Red Honor
Pharaoh Lyrics


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History beckons them
Dares them to say
They see like none have before
Afraid to enter the fray, they cower

Craven but craving
Cunning and cruel
Committing their charges to war
Fooling their fellows to bring them power

Red honor, promise of fame
Eternal calling
Red honor, hallow your name
Deify the fearless falling

Go bury the dead in glory
No witness to tell their story
Go bury the dead in glory
No witness to tell their story

Ghosts on the battlefield
Search for their graves
They grasp with nothing to say
These shades that died without meaning wander on

Promises broken
Their names are unspoken
Or taken in vain
Their dreams are sold, their tales untold
Their gifted gold an empty token

Red honor, promise of fame
Eternal calling
Red honor, hallow your name
Deify the fearless falling

Go bury the dead in glory
No witness to tell their story
Go bury the dead in glory
No witness to tell their story

Red Honor
Love in glory




Red Honor
Tell your story

Overall Meaning

Pharaoh's "Red Honor" is a poignant commentary on the human cost of war and the dehumanizing impact it has on both the victors and the vanquished. The lyrics discuss the motivations of soldiers who are sent into battle, and the empty promises of glory and fame that drive them to commit atrocities.


The first verse opens with a call to arms, as "history beckons" the soldiers to take up arms and go to war. But rather than feeling empowered, the soldiers are "afraid to enter the fray" and "cower" in fear. The second verse paints a picture of the soldiers as "craven but craving", desperate for power and willing to commit cruel acts to get it. They manipulate and deceive their fellow soldiers and "commit their charges to war", all the while seeking to elevate themselves to positions of authority.


The chorus of the song highlights the false promise of "red honor" - the idea that fame and glory in battle can somehow make up for the loss of human life. The soldiers are called to "hallow your name" and "deify the fearless falling", but the reality is that the dead are quickly forgotten. The final verse speaks to the aftermath of war, as the ghosts of the fallen "search for their graves" and the stories of their sacrifice go untold. The call to "bury the dead in glory" is a hollow one, as there are "no witnesses to tell their story".


Overall, Pharaoh's "Red Honor" is a sobering meditation on the human cost of war, and a reminder that the promises of glory and fame are hollow ones that do little to mitigate the suffering that is caused by conflict.


Line by Line Meaning

History beckons them
The past calls upon them to take action


Dares them to say
Challenges them to speak out


They see like none have before
Their vision is unique and unprecedented


Afraid to enter the fray, they cower
Fear keeps them from joining the conflict


Craven but craving
Cowardly yet desiring


Cunning and cruel
Devious and merciless


Committing their charges to war
Sending their soldiers into battle


Fooling their fellows to bring them power
Deceiving their allies to gain more authority


Red honor, promise of fame
The glory of the battlefield, fame promised


Eternal calling
A continuous summons to fight and die for honor


Hallow your name
Sanctify your reputation through battle


Deify the fearless falling
Elevate those who die in battle as heroes


Go bury the dead in glory
Give a splendid burial to those who died in battle


No witness to tell their story
No one left alive who can recount the tale of their deeds


Ghosts on the battlefield
Spirits of the deceased among the remnants of the battle


Search for their graves
Looking for a final resting place


They grasp with nothing to say
Unable to communicate or express themselves


These shades that died without meaning wander on
These souls that perished in battle without purpose roam aimlessly


Promises broken
Oaths unfulfilled


Their names are unspoken
Their identities are forgotten or deliberately unmentioned


Or taken in vain
Or perhaps used for nefarious purposes


Their dreams are sold, their tales untold
Their aspirations and stories are disregarded or marketed insincerely


Their gifted gold an empty token
The riches bestowed upon them as a reward are meaningless


Red Honor
Glorious and bloody battle


Love in glory
Affection for the thrill of war


Tell your story
Share your experiences and legacy




Contributed by Carson S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Lucas Roman

Suena tremendo!!! 🤟🏼💀💀💀🤟🏼

gürbüz şanlı

Nergal134 brought me here. Fire song btw

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