Battle Scars
The Chemical Brothers Lyrics

There's no path to follow
Life has no predetermined direction or set of instructions.

There's no path to follow
Life has no predetermined direction or set of instructions.

There's a line in the sand
A boundary has been set, most likely by those in power.

Put there by a man
The boundary was established by someone with authority and influence.

By a man whose children
This person has descendants who will benefit from the boundary, regardless of its ethical implications.

Will build castles made of stone
This person's lineage will prosper while others suffer due to the artificial boundary.

There's a man in the sky
The concept of a higher power is being referenced.

Giving reasons why
The deity is being used to justify the boundary and the suffering it causes.

That line grows deeper
The boundary is becoming more entrenched over time, causing greater division and strife.

Like these shackles round our bones
The boundary is constricting and oppressive, limiting individual freedom in a way that is reminiscent of physical restraints.

Move on to my own
The singer is ready to pursue their own path, separate from the restrictions imposed by the boundary.

Here come battle scars
The journey to independence will be difficult and come with its own set of wounds.

It's the final charge
The singer is making a final push to break free.

Here come battle scars
The singer is acknowledging that they will not emerge from this struggle unscathed.

There's a child born
A new generation is entering the world.

To the land of scorn
This child is arriving in a place that is hostile and unwelcoming.

Sees past the borders
The child has a global perspective and sees the artificiality of the boundary.

And the lords that hold his hand
Those in power are responsible for indoctrinating the child into their system and way of thinking.

He was led like a lamb
The child was led to follow blindly, without questioning the morality of the boundary or the motives of those in power.

All part of the plan
The child was deliberately conditioned to accept the status quo.

This castle crumbles
The established order is beginning to disintegrate.

As he walks out of this land
The child is rejecting the boundary and seeking a life free from constraint.

This is what we own
This is the legacy that has been handed down by previous generations.

Here come battle scars
The struggle for autonomy will have painful consequences.

This is where we are
The boundary is currently the reality in which we exist.

Here come battle scars
The singer is again acknowledging that the quest for independence will come at a cost.

Living for the reasons
Humans continue to follow traditions and cultural edicts even after those who created them have died.

Of the dead that moved to
The previous generation has passed on, but their beliefs and values continue to shape society.

Paper from their heads
Ideas and doctrines are often transmitted through written materials and other symbolic representations.

Until my fingers
These teachings are so ingrained in society that the singer feels their influence in every aspect of their life.

And my deadly view is
The boundary and its policies are causing great harm and suffering.

Strangled by the rent
The cost of living within the boundary is exacting a heavy toll.

I have no purpose in this land
The artist feels alienated and disconnected from the prevailing cultural norms and expectations.

Have I forgotten how to stand up
The artist wonders if they have become too conditioned to the boundary and its impact.

With the humor and the need
The singer wishes to reclaim their individuality and sense of humor, motivation, and desire in contravention of the impact of the boundary.

I've got to find a way to be
The artist is determined to chart their own course, one consistent with their personal beliefs and goals.

I just turn up the stereo
The singer uses music as a way to escape the boundaries and their impact on everyday life.

I can't survive without the cold
The singer finds respite from the boundary by physically leaving it or otherwise challenging the established norms.

This culture's fallen off its feet
Society is in disarray and struggling to maintain its footing.

I've got to find a brand new beat
The artist wishes to find a new approach or attitude towards life, one free of the impact of the boundary.

There's a road ahead
The journey towards liberation will be long and arduous.

'Tween the live and dead
This path represents the dichotomy between what is and what could be.

Church bells are ringing
The religious establishment is invoked as a symbol of the current state of affairs.

Like the panic in my head
The artist feels a sense of fear and dread as they embark down this path of self-discovery and autonomy.

Step, step, one by one
The artist is determined to progress even if it is one small step at a time.

Walk into the setting sun
The path towards freedom may be difficult and lonely, but it is necessary to pursue.

Water's rising, rising fast
The singer is aware of the dangers that lie ahead and the urgency to act.

History catching up at last
The long-standing impact of the boundary and its history are coming to the forefront and must be dealt with.

Danger ahead, death behind
The journey towards personal freedom is fraught with danger and the potential for loss.

No one to follow but old man time
The singer must rely on time and patience to reach their destination since there is no one to guide them.

Time, time, take us back
The singer seeks to undo the damage caused by the boundary and its impact.

Before the line was drawn
The artist wishes to return to what life was like before the imposition of the boundary and its policies.

Before the sky turned black, black, black
The artist yearns for a life of liberation, free from the constraints of the boundary that now looms like a shadow over every aspect of their existence.