yourself off from the consequences of your actions, but you cannot escape the shame and guilt that accompanies them.

I will not fear your art of war.
I will not allow you to intimidate me with your strategies of war and oppression. I will fight back with everything I have.

No war, it makes me sick, it makes me cringe.
I abhor war and everything it represents. The bloodshed and destruction are repulsive to me.

Guns to hold me, and chains to pull me.
You have tried to imprison me and take away my freedom with weapons and chains.

With Gods for armies, which are made of hate.
You have taken your hatred and used it as a weapon against me. You have falsely claimed the moral high ground, using religion as an excuse for your atrocities.

Clipped my wings before I dare to fly again.
You have taken away my ability to soar and realize my full potential. You have tried to crush my spirit and make me doubt myself at every turn.

To pull the strings of my dying bride.
You have manipulated and controlled me, using my loved ones as leverage to keep me under your thumb.

It makes me sick to sleep.
My situation is so unbearable that even the thought of sleep fills me with dread and disgust.

War for treason, that's your reason.
You have declared war on me, claiming that I am a traitor or enemy of the state. Your reasons are flimsy and self-serving.

I did not commit this crime.
You have falsely accused me of wrongdoing and used it as a justification for your abuse and oppression.

Of war and of war,this art of war, this art of war.
You are obsessed with war and violence, seeing it as an artform or way of life.

Guns will not hold me down.
Your weapons and intimidation tactics will not keep me from fighting for my freedom and my loved ones.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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