Leæther Strip was one of the earliest and most prominent acts on Germany's now defunct Zoth Ommog record label, Leæther Strip's music has also been released on the also defunct Zoth Ommog successor: Bloodline Records and in the US on Cleopatra Records and Metropolis Records labels. Leæther Strip is currently signed with the Alfa Matrix label.
Down There With You
Leæther Strip Lyrics
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There's blood on the sidewalk
Fear is all that I see
No one can stop this
No one can set them free
We walk with our eyes closed
We don't want to look anymore
I'm not a part of this war
Down there with you
Don't look back
Down there with you
Feel me crack
Who's gonna win this?
Who's gonna stay alive?
The loser will crumble
The loser will surely die
Down there with you
Don't look back
Down there with you
Feel me crack
No use in pretending
This war won't stop by itself
The hate will grow bigger
They're needing all our help
The total destruction
Of everything that they feel
Will lead to depression
Will make them hard as steel
The opening lines of the song "Down There With You" by Leæther Strip grabs the attention of the listener right away through its vivid imagery of a chaotic scene with blood on the sidewalk and the palpable feeling of fear. Through the singer's voice, we can sense that the situation is beyond anyone's control and there's a sense of hopelessness that pervades the surroundings. The next lines echo the sentiment of despair as the singer talks about how people walk around with their eyes closed, unwilling to face the ugliness of reality. They don't want to feel the pain or acknowledge the problem. The singer declares that they are not a part of this war, but then there's a shift in tone as the chorus starts with "down there with you" and the singer identifies himself with the person or people he is singing about. It's symbolic of the fact that the singer understands the pain and the suffering of the people he sees around him and wants to stand in solidarity with them.
The second verse of the song speaks more about the war-like situation and the imminent danger that looms over the people. The lyrics talk about the concept of winners and losers, but it's evident that in this war, there are no real winners. Everyone bears the brunt of the chaos, and the ultimate loser is the person who falls, as they will crumble and die. Again, the chorus emphasizes the connection between the suffering people and the singer - as if he wants to bridge the gap that separates them. He wants them to know that he feels the cracks in his being as he stands with them.
The last verse of the song emphasizes the futility of pretending that the situation will resolve itself. The hate and violence that plague the world will only increase if people turn a blind eye to it. When the people have nothing left to lose, they will become steel-hearted, and the destruction will be complete. The song ends on this poignant note, leaving the listener with a sense of unease in their hearts - about the current state of affairs in the world, and the future that lies ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
There's blood on the sidewalk
The environment is violent and dangerous
Fear is all that I see
The situation is causing anxiety and apprehension
No one can stop this
There is a sense of helplessness and despair
No one can set them free
The people involved are trapped and unable to escape
We walk with our eyes closed
People are indifferent and uninvolved
We don't want to look anymore
People are desensitized from the constant violence
Don't want to feel this
People are emotionally exhausted
I'm not a part of this war
The artist doesn't want to be involved and is a bystander
Down there with you
The artist is joining the people trapped in the violent environment
Don't look back
There is no going back and the situation cannot be ignored
Feel me crack
The singer is starting to feel the pressure and strain of the situation
Who's gonna win this?
There is a sense of uncertainty and chaos
Who's gonna stay alive?
The violence is life-threatening and it's unclear who will survive
The loser will crumble
There will be dire consequences for the losing side
The loser will surely die
The violence is deadly and unforgiving
No use in pretending
There is no avoiding or denying the situation
This war won't stop by itself
The violence needs to be addressed and resolved
The hate will grow bigger
The violence will only escalate and intensify
They're needing all our help
People need to come together to solve the issue
The total destruction
There will be catastrophic outcomes
Of everything that they feel
The people involved are experiencing extreme emotions
Will lead to depression
The violence will have psychological effects
Will make them hard as steel
The violence will make people resilient and tough
Contributed by Victoria V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paulseylv
I ended up getting this song on an Industrial compilation album I just bought - by far the best track on there.