In a Wilderness of Spite
Rome Lyrics


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Down,
To the river down,
They carried poor
Rhodesia.

Drowned;
Never to be crowned,
Our queen lay slain -
Rhodesia.

Wouldn't leave
Your body to the hounds;
Couldn't bury you in hallowed grounds,
Rhodesia.

Slowly they run,
These black tears;
Slowly they run,
Into the River Aeeth.

And on we go;
On the road,
Rhodesia!

And on we go;
On the road,
Rhodesia!

Down,
To the river down,
They carried poor
Rhodesia.

Drowned;
Never to be crowned,
They carried her splendor down to the River Aeeth.

Aeeth is a grave's name.

So today we call for the miracle,
Arise, young queen -
Rhodesia.

And on we go;
On we go,
Rhodesia!

And on we go;
On the road,
Rhodesia!

No flowers grow on Rhodesia's grave;
No flowers grow on the River Aeeth.
(Aeeth is a grave's name.)
Aeeth is a grave's name.
(Aeeth is that pale tomb of shame.)
Aeeth is that pale tomb of shame.

Down flew her golden crown;
(Down flew her golden crown.)
And she lay slain, on the frozen ground;
(And she lay slain, on the frozen ground.)
Rhodesia.
(Rhodesia.)

Now we climb,
Into that willow tree.
And we all weep for thee, poor
Rhodesia.

(So today, we call for the miracle. Arise, young queen.)

And today, we call for the miracle
Arise, young queen
Rhodesia.

(Arise!)

And on we go;
On the road,
Rhodesia!

And on we go;
On the road,
Rhodesia!

(Aeeth is a grave's name; Aeeth is that pale tomb of shame.)

And on we go;
On the road,
Rhodesia!

And on we go;
On the road,
Rhodesia!

And on we go;
On the road,
Rhodesia!

And on we go;
On the road,
Rhodesia!

(Aeeth is a grave's name; Aeeth is that pale tomb of shame.)

And on we go;




On the road,
Rhodesia!

Overall Meaning

The song "In a Wilderness of Spite" by Rome is a tribute to the country formerly known as Rhodesia. The lyrics reflect on the tragic fate of Rhodesia, as well as the hope for its resurrection. The first verse describes how Rhodesia was carried down to the river and drowned, never to be crowned as a queen. The second verse mentions how the people couldn’t bury her in hallowed grounds. The third verse refers to the tears that run slowly into the River Aeeth, which is a grave’s name. Finally, the singer calls for a miracle and asks the young queen to arise.


The song creates a feeling of mourning for Rhodesia, and the repetition of the phrase “And on we go; On the road, Rhodesia!” symbolizes the resilience of the people and the hope for a brighter future. The reference to the willow tree is a metaphor for the mourning process, and the image of the golden crown flying down to the ground represents the fall of the country.


Overall, the song is a poignant tribute to Rhodesia, and a call for hope in the face of tragedy.


Line by Line Meaning

Down, To the river down, They carried poor Rhodesia.
Rhodesia was taken down to the river.


Drowned; Never to be crowned, Our queen lay slain - Rhodesia.
Rhodesia was drowned and never became a queen.


Wouldn't leave Your body to the hounds; Couldn't bury you in hallowed grounds, Rhodesia.
Rhodesia's body wasn't left for the animals and couldn't be buried in sacred land.


Slowly they run, These black tears; Slowly they run, Into the River Aeeth.
Black tears flow slowly into the River Aeeth.


And on we go; On the road, Rhodesia!
They travel on the road to Rhodesia.


Down, To the river down, They carried poor Rhodesia.
Rhodesia was taken down to the river.


Drowned; Never to be crowned, They carried her splendor down to the River Aeeth.
Rhodesia's splendor was taken down to the River Aeeth when she drowned.


Aeeth is a grave's name.
The River Aeeth is named after a grave.


So today we call for the miracle, Arise, young queen - Rhodesia.
They call for a miracle so Rhodesia can rise as a queen.


And on we go; On the road, Rhodesia!
They continue on the road to Rhodesia.


No flowers grow on Rhodesia's grave; No flowers grow on the River Aeeth. (Aeeth is a grave's name.) Aeeth is a grave's name.
Rhodesia's grave has no flowers and neither does the River Aeeth, which is named after a grave.


(Aeeth is that pale tomb of shame.)
The River Aeeth is a pale tomb of shame.


Down flew her golden crown; (Down flew her golden crown.) And she lay slain, on the frozen ground; (And she lay slain, on the frozen ground.) Rhodesia. (Rhodesia.)
Rhodesia's golden crown fell off and she was slain on the frozen ground.


Now we climb, Into that willow tree. And we all weep for thee, poor Rhodesia.
They climb into a willow tree and mourn for Rhodesia.


(So today, we call for the miracle. Arise, young queen.)
They call for a miracle so Rhodesia can rise as a queen.


And today, we call for the miracle Arise, young queen Rhodesia. (Arise!)
They call for a miracle so Rhodesia can rise as a queen.


And on we go; On the road, Rhodesia!
They continue on the road to Rhodesia.


(Aeeth is a grave's name; Aeeth is that pale tomb of shame.)
The River Aeeth is named after a grave and is a pale tomb of shame.


And on we go; On the road, Rhodesia!
They continue on the road to Rhodesia.


And on we go; On the road, Rhodesia!
They continue on the road to Rhodesia.


And on we go; On the road, Rhodesia!
They continue on the road to Rhodesia.


And on we go; On the road, Rhodesia!
They continue on the road to Rhodesia.


(Aeeth is a grave's name; Aeeth is that pale tomb of shame.)
The River Aeeth is named after a grave and is a pale tomb of shame.


And on we go; On the road, Rhodesia!
They continue on the road to Rhodesia.




Contributed by Gianna H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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