Also known as the Cambridge Five, the original Red Dons were a group of respected Cambridge professors who were also spies. Little is known about these individuals, but it is suggested that during World War II they were responsible for passing information to the Soviets and disinformation to the Nazis. Despite having close ties to the Queen and the British government they eventually defected to the Soviet Union adding more intrigue and mystery to their story.
Land of Reason
Red Dons Lyrics
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At the hands of killers working anonymously
I gave my whole life
To those who don’t remember
My name
Though we’re made from reason
Made from salt and common sense
And give our whole lives
To those who won’t remember
Us
Your name was taken from our files it’s been replaced
Your face often pictured for you
Those photographs have now all been erased
This place it’s inopportune
Blood and dirt are all we’re standing on
Don’t be alarmed you won’t be here for too much longer
A note that’s taped to my apartment door
Says that if I enter a bomb will explode
Hoping these words are just idle threats
I open the door will I choose death
There’s gotta be a reason
Reason I’m here
The lyrics to Red Dons's song Land of Reason explore the idea of identity and the feeling of being forgotten or erased by society. The first two lines of the song introduce the concept of violence inflicted by anonymous individuals, causing the singer to question the reason for their own existence. The repetition of the line "I gave my whole life to those who don't remember my name" emphasizes the feeling of insignificance and the fear of being erased from the memory of others.
The second verse suggests that despite being made from reason and common sense, humans inevitably turn into "nothingness." The line "And give our whole lives to those who won't remember us" suggests that people's passions and aspirations ultimately don't matter in the grand scheme of things since they will eventually be forgotten. The last lines of the verse reinforce the idea that the singer's identity has been erased, as their name has been replaced in the files and their face has been removed from photographs.
In the final verse, the singer receives a threatening note and must decide whether to risk entering their apartment. This further emphasizes the feeling of being trapped and hunted, and raises the question of whether their existence is worth risking their life for. The final line of the chorus "There's gotta be a reason reason I'm here" suggests that there must be a greater purpose or meaning to their life that they have yet to uncover.
Line by Line Meaning
There’s gotta be a reason for this ending
I just can't accept that this is how my life will end without a reason behind it
At the hands of killers working anonymously
I was killed by someone without a face; someone who didn't even have the courage to show himself
I gave my whole life
I have devoted my entire existence
To those who don’t remember
To people who have forgotten me
My name
The identity by which I lived and died
Though we’re made from reason
Even though we are born with rationality
Made from salt and common sense
Created with ordinary ingredients, that is salt and practical knowledge
We then turn to nothingness
We eventually become nothing, stripped of our essence and purpose
And give our whole lives
And devote our entire existence
To those who won’t remember
To individuals who will not even bother to recall our existence
Us
As a son/daughter, friend, lover, sibling or relative
Your name was taken from our files it’s been replaced
Your original identity was erased and replaced with a new one without your consent
Your face often pictured for you
Your photo was a reminder of who you were and what you looked like
Those photographs have now all been erased
All of the snapshots that could have reminded you of your past have been deleted
This place it’s inopportune
This area is not the best location to be in, especially given the current state of affairs
Blood and dirt are all we’re standing on
The only ground we have is stained with blood and covered in dirt
Don’t be alarmed you won’t be here for too much longer
Don't worry. Death is inevitable and you won't have to suffer for long
A note that’s taped to my apartment door
An anonymous letter that was pasted on my front door
Says that if I enter a bomb will explode
It warns me that if I open the door, there is a risk of a bomb exploding, leading to my death
Hoping these words are just idle threats
I am praying that this is just a scare tactic
I open the door will I choose death
I contemplate whether to defy the warning and meet my fate
There’s gotta be a reason
There must be an explanation
Reason I’m here
As to why I exist and what my purpose is
Contributed by Luke A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.