Frontman Raymond "Raybeez" Barbieri was the band's only consistent member through the vast majority of its years. He joined the band as the drummer in 1983 (the same year he played drums on the debut Agnostic Front 7" EP United Blood), later taking over vocal duties after Warzone had already been in existence for two years (noting later, "in a band that [had] been running for so long, there has to be something there"). Raybeez remained the singer of Warzone until his death on September 11, 1997 due to pneumonia. A U.S. Navy veteran, he was receiving treatment in a VHA facility when the illness damaged his liver and took his life at the age of 35. A tribute sign reading "R.I.P Ray" hung outside CBGB for some time following his death, and for more than a year afterward, every release on Victory Records was dedicated to his memory, as were two independent compilations. These albums, as well as benefit concerts, raised funds for several non-profit groups Ray had worked for which helped at-risk youth."
Ground Zero
Warzone Lyrics
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Just watch the sun set
I keep my feelings bottles up
About things that I regret
Oh can it be up to me right now?
Everything? s so lovely in the sky right now
I want to take it back
But I don? t know how
To find its tail
Take me to your ground zero
Back again
I simply wish that I could
Feel the way you do
I just start again
Standing next to you
Gone overboard
In the storm of hate
Everything? s so lovely in the sky right now
I want to take it back
But I don? t know how
Can you chase the rainbow?
To find its tail
Take me to your ground zero
Back again
The lyrics to "Ground Zero" by Warzone speak to the overwhelming emotions that come with regret and the desire to turn back time. The singer of the song seems to be in a state of remorse over actions taken in the past, and wishes they could go back and change things. They describe the beauty of the sunset and the sky, perhaps as a way of contrasting the ugliness of their feelings with the natural beauty around them.
The singer acknowledges that they have bottled up their emotions, which implies a sense of internal struggle and repression. They then ask if it is up to them to take action and undo their mistakes, but seem to be unsure of how to do so. The chorus repeats the phrase "Can you chase the rainbow? To find its tail", which could be interpreted as a metaphor for trying to attain something elusive or unattainable. The singer then asks to be taken to someone's "ground zero" and given a fresh start, suggesting a desire for a clean slate and a chance to start over.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't worry about the time
Don't focus on time, just be present in the moment
Just watch the sun set
Take in the beauty of nature around you
I keep my feelings bottled up
I suppress my emotions and don't express how I truly feel
About things that I regret
Regarding actions or decisions in the past that cause me distress
Oh can it be up to me right now?
Is it possible for me to be in control of the situation currently?
Everything's so lovely in the sky right now
The sky is beautiful right now, but my thoughts and feelings are still troubled
I want to take it back
I wish I could undo what I did
But I don't know how
I don't know how to fix what I have done
Can you chase the rainbow?
Is it possible to obtain something that is impossible to have?
To find its tail
To achieve the unthinkable or impossible
Take me to your ground zero
Bring me to a place where everything is stripped down and raw
Back again
To a place where I can start anew and try to do better
I simply wish that I could feel the way you do
I wish I could experience emotions like you do, without holding back
I just start again
I vow to begin again and right my wrongs
Standing next to you
I feel comforted and supported by your presence
Gone overboard in the storm of hate
I have let my anger and negative emotions take control
Writer(s): Jason Lehrhoff, Raymond Barbieri, Todd Hamilton, Vincent Verga
Contributed by Brayden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.