Tombstone
Midnight Juggernauts Lyrics

The repeating lyrics on Midnight Juggernauts’ song “Tombstone” appear to be a series of questions, each line ending with the same four possibilities. The questions allude to a sense of uncertainty, danger and chaos, as if the band is trying to describe an unknown or recently devastated place. The first line asks whether it is a war zone, implying a place with a high level of conflict and destruction. The following line, “Is it a freak show,” raises the question of human presence, suggesting that whatever place they have in mind involves a questionable society. “Is it a terror dome” heightens the anxiety and suggests the possibility of a place where terror takes precedence. The final option in the line, “Is it a radio,” throws the listener off the trail by bringing to mind something harmless or unconnected with the others.

The second line of the verse brings back the same set of options, except it adds a new sense of danger with “Is it a firewall?” The question brings to mind the idea of a fortified tower, blocking anyone or anything dangerous from progressing. The “death toll” option is a clear reference to the amount of lives lost in a particular place, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. The “atom bomb” option alludes to the possibility of a truly catastrophic disaster, and “tombstone” is obviously referring to the grave markers, making it clear that we’re not dealing with a potentially fatal disease or a tragic accident, but possibly an act of aggression or violence.

The repeated questions in “Tombstone” are not answered, but rather ask whether each experience was a war zone, a freak show, a terror dome, or even just a radio. The lack of a clear answer suggests that the place that Midnight Juggernauts is referring to can be different from one perspective to another, depending on the sources of information and the way they’re interpreted.