Empire
Sinéad O'Connor Lyrics
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Done on bob the bass' album "clear"
I'm looking at your soul, your soul, your soul, your soul
I'm looking at your future, your future, future, future
As I look into your eyes, these eyes, these eyes, these eyes
I see another side, side, side, side
Vampire you suck the life of goodness
Vampire, you're feed on the life of a pure heart
Vampire you suck the life of goodness
Turn the lights on
Let the lights shine bright
Turn the lights on
Let the lights shine bright
You've got to feel yourself and let go
You got to know you reap what you sown
You've got to feel something at sometime
Check the writings on the wall
And look into the sight
You're spending all your money on gear that never work
You're wasting all your energy and everywhere it hurts
God it really hurts
Yes it really hurts
You got to know yourself
Vampire, you're feed on the life of a pure heart
Vampire, you suck the life of goodness
Yes
Vampire, you're feed on the life of a pure heart
Vampire you suck the life of goodness
From now on I'll call you england
From now on I'll call you england
From now on I'll call you england
From now on I'll call you england
See if you spit in the sky
It will fall in your eye
You see what goes up must come down
You will die looking up if you're not looking in
You've got to know yourself
I'm looking at your partners and they would never agree
I'm looking for your justice and it can not be seen
I'm checking where you're coming from and where you're going to
I'm checking all off what you have done to see what you can do
I'm looking at your lawbooks and they were never read
I'm looking at your lovesquire and they can not be thread
I'm looking at your empire living on the drears
You've got to know yourself
Vampire, you're feed on the life of a pure heart
Vampire, you suck the life of goodness
Yes
Vampire, you're feed on the life of a pure heart
Vampire you suck the life of goodness
From now on I'll call you england
Empire fall man, empire go
From now on I'll call you england
There's a lesson to be learned
Why is it that, you must know
From now on I'll call you england
And the rich that you eat is more like food that you fear
From now on I'll call you england
Gotta see no love anyway you appear
From now on I'll call you england
You've got to know yourself
From now on I'll call you england
You've got to know yourself
The song, "Empire," by Sinéad O'Connor and Benjamin Zephaniah, is a social commentary on the negative effects of imperialism on the world. The first verse talks about looking at someone's soul and future, and seeing a darker side to them. The chorus likens imperialism to a vampire that feeds on the life of good-hearted people. The use of the words "future" and "suck" play off of the negative connotation of vampire mythology.
The second verse is a call to action, urging people to turn on the lights and see the truth. The lyrics suggest that people need to examine their own actions and beliefs to understand themselves better. The bridge talks about how the writings on the wall and the sight provide clues as to what is really happening in the world. The last verse criticizes the injustice and corruption found in the empire, particularly in the lawbooks and lovesquires. The repeated phrase of "From now on I'll call you England" is a direct condemnation of the British Empire.
Overall, the song's message is that imperialism is destructive and oppressive, and that people need to take responsibility for their own actions and understand the truth about the world they live in.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm looking at your soul, your soul, your soul, your soul
I'm examining your essence, deep within, with a keen eye
I'm looking at your future, your future, future, future
I'm observing what lies ahead for you, and it's not pretty
As I look into your eyes, these eyes, these eyes, these eyes
As I peer into your gaze, I see through your facade
I see another side, side, side, side
I see an unexpected, darker aspect of you
Vampire, you're feed on the life of a pure heart
You, like a vampire, drain the goodness from innocent souls
Vampire you suck the life of goodness
You are a parasitic entity that feeds on purity
Turn the lights on
It's time to confront the truth without hiding in the dark
Let the lights shine bright
Allow the truth to come out, and be exposed to the public
You've got to feel yourself and let go
You need self-awareness and need to stop clinging to your false identity
You got to know you reap what you sown
You must acknowledge that you will face the consequences of your actions in the end
You've got to feel something at sometime
You cannot live your entire life in a numb, disconnected state
Check the writings on the wall
Pay attention to the signs that are all around you
And look into the sight
Observe and comprehend what is happening in front of you
You're spending all your money on gear that never work
You invest in material things that cannot fix the deeper problems within you
You're wasting all your energy and everywhere it hurts
You squander your resources and efforts on endeavors that do not serve your higher purpose
God it really hurts
The pain of your misguided choices is intense
Yes, it really hurts
The anguish and suffering you inflict on yourself and others is genuine
Vampire, you're feed on the life of a pure heart
You have a tendency to manipulate, exploit or abuse individuals who hold altruistic values
From now on I'll call you england
England symbolizes a corrupt, oppressive society in which the powerful prey on the weak
See if you spit in the sky
Your actions have consequences, and you will have to face the repercussions
It will fall in your eye
The negative impact of your deeds will inevitably affect you
