From 2002 to 2006, Magnus Rising wrote, performed, and recorded original music before audiences across the province of Newfoundland. Battling adversity, including the loss of $20,000 worth of musical equipment in a fire at their rehearsal space in 2004, Magnus Rising developed their craft and earned their reputation as a first-rate live rock act. During that five year period, Magnus Rising performed over 100 gigs and released their first EP, Magnus Rising, in 2005.
After testing the waters with a performance before record executives at the Hard Rock café in Montreal, Magnus Rising relocated in June of 2006 to Vancouver, BC. Within a year, they had begun recording their first major studio album, Counting the Numbers, at the Factory Studios. Counting was produced by Doug Mix and released independently in December, 2007. Plans for a 2008 cross-Canadian summer tour are presently underway.
Counting The Numbers
Magnus Rising Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To a land for overtaking
To create a mass destruction
Leaving bodies in the sand
All cameras rolling
Hear the guns like drumming
Moving bodies like cattle
Don’t count on a conscience
Front lines are open to the public
We’ve thrown away the logic
Now we’re knee deep in the remains
All platoons are active
Holding stations as we’ve practiced
Invading, with caution
Thrown into the wind
As the numbers are increasing
An economy receding
Add pressure to the bleeding
Open wounds cannot heal
A force to leave an impression
Invading all protections
Send more bodies to be casualties
Cross those bodies in the ground
No calling for a resurrection
Each god choosing direction
Beliefs and death go hand in hand
And both are falling now
The cameras still filming
The dead, the living
No body count reported
Numbers matter not
The lyrics of Magnus Rising's song "Counting the Numbers" brings attention to the disturbing reality of war and its harrowing consequences. The verses reflect the gruesome nature of war, and the futility of human reasoning and conscience in the face of it. The opening lines, "See Cameramen running, To a land for overtaking, To create a mass destruction, Leaving bodies in the sand," describe a scene of war and how it is depicted in the media. The next lines, "All cameras rolling, Hear the guns like drumming, Moving bodies like cattle, Human lives in human hands," continue to make a case for the destructive power of war by highlighting the toll it takes on human lives.
The second stanza talks about the absence of conscience, how the front lines are open, and we have thrown away all reason. It continues to describe a state of chaos where everything feels senseless and futile. The chorus, "As the numbers are increasing, An economy receding, Add pressure to the bleeding, Open wounds cannot heal," vividly describes how the cost of war affects both the economy and the people involved in it. The bridge further adds to the chaos of war by describing how it gives a forceful impression and destroys any form of protection.
However, the most striking part of the song is the haunting yet powerful way in which it ends, "The cameras still filming, The dead, the living, No body count reported, Numbers matter not." This final verse highlights the apathy of war, where human life no longer holds any value, and everyone is reduced to mere numbers.
Line by Line Meaning
See Cameramen running
The cameramen are hurrying to capture the events of a war or conflict
To a land for overtaking
They're heading to a disputed territory or a location where one group is trying to overtake another
To create a mass destruction
The people involved in this conflict are aiming to cause significant damage and devastation
Leaving bodies in the sand
Their actions are leading to deaths and leaving behind the remains of the deceased in desert-like conditions
All cameras rolling
The cameramen are filming the events as they happen
Hear the guns like drumming
The sounds of gunfire and explosions are a constant background noise that's almost rhythmic
Moving bodies like cattle
The people involved in the conflict are treating the wounded and dead like livestock, herding them around as necessary
Human lives in human hands
The lives of human beings are solely in the control of other human beings, and their fate is uncertain
Don’t count on a conscience
The people involved may not have a strong sense of morality or guilt for their actions
Front lines are open to the public
Anyone can join the fight, with no restrictions or qualifications necessary
We’ve thrown away the logic
The rational, thoughtful approach to the conflict has been abandoned in favor of aggression and violence
Now we’re knee deep in the remains
The aftermath of the conflict has left a gruesome, bloody mess for all involved
All platoons are active
All groups of soldiers or fighters are currently engaged and fighting
Holding stations as we’ve practiced
Certain groups may be holding specific positions, as they've trained to do
Invading, with caution
The soldiers or fighters are moving into enemy territory carefully, being mindful of the dangers that may be ahead
Thrown into the wind
The situation is unpredictable and risky, and there's no telling what will happen next
As the numbers are increasing
The death toll and/or number of people involved in the conflict is growing larger
An economy receding
The conflict is likely having a negative impact on the local or global economy
Add pressure to the bleeding
The situation is worsening and becoming more difficult to control
Open wounds cannot heal
The damage and trauma inflicted by the conflict is long-lasting and likely to have lasting effects
A force to leave an impression
One side is trying to make a lasting impact on the other, to demonstrate its strength or dominance
Invading all protections
The conflict is impacting the safety and security measures that normally protect people or places
Send more bodies to be casualties
People are being sent into the conflict with the expectation that they will die or be injured
Cross those bodies in the ground
The bodies of the deceased are being buried in makeshift or mass graves
No calling for a resurrection
There's no hope for a reversal of the events or bringing back those who have died
Each god choosing direction
Religious beliefs may be influencing people's actions or allegiances in the conflict
Beliefs and death go hand in hand
People's core beliefs are intertwined with their thoughts and feelings about death, especially when it comes to the conflict
And both are falling now
These beliefs and values are starting to crumble and lose their hold on people
The cameras still filming
The conflict continues to be documented, even as it becomes more devastating
The dead, the living
All individuals involved in the conflict, from those who have already died to those who are still fighting, are being captured on camera
No body count reported
The number of casualties or deaths is not being accurately or transparently reported
Numbers matter not
The value of human life and the significance of the conflict cannot be quantified or measured by statistics alone
Contributed by Sophie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LYNN CUNNINGHAM
Thumbs and like for this song great song......