The original line-up consisted of Dave Chandler (guitar), Mark Adams (bass), Armando Acosta (drums) and Scott Reagers (vocals). They recorded their first two albums before Scott Weinrich replaced Reagers in 1986. The line-up of Chandler, Adams, Acosta and Weinrich is the longest-lasting. The third album Born Too Late (1986) is generally acknowledged as their best release.[3]
After breaking up in 1996 and briefly reforming in 2003, Saint Vitus reunited again in 2008 with the band's "classic" line-up, featuring Weinrich, Chandler, Adams and Acosta, and embarked on a successful tour. However, after 30 years in the band, Acosta left Saint Vitus in 2009 due to worsening health, and was replaced by Henry Vasquez. By 2016, both Weinrich and Adams had left Saint Vitus and were replaced by Reagers and Patrick Bruders respectively, leaving Chandler as the only constant member of the band and reuniting two-fourths of the original lineup.
War Is Our Destiny
Saint Vitus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shining in the night
Every inch is prepared
For kamikaze flight
The machines are faster
And the bombs are worse
As we're all sucked into
This unholy curse
War is our destiny
There's a thousand armies
Dressed up with nowhere to go
All ready to dance
In the final show
These men aren't bad men
They're like you or me
The only thing that's different
Is their destiny
We both sign treaties
And they always die
Neither side can give us
A good reason why
They're always talking louder
And now we are too
Guess we both bit off
More than we could chew
In Saint Vitus’s song War Is Our Destiny, the lyrics describe the inevitability and senselessness of war. The first stanza describes the military machines preparing for flight, emphasizing the destructive technology and weaponry that will be used in the war. The heavy metal wings suggest the formidable nature of war, while the phrase ‘shining in the night’ suggests a certain glory or power that is attributed to war. The kamikaze mission implies the willingness of the soldiers to sacrifice themselves for the greater cause of their nation, highlighting the pride and patriotism that often accompany warfare. However, the lyrics also suggest a sense of futility, with the phrase ‘This unholy curse’ acknowledging the destruction that war brings.
The second verse talks about the soldiers on either side who are fighting in the war. By describing them as ‘men…like you or me’, the lyrics emphasize the human nature of the soldiers and how they are caught up in something much larger than themselves. The phrase ‘the only thing that’s different is their destiny’ suggests that the soldiers on both sides are ultimately bound by their fate to fight in the war, highlighting the senselessness of the conflict. The final stanza describes the signing of treaties and negotiations that are always followed by the deaths of soldiers. The lyrics question the purpose of war, with neither side able to give a good reason for why they are fighting.
Line by Line Meaning
Heavy metal wings
The weapons of war are likened to heavy metal wings that can carry destruction.
Shining in the night
The weapons of war are bright in the darkness, making themselves known and striking fear.
Every inch is prepared
Every aspect of war is planned for, leaving no room for error.
For kamikaze flight
Like the suicidal pilots of Japan in WWII, those at war are prepared to go all in, without thought for their own well-being.
The machines are faster
The weapons of war continue to progress, getting faster and deadlier.
And the bombs are worse
The bombs used in modern warfare are far deadlier and more devastating than ever before.
As we're all sucked into
The entire world is caught up in the maelstrom of war, while those fighting are drawn into it as well.
This unholy curse
War is viewed as a curse, a wickedness that can cause nothing but pain and suffering.
War is our destiny
War is portrayed as an inescapable fate that humanity is doomed to repeat.
There's a thousand armies
There are countless armies around the world ready for war.
Dressed up with nowhere to go
Armed and equipped, these armies are simply waiting for orders to engage in conflict.
All ready to dance
The armies are poised for battle, ready to engage in the violent dance of war.
In the final show
The final battle of war is portrayed as a performance, or show, for all to see.
These men aren't bad men
The soldiers of war are not seen as inherently evil or malevolent.
They're like you or me
Soldiers are just ordinary individuals caught up in the machinations of war.
The only thing that's different
The factor that sets soldiers apart is their fate, or destiny, that leads them to war.
We both sign treaties
Opposing nations sign treaties to avoid war.
And they always die
These treaties always fail and war inevitably breaks out, leading to death and destruction on both sides.
Neither side can give us
Neither side can provide a convincing reason to justify the horrors of war.
A good reason why
The reasons given for war are never good enough to justify the suffering and death it causes.
They're always talking louder
The rhetoric of war always becomes more aggressive and belligerent as the conflict approaches.
And now we are too
Both sides become more and more bellicose as war approaches, leading to a greater likelihood of conflict.
Guess we both bit off
Both sides have taken on more than they can handle in their pursuit of war.
More than we could chew
The gravity of war becomes too much to bear on all sides, leading to unfathomable tragedy and loss.
Contributed by Lauren H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lori Ann
Heavy Metal wings
Shining in the night
Every inch is prepared
For Kamikaze flight
The machines are faster
And the bombs are worse
As we're all sucked into
This unholy curse
War is our destiny
There's a thousand armies
Dressed up with nowhere to go
All ready to dance
In the final show
These men aren't bad men
They're like you or me
The only thing that's different
Is their destiny
We both sign treaties
And they always die
Neither side can give us
A good reason why
They're always talking louder
And now we are too
Guess we both bit off
More than we could chew
Charles Carver
Only the soulless don't grow goosebumps listening to this. How did this stay underground in 80s? Every member is in a state of musical fury at top performance. "All ready to dance! In the final show!" Vitus really honed their blades on Hallows Victim.
Destined to Fester
"The only thing that's different
Is their destiny!"
A REAL MASTERPIECE!!
Lori Ann
Heavy Metal wings
Shining in the night
Every inch is prepared
For Kamikaze flight
The machines are faster
And the bombs are worse
As we're all sucked into
This unholy curse
War is our destiny
There's a thousand armies
Dressed up with nowhere to go
All ready to dance
In the final show
These men aren't bad men
They're like you or me
The only thing that's different
Is their destiny
We both sign treaties
And they always die
Neither side can give us
A good reason why
They're always talking louder
And now we are too
Guess we both bit off
More than we could chew
Claudia Potocki
SV's first two albums were ones I got high to most often...the first was slower, sludgier and more hypnotic, whereas this one was much more uptempo and energetic, but not losing its heaviness and edge!
Christian Santiago
I remember seeing this on some late night metal video show back in the 80's!!! Still rocks 🤟🏽
Simon Diamond
Amazing classic...pure metal!
rockenrollling
best song of mighty St.Vitus!
Enrico Altini
Masterpiece🖤
DoomedPlanet
It took me a bit to wrap my mind around the timing, especially at the beginning of the track. Good tune.
THE REALLY COOL
I had a SST comp. cassette that had this and more on it. Loved that one, I would blast it so loud on my Panasonic boom box.