Food For Thought
U B 4 0 Lyrics

Ivory Madonna dying in the dust,
A statue of the Virgin Mary made of ivory is depicted as dying or suffering in the dirt.

Waiting for the manna coming from the west.
She's waiting for help from a foreign country or deity.

Barren is her bosom, empty as her eyes,
The statue of the Madonna is depicted as both physically and emotionally empty and unresponsive.

Death a certain harvest scattered from the skies.
Death is a common occurrence in the area, as if it were raining death.

Skin and bones is creeping, doesn't know he's dead.
A person or people are slowly wasting away, ignorant of their inevitable death.

Ancient eyes are peeping, from his infant head.
Even though the person is physically weak and withering, their eyes or mind are wise.

Politician's argue sharpening their knives.
Government officials are deliberately fighting amongst themselves, preparing for a cruel objective.

Drawing up their Bargains, trading baby lives.
They're negotiating and agreeing to decisions that callously involve the sacrifice of innocent lives.

Hear the bells are ringing, Christmas on its way.
Church bells are ringing, indicating the approaching holiday of Christmas.

Hear the angels singing, what is that they say?
The song of the angels is incomprehensible to the artist, as if in another language.

Eat and drink rejoicing, joy is here to stay.
The holiday offers an escape from the suffering and despair of everyday life, represented by hunger and thirst.

Jesus son of Mary is born again today.
The traditional Christian belief that Jesus, the son of Mary, was reborn on Christmas day.

Ivory Madonna dying in the dust,
Repetition of the opening line, suggesting that the plight of the Madonna and the people she represents is cyclical and ongoing.

Waiting for the manna coming from the west.
Repetition of the previous line, further emphasizing the hopelessness of their situation.