Empire
Remo Feat. Chelonis R. Jones Lyrics
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We are the people livin' with creatures The tribe of standing rocks in leafy nature
Back in the days, the good old days
The stars and winds did guide our ways,
But here, in Wounded Knee, everything changed Cos eighteen-ninety was torn by a hurricane
The empire under the highway Embers still burning in the valley The empire under the highway Embers still burning in the valley
We were waiting for the soldiers
Instead of peace they brought danger Without a last ghost dance, we disappeared Without a last ghost dance, far from the hills
And the fever is up,
Yes the fever is up in a land aflame
The empire under the highway Embers still burning in the valley The empire under the highway Ashes will cover up the valley
In "Empire," Remo Feat. Chelonis R. Jones sings about the empire we often build around ourselves with our desires, possessions, and self-serving behavior, which can eventually become a prison that enslaves us. The lyrics mention the conflict between the search for personal freedom and the comfort of the status quo. The audience can interpret "empire of me" as the consequences of the decisions and actions we take that shape our destiny.
Initially, the singer of the song believed that comfort and security were all they ever needed, but when they tried to break free and find true freedom, they found it a hard task. When they stick to simplicity, they realize that the search for personal freedom becomes more manageable.
The lyrics encourage the listener to break free and walk away from their self-made empire. The lines "cut the ropes and burn the bridges, sell your things and get away, break it down and move it out" evoke the image of the singer escaping from their empire of possessions and desires, which had become a burden holding them down, and finding their peace through liberation.
Line by Line Meaning
Enslaved or free
I am constantly trying to determine whether I am trapped in my own empire or am truly free.
To this empire of me
My life, my work, my achievements and my failures are all tied to this one single entity called 'me'.
That I've built for so long
This empire that is me has been created from my own hard work and sacrifices over a long period of time.
Once I believed
At one point I thought that my pursuit of comfort and security was the only thing that mattered.
Comfort and security
I thought that the key to happiness was to have all my basic needs fulfilled, and live a life free of worries and danger.
Was all I'd ever need
I believed that the pursuit of any other thing was just a waste of time and effort.
It's hard to leave
Breaking free from this empire of mine is not an easy task; it requires a lot of effort, sacrifice and determination.
This empire of me
This empire that is me is all-encompassing and in control of everything I do or think.
That ties me down
This empire of mine is also what limits me from achieving my true potential, and realizing my true dreams.
When I serve myself
The more I focus on my own personal interests and pleasures, the harder it is to break free from this empire of mine.
This thing called freedom
The concept of being truly free seems elusive and unattainable as long as I remain a slave to my own empire.
Seems so far away
It is often hard to imagine a life free of the confines of my own empire, and to find the motivation to pursue such a life.
When I keep it simple
Simplicity and a focus on the essentials of life can help me gradually break free from this empire of mine.
In my search for more
When I seek out more than just the bare minimum, I start to realize that true freedom is within my grasp.
It gets a little closer every day
With every step I take towards simplifying my life, I am getting closer to breaking free from this empire of mine.
So cut the ropes and burn the bridges
To leave this empire of mine behind, I must sever all ties, cut off all my attachments, and burn all my bridges behind me.
Sell your things and get away
I must be willing to let go of all my material possessions and embrace a simpler life that is free from the trappings of my own empire.
Break it down and move it out
I need to deconstruct this empire of mine and physically move away from it, in order to start a new chapter in my life.
Now I stand and watch
The sight of my empire burning down can be both a painful and liberating experience.
My empire burning
The end of this entity that is me can be both a cathartic and a scary experience.
Brush the ashes off
I must be willing to let go of the past and start anew, without regrets or nostalgia.
Turn around
I must face the future with courage and optimism, knowing that I am now free from the shackles of my own empire.
Don't look back and walk away
I must never regret my decision to leave behind this empire of mine, and always keep moving forward towards a new life.
This empire of me
This empire of mine will always be a part of my past, but I must never let it define my future.
That ties me down
The shackles of this empire of mine will always be waiting for me to come back, but I must never give in to their call.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Thomas Lucas, Jacques Creignou
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind