The Metropolis
The Vision Bleak Lyrics

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A monument of insane thoughts,
Clad in iron hellfire.
The massive towers of Babylon,
Leading way up to the sky

And deep below, the underground-
The odem of a soulless world.
The giant clockwork that swallows all,

Ticks all life away

That's Metropolis
A thousand men of broken hope,
Slaves to the devil's machine.
Kept alive, by iron lounges,
Down in Metropolis city.

The massive towers of Babylon,
Leading way up to the sky.
And deep below, the underground-
The odem of a soulless world.

That's Metropolis

Overall Meaning

The Vision Bleak's song "The Metropolis" depicts a dreary future cityscape that is characterized by its towering, industrial architecture and its soullessness. The song opens with a haunting image of a "monument of insane thoughts, clad in iron hellfire," which suggests that the city is a product of a warped societal mindset. The towers of Babylon loom overhead, representing the hubris of mankind's attempt to reach the heavens. Meanwhile, deep underground, the city's machinery churns and ticks away mercilessly, devouring life and soul.

The lyrics paint a picture of a society that has sacrificed everything for the pursuit of industry and technology. The people are enslaved to the "devil's machine," kept alive only by "iron lounges" that sustain their bodies but not their spirits. The Metropolis is a city that has lost touch with nature and has become a soulless, mechanical entity that grinds on relentlessly.

Overall, the song seems to be a warning against the dangers of unchecked development and the loss of touch with the human spirit. The Metropolis is a cautionary tale about what can happen when we become too focused on material progress and lose sight of what truly matters.

Line by Line Meaning

A monument of insane thoughts,
A representation of irrational ideas that rule over this place.

Clad in iron hellfire.
Protected by metal fire that symbolizes the intensity of the environment.

The massive towers of Babylon,
The great buildings that resemble the ancient and powerful city of Babylon.

Leading way up to the sky
Extending upwards, seemingly towards infinity.

And deep below, the underground-
Beneath the surface lay the hidden secrets of this place.

The odem of a soulless world.
The smell of a place where life is absent.

The giant clockwork that swallows all,
The gigantic machinery that consumes everything in its path.

Ticks all life away
Slowly but steadily erasing life from existence.

That's Metropolis
This is what's known as Metropolis.

A thousand men of broken hope,
A countless number of individuals who have lost all faith.

Slaves to the devil's machine.
Enslaved to the mechanical monstrosity that runs their lives.

Kept alive, by iron lounges,
Sustained by the metallic apparatuses that keep them alive, but are inhuman in nature.

Down in Metropolis city.
In the depths of the Metropolis lies a city of darkness.

That's Metropolis
Once again, it is called Metropolis.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDWARD ALAN CLARKE, IAN FRASER KILMINSTER, PHILIP JOHN TAYLOR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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