Formed in 2006 over pints of cheap beer at East Vancouver’s notoriously violent Ivanhoe Hotel, The Dreadnoughts cut their teeth in the roughest dive bars in the city. They started by opening for (and earning the praise of) celtic-punk grandfathers The Real McKenzies, and since then have never looked back. Hauling a fiddle, an accordion, a mandolin, a tin whistle, guitars and drums into every venue that would have them, they quickly became known for their powerful, chaotic live performances. In three short years they have slowly but surely joined the ranks of Canada’s punk rock heroes.
Elizabeth
The Dreadnoughts Lyrics
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... Sir
I am a walking soldier
The night is growing colder
And I am on me way back home.
Where the fields are green
And its not for hating
Her wicked smile is waiting
Because an angel told me so.
Elizabeth for ever
Elizabeth for ever
In the Belgian streets
It was an endless riot
And you would not deny it
To see our brothers lay so low.
How the blood ran thick
Through the ancient forest
For the ones who came before us
And its always been the fucking same
The bullets whistle our her name.
Elizabeth for ever
Elizabeth for ever
And I would walk
Across a thousand miles
To see her wicked smile
Amid the finest gold and blue.
And so I say farewell
To the endless thunder
Now we shall not slumber
Until the lowly hands do rest
And the words burned into my chest.
Elizabeth for ever
Elizabeth for ever
The Dreadnoughts's song Elizabeth is a passionate and stirring tribute to an unknown woman named Elizabeth who appears to be a beacon of light and hope to the singer in the midst of war and chaos. The song begins with the singer proclaiming that he is a walking soldier who is on his way back home where the fields are green and the atmosphere is not filled with hate. He mentions that Elizabeth's "wicked smile" is waiting for him, as an angel has told him so. He repeats the phrase "Elizabeth forever" several times, suggesting that she is a source of inspiration and strength to him.
The second verse paints a picture of the terrible violence and bloodshed that the singer has witnessed in the Belgian streets. He states that their brothers lay low, and the blood ran thick. Despite this, he notes that it has always been the same - the bullets whistle out her name. Again, the words "Elizabeth forever" are repeated as a kind of rallying cry. Finally, the song ends with the singer claiming that he would walk a thousand miles just to see Elizabeth's wicked smile, and wishing that the lowly hands would rest so that they could all be at peace.
Overall, the song is a haunting exploration of the impact that war has upon people, and how they can find comfort and hope in the midst of chaos through acts of love and kindness.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's go
The song is beginning and setting the stage for the lyrics to come.
...Sir
An unknown person is being addressed with respect, indicating a formal situation.
I am a walking soldier
The singer is identifying himself as a soldier, likely returning from war.
The night is growing colder
The weather is changing and becoming colder, emphasizing the harsh return home.
And I am on me way back home.
The soldier is on his way back to his home country, after a long time away.
Where the fields are green
The singer is heading towards a place where nature is abundant and thriving, perhaps indicating that he has missed nature while he was away.
And its not for hating
The green fields are not for causing hatred, indicating a peaceful place.
Her wicked smile is waiting
The soldier is excited to see someone when he gets home, who is described as having a wicked smile.
Waiting for me this I know
The soldier is confident that the person is waiting for him.
Because an angel told me so.
The soldier believes that an angel has told him that he will be reunited with the person he is describing.
Elizabeth for ever
The person the soldier is describing is named Elizabeth, and he declares his love for her.
In the Belgian streets
The singer is describing a place he has been, likely during a war.
It was an endless riot
The place he was in was a chaotic and dangerous environment.
And you would not deny it
The singer challenges anyone who disagrees with his perspective of the situation.
To see our brothers lay so low.
The singer is disturbed by the number of casualties he has seen in this place, referring to those men as brothers.
How the blood ran thick
The amount of blood the singer has seen is overwhelming, potentially referencing the brutality of the conflict.
Through the ancient forest
The singer has traveled through a forest that has probably been there for a long time, demonstrating how long wars and conflicts have been occurring in different parts of the world.
For the ones who came before us
The conflict is not new, and has been fought by people who came before the current solider.
And its always been the fucking same
Despite this being a recurring issue, limited progress seems to have been made in addressing and ending wars around the world.
The bullets whistle our her name.
The singer is distracted by thoughts of Elizabeth, perhaps trying to find some solace in these trying times.
And I would walk
The singer is now expressing the difficulties he is willing to go through to return to Elizabeth.
Across a thousand miles
The distance is great, but the singer is willing to make the journey.
To see her wicked smile
Despite describing Elizabeth's smile as wicked earlier, the singer still finds it alluring and something that he looks forward to seeing again.
Amid the finest gold and blue.
The singer imagines a place of luxury where Elizabeth resides, and he is determined to arrive there.
And so I say farewell
The singer is saying goodbye, perhaps to someone else he met during his travels.
To the endless thunder
The singer is likely referring to the sounds of war, that he is now leaving behind.
Now we shall not slumber
The singer and others are determined to keep fighting and working towards peace.
Until the lowly hands do rest
The singer is likely referring to political leaders who he perceives as not doing enough to end conflicts around the world.
And the words burned into my chest.
The singer is clearly very passionate about his experiences and perspective on war, and that imagery relates to his feelings burning within him.
Elizabeth for ever
The song ends with the singer once again declaring his love for Elizabeth as he faces the uncertain future of his and the world's safety.
Elizabeth for ever
A repetition of the chorus to bring the song full circle and reiterate the singer's love for Elizabeth.
Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.