Under A Killing Moon
Thrice Lyrics
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Carves craters from my eyes
They said,"Breathe deeply son
Or be the next to die"
Beneath the falling night
And heaven's shutting gate
Pray keep your tongue held tight
The blood on our black gloves
It is none of your concern
If you want to call our bluff
"Get in line and wait your turn
And watch the witches burn"
Don't flinch when innocents
Are dancing with the flame
If they wanted to live
They'd learn to play the game
You can still walk away
If you just hold your tongue
If you'd just walk away
You'd live to seen the sun
Under this killing moon
Under this burning sky
The fire's shining groom
I hold my breath and close my eyes
The blood on our black gloves
It is none of your concern
If you want to call our bluff
Get in line and wait your turn
And watch the witches burn
We'll watch the witches burn
Thrice's song Under A Killing Moon is a haunting and thought-provoking piece that speaks to the consequences of conformity, and the power of remaining silent in the face of oppression. The opening lines describe the suffocating feeling of being alive in a world that feels like it is closing in, where even the air we breathe can cause us harm. The singer is warned by an unknown entity to "Breathe deeply son, Or be the next to die," implying that there is danger lurking around every corner, and that the best way to survive is to remain vigilant and stoic.
Throughout the song, the singer is advised to remain silent and subservient to those in power, or else risk being persecuted and burned as a witch. The blood on their "black gloves" is a symbol of the corruption and brutality that comes with maintaining control over others, and the chorus is a chilling reminder that those in power are not concerned with the well-being of the innocent people caught in the crossfire. The singer is torn between the desire to fight back against this oppressive regime, and the fear of retribution should they speak up. In the end, they choose to hold their breath and remain silent, resigned to the fact that they are powerless in the face of this intangible force that seeks to destroy them.
Overall, Thrice's Under A Killing Moon is a cautionary tale about the dangers of conformity and blindly following those in power, and the importance of speaking out against injustice, even when it may cost us dearly.
Line by Line Meaning
The air my lungs first loved
The air that I first inhaled when I was born
Carves craters from my eyes
The pain and suffering have left an emotional impact on me
They said,"Breathe deeply son Or be the next to die"
Someone warned or threatened me to inhale deeply, or I would face death
Beneath the falling night And heaven's shutting gate
During the dark and end of the day
Pray keep your tongue held tight Or suffer the same fate
Keep quiet or else face the same repercussions as others
The blood on our black gloves It is none of your concern
The blood on our gloves is not something you should worry about
If you want to call our bluff "Get in line and wait your turn And watch the witches burn"
If you think we're joking, get in line and wait to see the outcome of our actions
Don't flinch when innocents Are dancing with the flame
Don't react emotionally when innocent people are falling victim to the chaos
If they wanted to live They'd learn to play the game
If they wanted to survive, they would have known how to manipulate the situation
You can still walk away If you just hold your tongue If you'd just walk away You'd live to seen the sun
If you keep quiet and walk away, you can still be alive to see another day
Under this killing moon Under this burning sky The fire's shining groom I hold my breath and close my eyes
During this violent and deadly moment, I am looking away and preparing myself mentally and emotionally
The blood on our black gloves It is none of your concern If you want to call our bluff Get in line and wait your turn And watch the witches burn
The blood on our gloves is not something you should worry about. If you think we're joking, get in line and wait to see the outcome of our actions. We'll watch the witches burn
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUSTIN MICHAEL KENSRUE, EDWARD CARRINGTON BRECKENRIDGE, JAMES RILEY BRECKENRIDGE, TEPPEI TERANISHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Corey Motionless
One of my favorite Thrice songs. 2021 Let's go.
Alina Hurtado
Astonishing that I haven’t listened to this album in years and my mouth can still recite the lyrics as if it were just yesterday ⭐️ Glad to see they’re back
LowKey Liberty
I was there.
Quantify Crypto
Same, so good
MarcccTV
ah the old days
Jacob Wiebenga
I have only ever grown fonder of this album since its release
muddy hotdog
@David Sanchez-Orta haha, right on !
David Sanchez-Orta
@muddy hotdogheehee yes of course. Sorry just a random burst of meaningless ignorant sarcasm. Thrice was a preteen thing for me that’s all. When I hear it I cringe but it indeed slaps ! :)
muddy hotdog
@David Sanchez-Orta Huh? People can't be fond of music they listened to whilst young? My parents still listen to Pink Floyd, zepplin, Lynrd skynrd ect like they did when they were young too
David Sanchez-Orta
Damn y'all don't grow up Lmao