Memories Of Tomorrow
Suicidal Tendencies -- Suicidal Tendencies Lyrics
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Trident missiles in the air
MX missiles underground
Protect us till we're dead
[Chorus]
Memories of tomorrow-too late for sorrow
Kiss goodbye the nuclear arsenal
A-bombs flying off their ramps
Nuclear bombs explode
[Chorus]
Radioactive people
Search for medicine
Pray for shelter
Kill for food
[Chorus]
Mass starvation
Contaminated water
Destroyed cities
Mutilated bodies
[Chorus]
I'll kill myself
I'd rather die
If you could see in the future
You'd know why
Memories of tomorrow
is a song by Suicidal Tendencies that delves into the realities of a post-apocalyptic world, which has been devastated by nuclear war. The lyrics paint a very bleak and hopeless picture of a world destroyed by the very weapons that were meant to protect us. The opening lines describe the different forms of military defense used to protect the country, such as B-1 bombers in the air that could be used to drop bombs, Trident missiles in the air that could be used for shorter-range strikes, and MX missiles underground that were meant to act as a counter to any potential attack. However, the lyrics state that all these weapons could only 'protect us till we're dead,' which suggests that in the end, they would have been of no use.
The chorus repeats the phrase 'Memories of tomorrow-too late for sorrow' which suggests that it is too late to feel any sorrow or regret for the actions that led to the destruction of the world. The lyrics are then followed by the description of the push of a button, which brings us to the moment where the world is annihilated by nuclear weapons. Radioactive people who are searching for medicine, praying for shelter, and killing for food are then mentioned, which illustrates the terrible consequences that a nuclear war would bring. The consequences of nuclear war are further described in the song, such as mass starvation, contaminated water, destroyed cities, and mutilated bodies.
The final lines of the song, which say, "I'll kill myself, I'd rather die, if you could see in the future you'd know why," suggest that living in a world where nuclear war is a possibility is not something that anyone would want. All in all, the lyrics of this song are a warning to us all about the dangers of nuclear war, and urge us to do everything in our power to prevent such a catastrophe from happening.
Line by Line Meaning
B-1 bombers in flight
The Air Force bombers are in motion, ready to strike.
Trident missiles in the air
The Navy's missiles are deployed and airborne.
MX missiles underground
The Army's nuclear missiles are hiding below ground, waiting for orders to launch.
Protect us till we're dead
All these weapons are supposed to protect us but it's a matter of time before we are all gone.
[Chorus] Memories of tomorrow-too late for sorrow
The chorus is a warning that we are soon going to face the consequences of our actions in the future and there is no going back.
Push the button
The button to initiate a nuclear war has been pushed and the countdown has begun.
Kiss goodbye the nuclear arsenal
As the missiles are launched, there is no going back - we must say goodbye to life on earth as we know it.
A-bombs flying off their ramps
The bombs are being launched and there is no stopping them now.
Nuclear bombs explode
The devastation of nuclear war is unleashed with massive explosions.
[Chorus] Memories of tomorrow-too late for sorrow
The chorus again reminds us that we cannot undo the apocalyptic events of the future that we are about to experience.
Radioactive people
Those who survive the initial blast will face the deadly effects of radiation poisoning.
Search for medicine
Survivors must scavenge for any kind of medicine to alleviate the pain.
Pray for shelter
Those who are still alive will need shelter from the fallout, but it might be too late already.
Kill for food
As food and water become scarce, survivors must fight for resources to stay alive.
[Chorus] Memories of tomorrow-too late for sorrow
The chorus again emphasizes the regret that we will feel in the future when nothing can be done anymore.
Mass starvation
With most of the farmland destroyed, starving is an unfortunate fate of many survivors.
Contaminated water
The radioactive waters will bring tragedy and suffering to those who drink them.
Destroyed cities
Cities are reduced to rubble, their infrastructure destroyed beyond repair.
Mutilated bodies
The aftermath of war is graphic and gruesome - mutilated bodies are everywhere.
[Chorus] Memories of tomorrow-too late for sorrow
Once more, the chorus punctuates the fact that there will be no hope, no relief, and no way to undo the tragedy of the future.
I'll kill myself
The artist is so horrified of what is to come, that death is preferable to trying to outlast the impending apocalypse.
I'd rather die
If an option, they'd choose death over the nightmare that awaits them.
If you could see in the future
A hypothetical situation regarding whether or not anyone could see into the future.
You'd know why
The reason why is spelled out clearly in the lyrics - the disaster wrought by nuclear war is too great for words.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MIKE MUIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind