Of Dust And Nations
Thrice Lyrics


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The towers that shoulder your pride
The words you've written in stone
Sand will cover them, sand will cover you
The streets that suffer your name
Your very flesh and your bones
Sand will cover them, sand will cover you

So put your faith in more than steel
Don't store your treasures up, with moth and rust
Where thieves break in and steal
Pull the fangs from out your heel
We live in but a shadow of the real

Step out from time, see the dust of nations
Step out from time, hear the stars ovation

Saturn will not sleep, until the sand has made us clean
Still we stack our stones and bury what we can




But it all will be undone, and nothing built under the sun
Will ever stand before the endless march of sand

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Thrice's "Of Dust And Nations" carry a deep and reflective message that concerns our mortality and insignificance in the grand scheme of things. The verses speak about the towering structures and monuments that people create to immortalize their accomplishments and legacy, but they are ultimately doomed to be buried in sand, just like our flesh and bones. The message is clear: nothing lasts forever, no matter how high and mighty we think we are.


The song encourages us to put our faith in something more enduring than material possessions and things that can be destroyed, like steel. We should not focus on accumulating wealth and accumulating things that can be destroyed or stolen by thieves, but we should rather live our lives with a sense of purpose and prioritize things that transcend our physical existence. The song encourages us to step out of time and see the bigger picture, to focus on the intangible things that make us human.


In the end, the song conveys the message that we are all just fleeting beings, living and breathing on a planet that will one day cease to exist. It is a profound and thought-provoking message that asks us to see beyond ourselves and embrace the ephemeral nature of things. The song's somber yet empowering melody reinforces this message, and the lyrics remain with the listener long after the song has ended.


Line by Line Meaning

The towers that shoulder your pride
The monumental structures that signify your patriotism and honor


The words you've written in stone
The inscriptions and engravings that you've etched on the stones


Sand will cover them, sand will cover you
Everything on this earth, including you and your possessions, will succumb to the fate of dust and sand.


The streets that suffer your name
The roads and alleys that bear your identity.


Your very flesh and your bones
Your physical being, which will be destroyed by time and nature.


Sand will cover them, sand will cover you
No one can escape the finality of sand and dust, which will shroud everything.


So put your faith in more than steel
Instead of material possessions, place your trust in intangible and eternal things.


Don't store your treasures up, with moth and rust
Do not amass wealth or possessions, which can be corroded and destroyed.


Where thieves break in and steal
The nature of material possessions is transitory, and they can be taken away by force or by theft.


Pull the fangs from out your heel
Free yourself from the things that drag you down and hurt you.


We live in but a shadow of the real
Our perception of reality is limited, and we do not experience the full breadth of existence.


Step out from time, see the dust of nations
Expand your worldview beyond your immediate surroundings and look at the rise and fall of civilizations.


Step out from time, hear the stars ovation
Listen to the cosmic symphony of life and the universe, which transcends the limits of time and space.


Saturn will not sleep, until the sand has made us clean
The cosmic cycles of time and eternity continue, and will erase all trace of human existence.


Still we stack our stones and bury what we can
Human beings continue to build monuments and bury their dead, despite the inevitable erosion of time and nature.


But it all will be undone, and nothing built under the sun
All human endeavors, no matter how grand or significant, will eventually be destroyed and eradicated by the cosmic forces of nature.


Will ever stand before the endless march of sand
Nothing can withstand the relentless and unstoppable force of time and nature, which will eventually reduce everything to dust.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUSTIN MICHAEL KENSRUE, EDWARD CARRINGTON BRECKENRIDGE, JAMES RILEY BRECKENRIDGE, TEPPEI TERANISHI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

WorldWide Music

[Verse 1]
The towers that shoulder your pride
The words you've written in stone
Sand will cover them, sand will cover you

The streets that suffer your name
Your very flesh and your bones
Sand will cover them, sand will cover you

[Chorus]
So put your faith in more than steel
Don't store your treasures up with moth and rust, where thieves break in and steal
Pull the fangs from out your heel
We live in but a shadow of the real

[Verse 2]
Step out from time
See the dust of nations
Step out from time
Hear the stars' ovation

Saturn will not sleep until the sand has made us clean
Still we stack our stones and bury what we can
But it all will be undone, and nothing built under the sun
Will ever stand before the endless march of sand

[Chorus]
So put your faith in more than steel
Don't store your treasures up, with moth and rust where thieves break in and steal
Pull the fangs from out your heel
We live in but a shadow of the real



All comments from YouTube:

zach pierce

I served in Iraq and drove this weird single person mine detector vehicle affectionately, and aptly, named the T-rex. I listened to this album exclusively every time I went out while basically disregarding the radio chatter. I was the lead vehicle in all convoys, spaced out about 500 meters, or 1/3 of a mile, and had to skirt the sides of the road to detect IEDs. I was never blown up, fortunately. Every time I listen to this album I think of that time. And also my fiance, who loves Thrice. Man, what a life.

Kyle Hegedus

zach pierce Thank you for your service.

Julian White

Welcome home

Alexandre Dubé

Im glad you came out fine brother. Merry christmas to you and your wife.

the chris episodes

Glad you made it home safe bud🔥🔥🔥

Jessie Plays Music

🙏🏻

10 More Replies...

Travis Dellee

This is lyrically and musically one of the greatest things ever written.

MrZnel52

This song never gets old. Freaking epic!!

Christopher Fentress

its the best, I've listened to a lot of stuff and what the hell.... this rifff never gets old. as well, as the whale songs

Cristofer Vidz

2020

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