Hannah Levin's review of the Black Angels album, Passover, described them as "Walking in the shadows cast by Spacemen 3 and Spiritualized mastermind Jason Pierce" and compared them to The Warlocks and Black Mountain, also invoking "dirges" reminiscent of both The Velvet Underground and the 13th Floor Elevators. The band's icon is a stylized image of Nico.
In December 2007, the group announced on their blog that their second album would be released in Spring of 2008. In March 2008 a release date of May 13th was announced for their second album, Directions to See a Ghost. Their third album was "Phosphene Dream" released in 2010. This record is slowly starting to give Black Angels international recognition.
http://www.theblackangels.com/
Comanche Moon
The Black Angels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Been wandering for most of the lies
They've stolen the land we've been roaming
I swear it's the end of the line
We'll fight
We survive
Upside down
All around
Underground
Pale faces of death and destruction
All our sons have died
We trusted with blind ambition
You promised with handshakes and lies
Be the
Moonlight
You'll die
In this strike
Inside out
Upside down
All around
Underground
We're tired of all this bad fortune
Been fighting for all of our lives
We'll reach into your socket
Rip back your scalp as you cry
We'll fight
We survive
Inside out
Upside down
All around
Underground
Be the
Moonlight
Inside out
Upside down
All around
Underground
The Black Angels's song Comanche Moon is a protest against the historical atrocity of colonization committed by white settlers in America. The song opens with the lead singer expressing his weariness of the misfortune that has befallen his people. He talks about his community wandering for most of their lives, ultimately leading to their land being stolen. The singer believes that they have reached the end of the line, and they will fight and survive to take back what is rightfully theirs.
The second verse references the Native American practice of trusting white settlers with blind ambition. The singer accuses the settlers of breaking their promises with handshakes and lies, resulting in death and destruction. The chorus repeats the phrase "inside out, upside down, all around, underground" multiple times, which could mean the turmoil and upheaval of the Native American way of life during colonization. The bridge of the song talks about how tired the Native Americans are with all the bad fortune and fighting in their lives. They are determined to fight back and will not stop until justice is served.
In conclusion, Comanche Moon is a powerful song that highlights the destructive nature of colonization and how it affected Native American communities. The lyrics are poignant and express the singer's passionate desire to fight back and survive against all odds.
Line by Line Meaning
So tired of all this misfortune
The singer is exhausted and frustrated by the constant stream of negative events in their life.
Been wandering for most of the lies
The singer feels like they have been lost for a long time due to the deceit of others.
They've stolen the land we've been roaming
The singer is referencing the historical displacement of Native American tribes and the theft of their land by colonizers.
I swear it's the end of the line
The singer feels like they have reached a breaking point and things cannot go on like they have been.
We'll fight
The singer is expressing their determination to resist against those who have wronged them.
We survive
Despite the struggles they have faced, the singer asserts that they have managed to endure.
Inside out
The singer is describing the disorienting feeling of being turned upside-down in their world.
Upside down
See above
All around
See above
Underground
See above; the singer feels like they are living in a world that is turned on its head and chaotic.
Pale faces of death and destruction
The singer is using metaphorical language to describe the harm that has been inflicted upon their people by colonizers.
All our sons have died
The singer is referencing the loss of life that has occurred as a result of this conflict.
We trusted with blind ambition
The singer feels like their people were too naive and optimistic in their interactions with colonizers, which led to betrayal and broken promises.
You promised with handshakes and lies
The singer is expressing frustration at the dishonesty of those who sought to take what belonged to the Native Americans.
Be the moonlight
This line is more difficult to interpret, but it seems to suggest a desire for the light of truth to shine and expose the wrongdoings of others.
You'll die in this strike
The singer is suggesting that their resistance will ultimately be more powerful than their oppressors, and that the latter will suffer as a result.
We're tired of all this bad fortune
The singer is repeating their frustration with the way things have gone.
Been fighting for all of our lives
The singer is referencing the centuries-long fight for indigenous rights and survival in the face of colonialism and oppression.
We'll reach into your socket
This is a gruesome and violent image, but it seems to suggest a desire to exact revenge on the oppressors.
Rip back your scalp as you cry
See above.
Writer(s): Jacob Garcia, Geary Christian Bland, Alexander Maas, Kyle Hunt, Stephanie Bailey
Contributed by Katherine H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.