The song is in fact a double entendre contrasting the American Empire - which by the late 1980s was already beginning to show the cracks - with the empires that are built by street gangs and drug dealers.
Empire
Queensrÿche Lyrics
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Innocent, their only crime was being in the wrong place, at the wrong time
Too bad, people say what's wrong with the kids today
Tell you right now they've got nothing to lose
They're building empire
Johnny used to work after school
At the cinema show
Yeah he's got a long way to go
Now he's out on the street all day
Selling crack to the people who pay
Got an AK-47 for his best friend
Business the American way
East side meets west side downtown
No time, the walls fall down
Can't you feel it coming?
(Empire) can't you hear it calling?
Black man, trapped again
Hold his chain in his hand
Brother killing brother for the profit of another,
Game point, nobody wins
Decline, right on time
What happened to the dream sublime?
Tear it all down, we'll put it up again
Another empire?
East side meets west side downtown
No time, no line, the walls fall down
Can't you feel it coming? (empire)
Can't you hear it coming (empire)
Can't someone here stop it?
In fiscal year nineteen eighty six to eighty seven
Local, state and federal governments spent
A combined total of sixty point six million dollars on law enforcement
Federal law enforcement expenditures ranked last in absolute dollars
And accounted for only six percent of all federal spending
By way of comparison, the federal government spent twenty-four million more on space exploration
And forty-three times more on national defense and international relations than the law enforcement
Can't you feel it coming? (empire) can't you hear it calling (empire)
Can't someone here stop it (empire)
The lyrics of Queensrÿche's Empire explore the idea of a society in decline, the faltering American dream, and the rise of a destructive capitalist empire. The song opens with news of ten people killed in Chinatown, and the senseless violence that plagues the streets. The lyrics convey the feeling that the world is upside-down, with the innocent paying the price for the failures of society. Despite the bleakness of the situation, the image of people building their own empires is a recurring theme, with characters such as Johnny, who is hustling to get an education, and drug dealers selling crack to those who can afford it. The contrast between these desperate characters and the idea of the American dream gone awry is stark, and the lyrics imply that there is no going back.
The chorus of the song emphasizes this idea of muddled dreams and the rise of an empire, with the repetition of "can't you feel it coming" and "can't you hear it calling". The idea of someone stopping this empire is raised, but the question remains whether it is too late.
In summary, Queensrÿche's Empire is a commentary on the decline of society, the end of the American dream, and the rise of a destructive, capitalist empire. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of a world where violence and corruption are rampant, and where people are forced to hustle and build their own empires just to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night the word came down, ten dead in Chinatown
News arrived last night that ten innocent people lost their lives in Chinatown
Innocent, their only crime was being in the wrong place, at the wrong time
These innocent victims were only in the wrong place at the wrong time and had done nothing to deserve their fate
Too bad, people say what's wrong with the kids today
Tell you right now they've got nothing to lose
Some people blame today's youth for the violence in society but the reality is that many young people feel they have nothing to lose
They're building empire
There are those who are building an empire, accumulating wealth and power at the expense of others
Johnny used to work after school
At the cinema show
Gotta hustle if he wants an education
Yeah he's got a long way to go
Now he's out on the street all day
Selling crack to the people who pay
Got an AK-47 for his best friend
Business the American way
Johnny used to work after school to pay for his education, but he turned to selling drugs to make more money. He's armed with an AK-47, doing business the American way
East side meets west side downtown
No time, the walls fall down
Can't you feel it coming?
(Empire) can't you hear it calling?
The different sides of the city are merging together and everything is crumbling. Change is coming, and it's calling out to us like an empire rising
Black man, trapped again
Hold his chain in his hand
Brother killing brother for the profit of another,
Game point, nobody wins
Black people are constantly being oppressed and held back, even turning on each other to make a profit. But in the end, it's a game where nobody really wins
Decline, right on time
What happened to the dream sublime?
Tear it all down, we'll put it up again
Another empire?
The decline of society is happening just as it was predicted. What happened to the once perfect dream? It's time to tear everything down and start again, building yet another empire
In fiscal year nineteen eighty six to eighty seven
Local, state and federal governments spent
A combined total of sixty point six million dollars on law enforcement
Federal law enforcement expenditures ranked last in absolute dollars
And accounted for only six percent of all federal spending
By way of comparison, the federal government spent twenty-four million more on space exploration
And forty-three times more on national defense and international relations than the law enforcement
In 1986-87, governments spent a total of $60.6 million on law enforcement, with federal spending accounting for only 6%. This is compared to $24 million more spent on space exploration and 43 times more spent on national defense than law enforcement
Can't you feel it coming? (empire)
Can't you hear it calling (empire)
Can't someone here stop it? (empire)
The rise of a new empire seems inevitable, but can we not stop it before it's too late?
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Geoff Tate, Michael Wilton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrSpeed-lt8gr
This song is possibly more relevant today than it was in 1991.
@13nohead
Right
@mandofan9791
Definitely
@Mach11976
Yeah brother, they a ready knew???
@jasonvanhorn9309
ain't this the truth n then some
@lonewolf_bbmq
Imperial Amerikkka since 1945
@scottyjones4428
Geoff's voice in incredible...everyone knows it...just admit it...an extremely talented band of musicians...🥁🤘🎸
@darinhilbern3444
I actually got to meet him once before he played the whole operation mind crime set very very good live not to mention Geoff is humble and a a very kind man he even set aside his pre show meal to take a pic with out me even asking I just wanted an autograph ended getting a signature stage prop good convo and a pic to top it off oh and dont forget they kick ass lol
@scottyjones4428
@@darinhilbern3444 that's fu**in' awesome bro ...good for you
@monsutagema
That's why we're here dude. ✌