No Peace No End
Richard Thompson Lyrics


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Where were you when the walls were crumbling
Where were you when the guns were rumbling
Where were you when the hounds of hell
Took sons and lovers away
Did you see me on the slippery slope
Wrong end of a telescope
Do you even pause for breath
As you sleepwalk through the day

Some day won't you
Stand in my shoes
And see the world I see
No hope no friend
No Peace No End

I'm ground between two stones
Soon I'll be nothing but bones
Who'll be my shining savior
Before I turn to dust?
Are you the hand that kills me?
Are you the hand that saves me?
When they both sell you down the river
Which one can you trust?

Some day won't you
Stand in my shoes
And see the world I see
No hope no friend
No Peace No End
No hope no friend
No Peace No End

In the peace museum there's a mangy dove
To remind us all of universal love
You can rent her out for your corporate dinner
And feel good about yourself
Geneva Convention they use as a pessary
Olive branch is a fashion accessory
In the big chess game there's just one winner
And it's always somebody else

Some day won't you
Stand in my shoes
And see the world I see
No hope no friend
No Peace No End




No hope no friend
No Peace No End

Overall Meaning

Richard Thompson's song "No Peace No End" is a commentary on the state of the world and the indifference of those in power towards the suffering of others. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and hopelessness, as the singer questions where people were when the world was falling apart and wonders who will save him before he turns to dust. The lyrics touch on themes of war, oppression, and the exploitation of people for profit. The song also highlights the ways in which symbols of peace and unity can be co-opted by those in power for their own gain.


The first verse paints a picture of chaos and destruction, with walls crumbling and guns rumbling. The singer questions where people were when this was happening and whether they even notice what is happening around them as they "sleepwalk through the day". The second verse speaks directly to the singer's own struggles, feeling ground between two stones and questioning whether anyone will be there to save him or if he will be killed instead. The third verse discusses the ways in which symbols of peace, such as the dove and the olive branch, can be used for profit or as a fashion statement, rather than as genuine calls for unity and understanding.


The chorus, "No hope no friend, no peace no end", reinforces the bleakness of the situation and the feeling of hopelessness that pervades the song. The repeated plea for someone to "stand in my shoes and see the world I see" highlights the singer's sense of isolation and the feeling that no one truly understands what he is going through.


Line by Line Meaning

Where were you when the walls were crumbling
When everything was falling apart, where were you? Were you even there to see it?


Where were you when the guns were rumbling
During the war, when the guns were firing, where were you? Did it even affect you?


Where were you when the hounds of hell Took sons and lovers away
People were being taken away and killed, where were you?


Did you see me on the slippery slope
Life was difficult for me, did you notice my struggles?


Wrong end of a telescope
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't understand the world that you see.


Do you even pause for breath As you sleepwalk through the day
Do you even stop to think about anything or anyone as you go through life on autopilot?


Some day won't you Stand in my shoes And see the world I see
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be in someone else's position and see the world through their eyes?


No hope no friend No Peace No End
Life is bleak and hopeless, with no friends or peace to be found, and no end in sight.


I'm ground between two stones Soon I'll be nothing but bones
I am trapped in a difficult situation with no way out, and eventually I will die.


Who'll be my shining savior Before I turn to dust?
Who will save me from my predicament before it's too late?


Are you the hand that kills me?
Are you the one who will cause my downfall and death?


Are you the hand that saves me?
Or are you the one who will rescue me from my troubles?


When they both sell you down the river Which one can you trust?
When everyone abandons you, who can you rely on?


In the peace museum there's a mangy dove To remind us all of universal love
Even in a museum dedicated to peace, the symbol of peace is worn and dirty.


You can rent her out for your corporate dinner And feel good about yourself
You can use the symbol of peace to make yourself look good in front of others, even if it goes against the message of peace itself.


Geneva Convention they use as a pessary Olive branch is a fashion accessory
Even international laws meant to protect human rights can be used as tools for personal gain, and symbols of peace can be commodified and used for fashion.


In the big chess game there's just one winner And it's always somebody else
In the game of life, there can only be one winner, and that winner is never the person who needs it the most.


Some day won't you Stand in my shoes And see the world I see
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be in someone else's position and see the world through their eyes?


No hope no friend No Peace No End
Life is bleak and hopeless, with no friends or peace to be found, and no end in sight.


No hope no friend No Peace No End
Life is bleak and hopeless, with no friends or peace to be found, and no end in sight.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: B.A. WELCH, CHUCK BERRY, DALE HAWKINS, DUKE ELLINGTON, ELEANOR BROADWATER, HANK MARVIN, J HARRIS, JEAN REINHARDT, JUAN TIZOL, RICHARD JOHN THOMPSON, STANLEY J LEWIS

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Comments from YouTube:

Bouwe Bear

Where were you when the walls were crumblin'
Where were you when the guns were rumblin'
Where were you when the hounds of hell
Took sisters and lovers away
Did you see me on a slippery slope
Wrong end of a telescope
Do you even pause for breath
As you sleepwalk through the day

Some day won't you
Stand in my shoes
And see the world I see
No hope, no friend
No peace, no end
I'm ground between two stones
Soon I'll be nothin' but bones
Who'll be my shinin' savior
Before I turn to dust?
Are you the hand that kills me?
Are you the hand that saves me?
When they both sell you down the river
Which one can you trust?

(Chorus)

In the peace museum there's a mangy dove
To remind us all of universal love
You can rent her out for your corporate dinner
And feel good about yourself
Geneva Convention they use as a pessary
Olive branch is a fashion accessory
In the big chess game there's only one winner
And it's always someone else

(Chorus)

No hope, no friend
No peace, no end

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