Shiloh Town
Mark Lanegan Lyrics

It is so cold in Shiloh town
The town is dreary and lifeless, as if drained of color and warmth.

Birds can hardly sing
Nature itself seems to have given up on this place, as if the suffering is too much to bear.

Pretty girls gonna leave the town
Even the most hopeful and optimistic people are losing faith in Shiloh town, and are preparing to leave for greener pastures.

They won't be back 'till spring
There is an expectation that things might improve by then, but it remains uncertain.

War is done they've come back home
The soldiers have returned from battle, but have they really returned home?

But they're the ones that lost
The scars and trauma of war cannot be erased, and they will forever carry the burden of loss.

See a man and a woman alone
Even in the midst of living, life must go on as people still find love and seek to make a new beginning.

Was it worth the cost?
This rhetorical question poses the deeper query behind the cost of war, and whether it has all been for nothing?

I'll sing hallelujah
In spite of everything, there is still hope and faith that things will get better.

You'll sing hallelujah
Even in the hardest of times, we must push for a better tomorrow and maintain a hopeful spirit.

We'll all sing hallelujah
Our struggles are shared, so should our triumphs be, and we will get through it all together as a community.

Sun is out it's hot to today
A glimmer of sunshine has emerged, but it feels fleeting and uncertain.

Children all come out to play
For the first time in awhile, things feel somewhat normal, and the children can enjoy some semblance of childhood.

Some are quick to come back home
Amidst the joy, others still remember what they have lost and remain cautious about returning home.

Others, gone to stay
The war has had a deep and lasting impact on some, and they are not coming back anytime soon.

Gets so cold in Shiloh town
No matter how many moments of sunshine there are or how much time passes, the pain and loss of this town are always present.

Birds can hardly sing
Even nature seems to have given up and is unable to muster up even the slightest cheer.

Pretty girls gonna leave the town
As the population dwindles, it becomes even more apparent that Shiloh town is dying and that its best hope is for the people to move on.

They won't be back 'till spring
The cycle of hope and uncertainty continues, as the possibility of rebirth emerges, but only time will tell whether it will be enough.