Empire
Sin้ad O'Connor Lyrics


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A duet with benjamin zephaniah
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're feed on the life of a pure heart
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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sinéad O'Connor's song "Empire," a duet with Benjamin Zephaniah, are a scathing critique of England, likened to a vampire that feeds on the life of pure-hearted individuals and goodness itself. Through evocative imagery and repetition, O'Connor and Zephaniah emphasize the need for self-reflection and self-knowledge in the face of a corrupt and oppressive empire. The song opens with O'Connor declaring, "I'm looking at your soul, your future, as I look into your eyes," suggesting that England's past and present misdeeds have left a lasting impact on its people and society as a whole.


Throughout the song, O'Connor highlights the ways in which England has failed its citizens and perpetuated harm on a global scale. She references England's law books ("I'm looking at your lawbooks and they were never read") and love affairs ("I'm looking at your lovesquire and they can not be thread"), suggesting that its governing structures are corrupt and its values are broken. The repeated refrain of "Vampire, you're feed on the life of a pure heart / Vampire, you suck the life of goodness" underscores the idea that England is a parasitic force that preys on those who seek to create positive change and uphold moral values.


Ultimately, the song calls on listeners to reject the damaging influence of England and find a path towards self-knowledge and personal growth. The line "You've got to know yourself" is repeated throughout the song, serving as a clarion call for individuals to look inward and reject the oppressive forces that seek to control and harm them.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm looking at your soul, your soul, your soul, your soul
I'm examining the essence of who you truly are, the core of your being, the innermost part of your soul.


I'm looking at your future, your future, future, future
I'm envisioning the path that you will take in life, the choices that you will make, and the consequences that will follow.


As I look into your eyes, these eyes, these eyes, these eyes
As I gaze deeply into your eyes, I am searching for truth, honesty, and sincerity. I am looking for a reflection of your soul.


I see another side, side, side, side
I perceive a hidden aspect of your character, a side that you may try to conceal. I am trying to uncover this other side and understand it.


Vampire, you're feed on the life of a pure heart
You are a predator who thrives on the innocence and purity of others, draining them of their life force and leaving them weakened and vulnerable.


Vampire you suck the life of goodness
You consume the goodness that others possess, leaving them devoid of it and increasing the amount of evil in the world.


Turn the lights on
Illuminate the truth, expose what is hidden, and reveal what is concealed.


Let the lights shine bright
Allow the truth to be seen and the darkness to be dispelled.


You've got to feel yourself and let go
You must be in touch with your innermost self, experiencing every emotion and sensation. Then, release any negativity or pain that may be holding you back and preventing your growth.


You got to know you reap what you sown
Your actions have consequences, which will affect you in the future. You will receive what you have put out into the world.


Check the writings on the wall
Observe the signs and messages that are present in your life, indicating what is to come.


And look into the sight
Examine the world around you with an open mind and an objective perspective, observing everything deeply and seeing it for what it truly is.


You're spending all your money on gear that never work
You are wasting your resources and time on things that will not bring you true happiness or fulfillment.


You're wasting all your energy and everywhere it hurts
You are expending your efforts in areas that are not beneficial to you, causing you pain and suffering.


God it really hurts
You are experiencing intense pain and sorrow, and it is difficult to overcome.


Yes it really hurts
The pain that you are experiencing is genuine and significant, and it cannot be ignored.


Vampire, you're feed on the life of a pure heart
You are a parasite who feeds on the purity and goodness of others, benefiting from their virtues but contributing nothing to the world in return.


From now on I'll call you england
I am naming you after a powerful and wealthy empire that rose and fell, symbolizing the transience and impermanence of all entities and the relative nature of power.


See if you spit in the sky
If you act recklessly or foolishly, you will suffer the consequences.


It will fall in your eye
You will be directly affected by the negative outcomes of your actions.


You see what goes up must come down
All things in life are cyclical, with highs and lows, ups and downs, and nothing stays the same forever.


You will die looking up if you're not looking in
If you do not turn your gaze inward to understand your true self, you will never find true fulfillment or meaning in life, and will leave the world empty-handed.


I'm looking at your partners and they would never agree
Your allies and supporters do not fully understand or approve of your actions and motives, and may even turn on you in the future.


I'm looking for your justice and it can not be seen
You do not value justice, morality, or fairness, and instead pursue your own interests at the expense of others.


I'm checking where you're coming from and where you're going to
I am examining your past and your future, seeking to understand your motivations, goals, and aspirations, and how they relate to your current actions.


I'm checking all off what you have done to see what you can do
I am conducting a thorough analysis of your past behaviors and actions, in order to ascertain what you are capable of in the future.


I'm looking at your lawbooks and they were never read
You do not value the laws, regulations, or institutions of society, and disregard them as irrelevant to your self-interest.


I'm looking at your lovesquire and they can not be thread
Your romantic relationships are shallow and superficial, lacking genuine emotional connection or trust.


I'm looking at your empire living on the drears
You have established a powerful and wealthy empire, but it is built on the misery, suffering, and exploitation of others, rather than on genuine virtue, altruism, or compassion.


Empire fall man, empire go
All powerful empires eventually decline and fall, due to their inherent weaknesses and flaws, and no empire is immune to this fate.


There's a lesson to be learned
There is wisdom to be gained from examining the rise and fall of empires, in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.


And the rich that you eat is more like food that you fear
The resources and power that you have acquired are not satisfying or fulfilling to you, but instead make you paranoid and anxious about losing them.


Gotta see no love anyway you appear
You are incapable of experiencing or showing genuine love, empathy, or compassion, and this affects all aspects of your life and interactions with others.


You've got to know yourself
You must engage in introspection and self-reflection, in order to understand your own motives, desires, and temperament, and to avoid self-deception or delusion.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: B. ZEPHANIAH, SINEAD O'CONNOR, T. SIMENON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@rzasian

Not many people can conquer Russia in the winter. But Genghis Khan.

@user-lq7uf4dz6v

rzasian actually its Chingis Haan haan meaning king and Chingis being his give name when he became king

@sandman8115

To be fair, it wasn't Chingis Khan but his grandson Batu with help of one of Chinggis's most capable commander, Subutai.

@idndyzgaming

Mongols are the exception.

@cottoncandy9858

He had dothraki

@bruno-el2jd

except for... wait for it... the mongols.

243 More Replies...

@savsingh2759

Caesar: "I came, I saw, I conquered."
Khan: "I conquered, I saw, I came."

@zyroglowz1229

doesnt make sense

@savsingh2759

@@zyroglowz1229 think of Genghis' kids

@NgJackal1990

Is this about women?

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