Shell Shock
Reactory Lyrics

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Terror in the trenches
Strongpoints under attack
Under toxic banners
You must go over the top
Survive to rot
Shell shock

A Hell of a howitzer

Ploughing no man's land
The air filled of phosgene
Covering death under fog
You're born to rot
Shell shock

Tanks break the deadlock
Mortar shells raining down
Smell of annihilation
Machinegun barrels roar
Survive to rot
Shell shock

Shivering in morass
The tremor takes control
Survivor of the gasraid
Concussion of the soul
You're born to rot
Shell shock

Begging for death - you're cannon fodder
Begging for death - fulfill your orders
Begging for death - can't stand the pain
Anymore

Terror in the trenches
Strongpoints under attack
Under toxic banners
You must go over the top
Survive to rot
Shell shock

Shivering in morass
The tremor takes control
Surviver of the gasraid
Concussion of the soul

You're born to rot
Shell shock

Overall Meaning

The song "Shell Shock" by Reactory describes the horrors of warfare and the toll it takes on the soldiers who experience it. The opening lines describe the fear and chaos of battle, with "terror in the trenches" and "strongpoints under attack." The toxic banners allude to the use of chemical warfare, which was devastating and caused soldiers to suffer from long-term effects. The chorus speaks to the common experience of shell shock, a term used during World War I to describe the physical and psychological symptoms that soldiers experienced as a result of long-term exposure to shellfire.

The second verse describes the use of howitzers and phosgene gas, which were common weapons used to attack enemy positions. The singer describes the horror of watching the gas cover the battlefield and obscure the sight of death. The third verse speaks to the introduction of tanks and the fear of being bombarded by mortar shells. The roaring of machine gun barrels adds to the cacophony of battle. The fourth verse further reinforces the psychological toll of warfare, with soldiers experiencing shivering, tremors, and concussion of the soul. The final lines reflect the desperate nature of the soldiers' experience, as they beg for death rather than continue to endure the pain.

Line by Line Meaning

Terror in the trenches
The soldiers are experiencing extreme fear while fighting in the trenches

Strongpoints under attack
The enemy is attacking the strongpoints or strategic locations of the soldiers

Under toxic banners
The soldiers are fighting under poisonous gas that is causing them harm

You must go over the top
The soldiers are forced to climb out of the trench and face the enemy head-on

Survive to rot
Even if the soldiers survive the war, they may suffer from mental trauma and physical health issues for the rest of their lives

Shell shock
The trauma experienced by soldiers due to the constant exposure to shelling and other forms of warfare

A Hell of a howitzer
The artillery used in war is incredibly destructive and causes chaos and destruction on the battlefield

Ploughing no man's land
The artillery shells are carving up the land between the two enemy trenches, making it impossible to cross

The air filled of phosgene
The air is filled with toxic gas, making it difficult to breathe and causing physical harm to the soldiers

Covering death under fog
The gas is mixing with the fog, making it difficult to see and increasing the danger for soldiers

Tanks break the deadlock
The introduction of tanks on the battlefield disrupts the stalemate between the two sides and changes the course of the war

Mortar shells raining down
Enemy mortar shells are being fired overhead and raining down on the soldiers, causing panic and chaos

Smell of annihilation
The air is filled with the smell of death and destruction due to the constant shelling and fighting

Machinegun barrels roar
The sound of machine guns firing is deafening and adds to the chaos of the battlefield

Shivering in morass
The soldiers are shivering and shaking while standing in thick mud and water in the trenches

The tremor takes control
The intense shelling and fighting is causing the soldiers to lose control of their bodies and emotions

Survivor of the gasraid
Soldiers who survived poison gas attacks were left with severe respiratory problems and long-term health issues

Concussion of the soul
The mental trauma experienced by soldiers due to the constant exposure to shelling and other forms of warfare

Begging for death - you're cannon fodder
The soldiers feel like they are being used as nothing more than disposable pawns in the war and some would rather die than continue fighting

Begging for death - fulfill your orders
The soldiers are expected to follow orders even if it means putting themselves in harm's way, which can lead them to wish for death instead

Begging for death - can't stand the pain
The physical and emotional pain of war becomes too much for some soldiers to bear, causing them to wish for death

Anymore
The soldiers reach a breaking point where they can no longer tolerate the pain and trauma of war

Contributed by Victoria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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