Triumph
Saul Williams Lyrics


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The triumph of love is in the victory
The triumph of fear is in defeat
The triumph of will is over mystery
The triumph of heart is in the beat

And I feel bad, I feel bad
I feel conquered
I feel sad
When I think of
All the ones
Who may not know
Just what I have
When I feel love

The soldier who marches for the victory
Will measure his triumph in defeat
The triumph of war is over history
The soldier keeps marching to the beat

And I feel bad, I feel bad
I feel conquered
I feel sad
When I think of
All the ones
Who may not know
Just what I have
When I feel love

Trust immeasurable
Trust inside the room
Love inside the core
Love all in this world
Trust immeasurable
Trust inside the room
That we're fighting for
Love inside the core




What we're fighting for
Love is at the door

Overall Meaning

In "Triumph," Saul Williams explores multiple facets of victory and triumph. The first verse speaks of the different types of triumph - the triumph of love, fear, will, and heart - and how they are achieved either through victory or defeat. The chorus then reveals the singer's personal feelings of sadness and empathy towards those who may not have experienced the same triumphs that they have felt through love.


The second verse shifts the focus to the triumphs of war, specifically discussing the perspective of a soldier who measures their triumph in defeat (presumably losing their life for their country can be seen as a triumph). The chorus repeats, emphasizing the feeling of sadness over the fact that not everyone can experience the same love and triumphs that the singer has felt. The final stanza offers a glimmer of hope by mentioning trust and love, and how they are worth fighting for.


The overall message of the song seems to be that triumph can come through both victory and defeat, through experiences of love and war, and that love is ultimately at the core of what is worth fighting for in life.


Line by Line Meaning

The triumph of love is in the victory
Love is triumphant when it overcomes an obstacle or wins a battle.


The triumph of fear is in defeat
Fear is successful when it paralyzes and defeats someone.


The triumph of will is over mystery
Triumph lies in being able to solve the mystery, using the power of one's will.


The triumph of heart is in the beat
The heart's victory lies in its ability to beat and pump blood to the body, keeping us alive and well.


And I feel bad, I feel bad I feel conquered I feel sad When I think of All the ones Who may not know Just what I have When I feel love
The artist feels sad and sorry for those who haven't experienced love and everything it offers.


The soldier who marches for the victory Will measure his triumph in defeat The triumph of war is over history The soldier keeps marching to the beat
For a soldier, a victory in battle is measured in terms of the number of defeats they have to face. They keep fighting to the rhythm of the military drum, marking their progress in the history of wars fought.


Trust immeasurable Trust inside the room Love inside the core Love all in this world Trust immeasurable Trust inside the room That we're fighting for Love inside the core What we're fighting for Love is at the door
The trust and love we have for each other cannot be quantified; it is something we all possess regardless of our individual differences. We fight for love and trust as they are the core of our existence, the very things that make us human. They are always present and accessible to us, knocking on the door of our hearts.




Contributed by Austin E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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