You see what goes up must come down
The immutable laws of causality dictate that every action has an equal and opposite reaction
You will die looking up if you're not looking in
If you don't introspect and discover your true nature, you'll die without fulfilling your purpose
I'm looking at your partners and they would never agree
Your associates and allies are not truly aligned with your goals and values
I'm looking for your justice and it can not be seen
Justice and fairness are conspicuously absent in your conduct and behavior
I'm checking where you're coming from and where you're going to
I'm examining the roots and the direction of your intentions and actions
I'm checking all off what you have done to see what you can do
I'm reviewing your past deeds to determine your capacity for change
I'm looking at your lawbooks and they were never read
You flout the principles and rules of justice, because you disregard their importance
I'm looking at your lovesquire and they can not be thread
Your romantic relationships are troubled and fraught with difficulties
I'm looking at your empire living on the drears
Your power is based on exploitation of the poor and disadvantaged
Empire fall man, empire go
Societal structures based on inequality and oppression are destined to crumble and fail
There's a lesson to be learned
There are valuable insights and teachings to be gleaned from the downfall of oppressive regimes
And the rich that you eat is more like food that you fear
The wealth and power you covet so much only bring you anxiety, not happiness
Gotta see no love anyway you appear
Your facade of aloofness and detachment only hides your lack of loving connections
You've got to know yourself
The key to positive change and growth lies in self-awareness
Lyrics © NETTWERK MUSIC GROUP , SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: B. ZEPHANIAH, SINEAD O'CONNOR, T. SIMENON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@USCFlash
@@pincopallino8176
I appreciate your honesty....I have to say, personally, I cannot stand her.
I don't wish to hurt your feelings as I think everyone should be free to love who they want to. :)
I just think she is too fake and too into promotion and constantly needing attention/tweeting/taking selfies all the time... and trying to be provocative.....that can work, if there is real interesting talent behind it...but when there is nothing there, it just becomes vapid posing....and dishonest.
I don't find her very interesting in any way shape or form...I guess I was just lucky that I was born in an era when there were great women who were singer/songwrters and had all the talent to boot, and did not have to worry about image and trying to sell something the way Miley does.
Chrissie Hynde, Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell., Debbie Harry, Christine McVee, PAtti Smith, Annie Lennox, Those were real women with real talent. They were genuine...and it came through in their music.
And later on, Sheryl Crow and Grace Potter....etc...And a personal favorite, Kim Deal and also Kim Gordon and PJ Harvey
Miley always looks like she is trying too hard to craft an image, be provocative, etc....because she has no actual artistic talent in terms of song creation.
It always seems forced and disingenuous to me.
@USCFlash
@@pincopallino8176
I agree with you completely.
We are living in a lost age, artistically speaking. Everything is remix/sampled/packaged and sold. ...assembly line art, if you will.
I feel the same way you do.
Long gone are the days when the great artists could overcome the mass market/reality tv/twitter personality media type.
Ironically, i remember when she as born, because Kurt Cobain's daughter was born right about the same time. it is so strange tha back then in 1992, were looking at the last era when truly great artists were appreciated, and it had not been overcome by internet/social media to a saturation point like now.
Who knew that awful Billy Ray Cyrus' kid back then, 20 years later would become the perfect representative symptom of the mediocre disease that personality driven (as opposed to quality driven) "art" is today.
Very depressing.
@oppaloopa3698
This actually made me really sad... came here from her Blondie cover and though I was never a fan I see her in a completely different light. She never got to preform what she wanted. Saying that she makes music for the audience and not for herself, especially when it’s clear where her passion lies, really just broke my heart. She fuckin rocks at rock.
@luuuprs8108
Plastic Hearts out on November 27 (Her rock album) including Heart Of Glass and Zombie cover 🎸 🤘🏼
@z.k.bennett1147
Music is not bound by the age of men/women. Look at the Stones, Led Zeppelin (when you can get them together), and many more....Floyd, of course, takes an act of Congress to get going. But anyway, Miley has a raspy voice fit for many 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s songs in not just a few genres. The band Heart? I’m sorry but her vocals couldn’t ascend to that level, but Mama Cass, Janis Joplin, or Jefferson Airplane: she could handle them! I could see her getting into CSNY, Aerosmith, and The Eagles as a collab. Solo maybe, too!
@fabrizziopulella1624
Thats why she was in black mirror
@dreamarcher4018
Its time for her to break out and do what she wants. I’m sure she would find new followers if she continued with rock. Some people need to grow and evolve.
@flicfan416
that guitarist has been waiting his whole life to play that solo
@hamiltonian42
and doesn't actually do the full solo....
@kaylera1
Hopefully he heard it...cause nobody else did
@mattgreenlee1672
And failed
@NightmansSexyHands
@@hamiltonian42 he did the entire solo 1. Basically note for note Minus the nuances of Dave’s hands and a little tremolo. The kid do just fine.