White Feather
Marillion Lyrics

The lyrics of Marillion's song White Feather speak of a journey of personal discovery and political awakening. The singer describes hitting the streets in 1981 and finding a heart in the gutter and a poet's crown, which suggests an encounter with the gritty reality of life and the artistic sensibility that comes with it. The references to barbed wire kisses and icicle tears are evocative images of pain and suffering, highlighting the harshness of the world outside.

The second verse shifts the focus to the political sphere, with the singer lamenting the prevalence of intrigue and lies in public life. The declaration to wipe the smiles of self-satisfaction from their eyes suggests a desire for justice and accountability. It is in this context that the chorus comes in, with its repeated invocation of the white feather and white flag. These symbols stand for peace, non-violence, and reconciliation, and the singer vows to wear them as a badge of honor. The repetition of the phrase "I will swear I have no nation / but I'm proud to own my heart" reinforces the idea of individual sovereignty and self-determination, as opposed to blind allegiance to a flag or a cause.

In the final verse, the focus shifts again to the collective, with the plural pronoun "we" replacing the singular "I". The call for unity and solidarity is emphasized with the line "divided we stand, together we'll rise", which suggests that overcoming division and strife is the only way to achieve progress and change. The chorus is repeated, with the addition of the line "these are our hearts" and the defiant assertion that "you can't take away our hearts / you can't steal our hearts away". The final line "I can't walk away / no more" suggests a sense of commitment and determination to continue the struggle, no matter the odds.