Without intent, a groundswell of popularity took place when students, seminarians, and women religious took stenciled mimeographed copies of their new music back to their communities where it became known as music by the "St. Louis Jesuits."
Who Has Known
St. Louis Jesuits Lyrics
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Didn't know it was quite that bad
I
Hadn't noticed the time that had passed
They say they'll have things back to normal before we know
But I
Don't know if I can trust them anymore
And everything we knew was out the window
Remember when they told us it would be like this
Remember when we let it happen
Who could've known that the end of the world
Would be so pitiful
Who could've known that their backs would break
And burst into flame
Who could've known that the end of the world
Would be so boring
Who could've known
Who could've known there'd be so much blood
I am your friend from the land of
Do-as-you-please
Us versus Them and We brought Them
Down to their knees
Well how can you tell when a revolution's really won
Us against Them so what do We do when They're gone
Who could've known that the end of the world
Would be so pitiful
Who could've known that their backs would break
And burst into flame
Who could've known that the end of the world
Would be so boring
Who could've known
Who could've known there'd be so much blood
The St. Louis Jesuits' song, "Who Has Known", seems to be a commentary on the state of the world and the human impact on it. The lyrics speak to a sense of regret over what has been done to the world and a sense of hopelessness as to the possibility of changing things. The opening lines express surprise over the state of things, indicating that the singer didn't understand how bad things had gotten until it was too late. The song goes on to reference a moment when everything changed, perhaps a natural disaster or a global event that showed the fragility of human existence. There is a sense of accountability in the song, as the lyrics speak to the idea that we have brought ourselves to this point.
The chorus repeats the refrain "Who could've known that the end of the world would be so pitiful", indicating that the singer is disappointed with the state of things. This line is particularly interesting, as it is not clear whether the "end of the world" is meant literally or metaphorically. It could be a reference to environmental destruction or societal collapse, but it could also be a commentary on the general state of affairs.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't know it was quite that bad
I was unaware of the severity of the situation
I hadn't noticed the time that had passed
I didn't realize how much time had been lost
They say they'll have things back to normal before we know
They promise to restore normalcy soon, without us even noticing
But I don't know if I can trust them anymore
However, I am unsure if I can believe them anymore
Remember when the sky turned yellow
Recall when the sky changed color to an unusual hue
And everything we knew was out the window
And all our knowledge became irrelevant
Remember when they told us it would be like this
Remember when they warned us of this outcome
Remember when we let it happen
Remember when we didn't prevent it from happening
Who could've known that the end of the world / Would be so pitiful
Who could have predicted that the apocalypse would be so disappointing
Who could've known that their backs would break / And burst into flame
Who could have foreseen that people would suffer so much physical pain
Who could've known that the end of the world / Would be so boring
Who could have imagined that the end of the world would be monotony itself
Who could've known / Who could've known there'd be so much blood
Who could have predicted the amount of bloodshed that occurred
I am your friend from the land of Do-as-you-please
I am your comrade from a place where individual liberty is emphasized
Us versus Them and We brought Them down to their knees
We were in opposition to Them, and We were able to defeat Them
Well how can you tell when a revolution's really won
It's difficult to recognize when a revolution has achieved true success
Us against Them so what do We do when They're gone
Now that our adversaries are vanquished, what should We do?
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Oliver Spencer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ARACELI LOREDO
on Happy Is the Man
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