Afraid of the World
The Stanfields Lyrics


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A line was drawn in the sand
By a fool with a big stick and tiny hands
Promised a wall, talked about greatness
And dared to speak for me
I'm not afraid of the world
I'm not afraid of the world
I'm afraid of big money
The cold one percent
Casting me out when I can't pay the rent
Claiming the high ground when everything's spent
But I'm not afraid of the world
I'm not afraid of the world
A line was drawn in the sand
By a fool who claimed to be freedom's last stand
Tore up accords, arrested the neighbours
And dared to speak for me
I'm not afraid of the world
I'm not afraid of the world
I'm afraid of big talkers who act like they know
Sacrifice, struggle and life down below
The dizzying heights of the status quo
But I'm not afraid of the world
I'm not afraid of the world
As midnight approaches
An ominous cry from the wolves on the hill
And the hawks in the sky
Turn plowshare to sword!
Turn letters to lead!
Now enough with the discourse
And bring out your dead!
Sleep in the knowledge
That somebody poorer than you
Is fodder for another useless war
Waged upon children
Smote from afar
By a hellfire volley and a victory cigar.
I'm not afraid of the world
It's afraid of me
I'm not afraid of the world
It's afraid of me
I'm not afraid of the world
It's afraid of me
It's afraid of me




It's afraid of me
It's afraid of me

Overall Meaning

In The Stanfields' song "Afraid of the World," the lyrics describe a world that is divided and full of fear. The line drawn in the sand by a fool with a big stick and tiny hands represents a political leader (presumably Donald Trump) who promised to build a wall and make the country great again. The singer is not afraid of the world itself but expresses fear of the wealthy 1%, who cast him out when he can't pay the rent and claim the high ground when everything's spent. The fear of big talkers who act like they know is also expressed, representing politicians who make empty promises to the masses to secure their votes but fail to deliver.


The midnight approaching represents a time of uncertainty and danger, as the wolves on the hill and hawks in the sky ready themselves for battle. The call to turn plowshare to sword and letters to lead suggests that even the peaceful and intellectual parts of society are joining in the war. The call to bring out the dead implies that these wars are not only violent but also senseless, with many people dying for causes they don't understand. The final lines of the song reveal the singer's resolve: he's not afraid of the world, but rather the world is afraid of him. This suggests an empowerment in the face of fear, as the singer refuses to be intimidated and instead takes a stance of courage and strength.


Line by Line Meaning

A line was drawn in the sand
A boundary was marked


By a fool with a big stick and tiny hands
By someone who has power and authority but lacks wisdom and grace


Promised a wall, talked about greatness
Made false promises and boasted about their own superiority


And dared to speak for me
Assumed they knew what I wanted or needed without consulting me


I'm not afraid of the world
I am not intimidated by the challenges I face


I'm afraid of big money
I am concerned about the influence of wealth and power on society


The cold one percent
The richest and most privileged members of society


Casting me out when I can't pay the rent
Excluding me when I am unable to meet financial obligations


Claiming the high ground when everything's spent
Asserting moral superiority when resources have been depleted


By a fool who claimed to be freedom's last stand
By someone who proclaimed themselves to be the defender of liberty, but didn't act accordingly


Tore up accords, arrested the neighbours
Cancelled agreements and detained fellow citizens without just cause


I'm afraid of big talkers who act like they know
I am wary of those who make grandiose claims, but lack credibility or experience


Sacrifice, struggle and life down below
The hardships and challenges faced by those on the bottom rungs of society


The dizzying heights of the status quo
The positions of power and privilege held by the elite


As midnight approaches
As time runs out or a crisis looms


An ominous cry from the wolves on the hill
A foreboding warning from those who are poised to attack


And the hawks in the sky
And those who are eager to engage in conflict or war


Turn plowshare to sword!
Transform peaceful tools into weapons of war


Turn letters to lead!
Turn the written word into ammunition for violence


Now enough with the discourse
Now is the time for action, not debate


And bring out your dead!
And prepare for the casualties of war


Sleep in the knowledge
Rest assured


That somebody poorer than you
That someone less fortunate or less powerful than you


Is fodder for another useless war
Will be used as cannon fodder in a pointless conflict


Waged upon children
Fought at the expense of innocent and vulnerable young people


Smote from afar
Attacked from a distance, without regard for human suffering


By a hellfire volley and a victory cigar.
Using brutal and devastating methods to achieve a temporary sense of triumph


I'm not afraid of the world
I am confident in my ability to face adversity


It's afraid of me
The world is apprehensive of my courage and resilience


It's afraid of me
The world is intimidated by my determination and strength


It's afraid of me
The world is fearful of my ability to overcome obstacles


It's afraid of me
The world is cowed by my defiance and willpower


It's afraid of me
The world is scared of my refusal to back down or give up




Writer(s): Jonathan Landry, Calen Kinney, Jason Macisaac, Mark Todd Murphy, Dillan Tate

Contributed by Liam G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Sandy Beach

Deeply layered, impactful tune. One that gets better with every listen. And the first time is grand.

lacey Macpherson

Love this. So stoked for the new album ❤️

Adam Christian Sigrist

You guys never disappoint. Would love to see you out in Denver, CO!

The Stanfields

Thanks Adam! That'd be great, hopefully we'll be there at some point. Starting to push ourselves more into the U.S. market starting this summer with some festivals, then hopefully more & more in 2019! :)

Barbara Ojeda

Great song, waiting for the new album😄

The Stanfields

Thanks

ClaudeoRacing

I love this song. Greetings from Argentina!.

The Stanfields

Hi! :)

roy taylor

You guys have your finger on a pulse. For moi, personally, anthem material in the making.

The Stanfields

Thanks!

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