Isaac
SubRosa Lyrics


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Heґs a long way from home
And the shots cut him him down
I saw it in a dream I had last night

I saw the shots cut him down
And smoke all around
And his broken body lying in the sand
Though I know that my son died for a new day
And for all the millions that would pass this way
If God himself should knock on my door
I'd turn him away, say I ain't got no more to give

Well, the prince keeps us down
Steals our money for his crown
And the lies he tells us never go away

In the darkest night
We had to stand up and fight
It was that or die forever on our knees

The day he left for war,




Silhouetted against the door,
I had to look away and hide my face for shame.

Overall Meaning

The song "Isaac" by SubRosa is a hauntingly beautiful and poignant tribute to the sacrifices of soldiers who die fighting for a better future. The opening lines, "He's a long way from home and the shots cut him down," depict the brutal reality of a soldier's life as he becomes a victim of war. The singer then speaks about having seen this scene in a dream, where she can vividly imagine the shots ringing out and the smoke enveloping his broken body lying in the sand. She mourns the loss of her son in a war, but also recognizes that he died for a noble cause, for a new day to dawn for the millions that would come after.


The next verse brings in religious imagery, where the singer says that even if God were to come knocking on her door, she would turn him away, for she has already given everything she had. This speaks to the deep sorrow and frustration that comes with losing someone to war, and how it can take away all faith and trust in a supposedly benevolent entity.


The following verse talks about the prince who keeps them down, steals their money for his crown, and tells them lies that never go away. The prince is a metaphor for those in power, who exploit the common people and use deceit to control them. The final verse shows the singer having to deal with the reality of sending her son off to war, and how that weighs on her conscience. Altogether, "Isaac" is a moving tribute to the toll that war takes on people and families, and how it can change the course of a person's life forever.


Line by Line Meaning

Heґs a long way from home
Isaac is very far away from his home


And the shots cut him him down
Isaac was shot and killed


I saw it in a dream I had last night
The singer had a dream indicating that Isaac died


I saw the shots cut him down
The artist had a vision of Isaac being murdered


And smoke all around
There was smoke or fog in the vision, possibly from the gunfire


And his broken body lying in the sand
In the vision, the singer saw Isaac's body lying in sand, probably on a beach


Though I know that my son died for a new day
The singer believes that Isaac died for a cause, to bring about change


And for all the millions that would pass this way
Isaac died for future generations to have better lives


If God himself should knock on my door
Even if God came to the artist, they would not be able to offer anything more


I'd turn him away, say I ain't got no more to give
The artist has given everything they have, including their child, and cannot offer anything more


Well, the prince keeps us down
The ruler or leader of the land oppresses the common people


Steals our money for his crown
The leader takes money from the people for their own selfish desires


And the lies he tells us never go away
The leader deceitfully tells lies and they continue to be told


In the darkest night
In the most difficult and desperate times


We had to stand up and fight
The people had to take action and fight against their oppressor


It was that or die forever on our knees
If the people did not fight, they would continue to be oppressed and suffer indefinitely


The day he left for war,
The day Isaac went off to fight in a war


Silhouetted against the door,
Isaac's form could be seen distinctly against the door when he was leaving


I had to look away and hide my face for shame.
The singer feels ashamed that they could not stop Isaac from leaving or dying in war




Contributed by Xavier K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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