They Shall Not Pass
The Ex Lyrics
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We don't like guns against our head
We want no servants underfoot
And no bosses overhead
So take the course of left and back it,
At the crooked system, whack it
There's a cause to get excited
Whatever is wrong let's right it
We reds are the color of blood
Our only crime is wanting to be free
The enemy's the color of puss
The fascists in front of you & me
The hordes of puss in front of us
While you & me, of course we're free
But can't you hear their contempuous laugh
They want us free as air... to starve
Clenched our fist, set our hearts -- Even with our backs against the wall
We give our word: they shall not pass -- There are things that have to be said
Combat the violence that's on the increase -- Freedom calls, now or never
Better live on your feet than die on your knees -- There is no going back
Even with our backs against the wall -- Clenched our fist, set our hearts
There are things that have to be said -- We give our word: they shall not pass
Freedom calls, now or never -- Combat the violence that's on the increase
There is no going back -- Better live on your feet than die on your knees
Even with our backs against the wall
There are things that have to be said
Freedom calls, now or never
There is no going back
Clenched our fist, set our hearts
We give our word: they shall not pass
Combat the violence that's on the increase
Better live on your feet than die on your knees
Don't die on your knees
Live on your feet
Don't die on your knees
Live on your feet
Don't die on your knees
Live on your feet
For no one is a slave
For no one is a slave
For no one is a slave
For no one is a slave
"They Shall Not Pass" by The Ex is a forceful and inspiring song about the fight for freedom and justice. The lyrics express the desire for a society without oppression, where people can live free from the threat of violence and coercion. The song condemns the use of guns and the idea of servitude, promoting instead the spirit of solidarity and resistance against injustice. The line "We reds are the color of blood" references the communist ideology of The Ex and their commitment to the struggle for human liberation.
The recurring motif of "Even with our backs against the wall" implies that there is much at stake in the fight against fascism and oppression, but that the commitment to freedom and justice is unyielding. The phrase "they shall not pass" is a slogan used by anti-fascist activists during the Spanish Civil War and is a call to defend against the encroachment of fascist ideologies. The song suggests that the struggle is ongoing and that it requires a steadfast commitment to resistance and solidarity.
Overall, "They Shall Not Pass" is a powerful anthem of defiance and resistance that speaks to the ongoing struggle for human liberation around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Just because we are human
Just because we are human beings
We don't like guns against our head
We do not want guns pointed at our heads
We want no servants underfoot
We do not want any people below us
And no bosses overhead
We do not want anyone above us
So take the course of left and back it,
Choose the left side and support it
At the crooked system, whack it
Fight against the corrupt system
There's a cause to get excited
There is a reason to be enthusiastic
Whatever is wrong let's right it
Let's correct anything that is incorrect
We reds are the color of blood
We, who are called 'reds', represent the color of blood
Our only crime is wanting to be free
Our only offense is desiring freedom
The enemy's the color of puss
The enemy, who are fascists, are the color of pus
The fascists in front of you & me
The fascists are across from us
The hordes of puss in front of us
The masses of fascists are in front of us
While you & me, of course we're free
We, of course, are free
But can't you hear their contempuous laugh
Can't you hear them laughing with contempt?
They want us free as air... to starve
They want us to be free like air, but still let us starve
Clenched our fist, set our hearts -- Even with our backs against the wall
We are determined and resolute, even when we are cornered
We give our word: they shall not pass -- There are things that have to be said
We promise that we will not be defeated - there are important things that need to be addressed
Combat the violence that's on the increase -- Freedom calls, now or never
We must fight against the increasing violence - we must seize our freedom now, or we may never get it
Better live on your feet than die on your knees -- There is no going back
We should choose to live as free people, even if it means we may die in the process - we cannot retreat
Don't die on your knees
Do not die as a slave or a submissive person
Live on your feet
Live as a free person
For no one is a slave
Nobody is meant to be a slave
Contributed by Alyssa V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.