Their music has been described as "blurring the distinction between rock, classical, electronic and experimental" and as "strikingly modern yet simultaneously timeless."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/These_New_Puritans
http://thesenewpuritans.com
We Want War
These New Puritans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the leaves on the floor must be five metres deep
the paths are a labyrinth or even a trap
some tides don't turn some things never come back.
Secret recordings were made in the marsh
I bore a hole in the tree just to see
Knights dance in molecules, here's Gallahad
Shadows dance back up, it's happening again
If you listen carefully you might hear them whisper:
"We hold all the secrets, we hold all the words; but they're scrambled and broken so you'll never know"
(And that the Thames flows beneath the grass?)
Can't you see them floating like black ash?
Can't you feel them crawling down your back?
Can't you feel them breathing down your neck?
Sea breeze, sea breeze.
The lyrics of These New Puritans' We Want War might seem cryptic at first, but taking a closer look shows an intricate narrative hidden behind them. The song begins by describing a forest that has been growing for many years, with leaves piled up to five meters deep, and paths that might be a labyrinth or a trap. The imagery here can be construed as a metaphor for a society that has been growing and accumulating knowledge, traditions, and power over time, but has also become complicated and convoluted in its ways. The lines "some tides don't turn some things never come back" could hint at the fact that some events in history, even if forgotten or overlooked, continue to shape the future.
The narrative then takes a mysterious turn as it talks about "secret recordings" made in the marshes and a hole bored in a tree to see something. The mention of Gallahad, a legendary figure in Arthurian legend, hints at something larger and more profound than just a normal exploration. The lines "They're rising back up, they're rising back up" convey a sense of something ancient and powerful stirring up, maybe a mythical force that has been long forgotten or dismissed.
The third stanza brings the narrative back to the present with the metaphor of "shadows dancing back up." The whispers that follow invite the listener to join a secret society that holds all the secrets and words, but they are scrambled and broken, so they can never be fully understood. The mention of the Thames flowing beneath the grass adds a layer of intrigue to the story, hinting at the presence of something hidden but significant. The final lines of "sea breeze, sea breeze" could signify a change, a shifting of something fundamental, or the entrance to a new realm of understanding.
Overall, the lyrics of We Want War portray a sense of something ancient, mysterious, and powerful lying beneath the surface of our contemporary society. The song evokes a sense of foreboding, the feeling that something significant is about to happen or has already begun to stir in the shadows.
Line by Line Meaning
Some of these trees have been growing for years
There are old, established features in this place
the leaves on the floor must be five metres deep
The location is abundant with dense foliage
the paths are a labyrinth or even a trap
Navigating through the area can be intricate and tricky
some tides don't turn some things never come back.
Some events are irreversible and there is a sense of finality
Secret recordings were made in the marsh
Undisclosed audio or information was captured in a swampy area
I bore a hole in the tree just to see
I physically breached the tree to investigate what was inside
Knights dance in molecules, here's Gallahad
The idea of knights dancing inside tiny particles is highlighted, with a nod to the legendary figure of Gallahad
They're rising back up, they're rising back up.
Something is regaining strength or returning from obscurity
Shadows dance back up, it's happening again
The reappearance of shadows represents the return of a recurring occurrence
If you listen carefully you might hear them whisper:
There are secretive whispers that require attentive listening
"We hold all the secrets, we hold all the words; but they're scrambled and broken so you'll never know"
The secrets and information are held and inaccessible due to a jumbled and damaged state
(And that the Thames flows beneath the grass?)
(Is it true that the river Thames runs below the surface of the grass?)
Can't you see them floating like black ash?
There are ominous, ash-like entities floating around
Can't you feel them crawling down your back?
There is a sensation of creepy-crawly movement on your back
Can't you feel them breathing down your neck?
There is an eerie presence that feels like it's breathing on your neck
Sea breeze, sea breeze.
This last line comes across as a contrasting moment of calmness amidst the unsettling imagery and sensations that have been described so far. It could represent a refreshing or hopeful moment of relief from the ominous atmosphere.
Contributed by Alexis F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.