Brave New World
Liam Neeson and Ricky Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brave New World
Artilleryman
Take a look around you at the world we've come to know
Does it seem to be much more than a crazy circus show
Maybe from the madness, something beautiful will grow
We'll start... we'll start all over again!
All over again! All over again! All over again!
Artilleryman: We'll build shops and hospitals and barracks, right under their noses, right under their feet. Everything we need: banks, prisons and schools. We'll send scouting parties to collect books and stuff, and then like you we'll teach the kids. Not poems and rubbish; science, so we can get everything working! We'll build villages and towns, and... and we'll play each other at cricket! Listen, maybe one day we'll capture a fighting machine, eh, learn how to make 'em ourselves, and then: WALLOP! Our turn to do some wiping out! WHOOSH! With our heat ray! Whoosh! And them running and dying, beaten at their own game, man on top again!
Artilleryman
Now our domination of the earth is fading fast,
And out of the confusion a chance has come at last,
To build a better future from the ashes of the past,
In a brave new world, with just a handful of men,
We'll start all over again!
Look, man is born in freedom, but he soon becomes a slave,
In cages of convention from the cradle to the grave,
The weak fall by the wayside but the strong will be saved,
In a brave new world, with just a handful of men,
We'll start all over again!
I'm not trying to tell you what to be,
Oh no, oh no, not me...
But if mankind is to survive, the people life alive,
They're gonna have to build this world anew
And it's going to have to start with me and you... YES!
I'm not trying to tell you what to be,
Oh no, oh no, not me...
But if mankind is to survive, the people left alive,
They're gonna have to build this world anew
Yes and we will have to be the chosen few...
Just think of all the poverty, the hatred and the lies,
And imagine the destruction of all that you despise,
Slowly from the ashes the phoenix will arise,
In a brave new world, with just a handful of men
We'll start all over again!
Take a look around you at the world you've loved so well,
And bid the aging empire of man a last farewell
It may not sound like heaven but at least it isn't hell
It's a brave new world with just a handful of men,
We'll start, we'll start all over again!
All over again! All over again! All over again!
I'VE GOT A PLAN!
Artilleryman: Can't you just see it? Civilization starting all over again! A second chance! Heh- we'll even build a railway and tunnel to the coast, go there for our holidays! Nothing can stop men like us! I've made a start already. Come on down here and have a look.
In the cellar there was a tunnel scarcely ten yards long. It had taken him a week to dig. I could have dug that much in a day, and I suddenly had my first inkling of the gulf between his dreams and his power.
Artilleryman: It's doing the working and the thinking that wears a fellow out. I'm ready for a bit of a rest. How about a drink, eh? Nothing but champagne now I'm the boss.
We drank, and then he insisted upon playing cards. With our species on the edge of extermination, with no prospect but a horrible death, we actually played games. Later he talked more of his plan, but I saw flames flashing in the deep blue night, red weed glowing, tripod figures moving distantly, and I put down my champagne glass. I felt a traitor to my kind, and I knew I must leave this strange dreamer.
Artilleryman Take a look around you at the world we've come to know
Does it seem to be much more than a crazy circus show?
Maybe from the madness something beautiful will grow...
The lyrics of "Brave New World" by Liam Neeson and Ricky Wilson presents a world ravaged by war where humanity is slowly fading, and a handful of men are struggling to rebuild civilization. The Artilleryman convinces his companions to start all over again and build a new world underground. He believes that the madness of the old world can turn into something beautiful, and humanity can thrive in the brave new world they create. They plan to build everything they need, including shops, hospitals, barracks, banks, prisons, and schools, and teach science instead of poems and rubbish to get everything working. The Artilleryman looks forward to capturing the fighting machines and learning how to make them, so they can wipe out their enemies with their own game.
The song shows a stark contrast between the old world and the new world the Artilleryman envisions, where man is born in freedom but soon becomes a slave. He highlights that mankind needs to rebuild itself from everything it despises and start anew. Although the idea of rebuilding civilization from scratch sounds exciting, the singer realizes that his companion is nothing more than a dreamer, and he cannot follow him on this journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a look around you at the world we've come to know
Observing the present state of the world
Does it seem to be much more than a crazy circus show?
Questioning the worth and value of the current state of the world
Maybe from the madness something beautiful will grow
Encouraging a positive outlook on the future, regardless of the chaos of the present
In a brave new world, with just a handful of men, we'll start... we'll start all over again!
Proposing a new world order, where a select group of people will start fresh
Now our domination of the earth is fading fast
Acknowledging the decline of human control over the planet
And out of the confusion a chance has come at last, to build a better future from the ashes of the past
Seeing opportunity for improvement amidst the chaos and destruction
Look, man is born in freedom, but he soon becomes a slave, in cages of convention from the cradle to the grave, the weak fall by the wayside but the strong will be saved
Commenting on the oppressive nature of society, where only the strong survive
I'm not trying to tell you what to be, oh no, oh no, not me...But if mankind is to survive, the people left alive, they're gonna have to build this world anew
Encouraging individuals to take responsibility for creating a better future for humanity as a whole
Just think of all the poverty, the hatred and the lies, and imagine the destruction of all that you despise, slowly from the ashes the phoenix will arise
Highlighting the problems of the present world, but also reminding us of the potential for rebirth and renewal
Take a look around you at the world you've loved so well, and bid the aging empire of man a last farewell
Saying goodbye to the failing old world order
It may not sound like heaven but at least it isn't hell
Keeping a realistic perspective on the potential challenges of a new world, but recognizing that it can still be an improvement
I'VE GOT A PLAN!
Expressing excitement and confidence in the future
Can't you just see it? Civilization starting all over again! A second chance!
Painting a vivid picture of the potential for a new beginning
It's doing the working and the thinking that wears a fellow out. I'm ready for a bit of a rest. How about a drink, eh? Nothing but champagne now I'm the boss.
Acknowledging the hard work necessary to build a new world, but also enjoying the rewards of being in control
Take a look around you at the world we've come to know. Does it seem to be much more than a crazy circus show?
Repeating the opening lines, emphasizing the importance of evaluating the current state of the world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY OSBORNE, JEFF WAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind