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."
Hopeless Nation
Warzone Lyrics
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Lessons not learned from the past
Poor class, middle class,
No class set up and framed
Old boy network playing their game
Hopeless nation, no future for me
Hopeless nation, no future for you
Hopeless nation, gonna die slow
All that money, all that crime
All the rich, all the time
It's all over the world
Every government on this earth
All the money, all the crime
All the rich, all the time
It's all oer the world
Every government on this earth
Hopeless nation, no future for me
Hopeless nation, no future for you
Hopeless nation, seconds to go
Hopeless nation, gonna die slow
Seconds to go
And we're all dying slow
Famine and war
Hatred and death, and you think
Your country is the best
Wake up and see reality
Wake up and see misery
Wake up and see death at the door
Wake up and see life no more
The lyrics of Warzone's "Hopeless Nation" paint a picture of a world plagued by war, famine, and inequality. The opening lines criticize the current power structure that favors the upper class and ignores the lessons of history. The song goes on to describe a society that is divided into social classes, but no class is set up to succeed, and the old boy network only serves the interests of the privileged few. The chorus of the song repeatedly emphasizes the bleak and hopeless nature of the state of the world, with no future for anyone.
The second verse of the song doubles down on the idea that the world's problems are pervasive, with every government on earth being corrupted by money and power. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing the inevitability of the eventual downfall of society. The final lines of the song urge listeners to wake up and see the reality of the world's problems, to recognize the misery and death at the door and the loss of life that it brings.
Overall, Warzone's "Hopeless Nation" is a scathing critique of the state of the world and a call to action for listeners to recognize the problems that exist and work toward fixing them.
Line by Line Meaning
Money and power for the upper class
The wealthy and influential have all the money and control.
Lessons not learned from the past
Society has not improved or grown from past mistakes.
Poor class, middle class,
Both lower and middle classes suffer from societal problems.
No class set up and framed
The societal class structure is not established in a fair or just manner.
Old boy network playing their game
The established, privileged group is manipulating the system to their advantage.
Hopeless nation, no future for me
The country is filled with despair and lacks opportunity for the singer.
Hopeless nation, no future for you
The country is filled with despair and lacks opportunity for the listener.
Hopeless nation, seconds to go
The country is rapidly declining with little hope for recovery.
Hopeless nation, gonna die slow
The country is slowly crumbling and decaying towards destruction.
All that money, all that crime
Wealth and criminal activity are closely intertwined.
All the rich, all the time
The wealthy are always involved in societal issues and politics.
It's all over the world
These issues are not limited to one country or region.
Every government on this earth
Every governing body is affected by these problems.
Seconds to go
There is very little time left before the situation becomes dire.
And we're all dying slow
Society as a whole is slowly falling apart and decaying.
Famine and war
Societal issues such as hunger and conflict are rife.
Hatred and death, and you think
There is a pervasive sense of negativity and the listener may not fully understand the gravity of the situation.
Your country is the best
The listener may believe that their country is superior to others, despite its problems.
Wake up and see reality
The listener needs to become aware of the severity of the situation.
Wake up and see misery
The listener must acknowledge the widespread unhappiness and suffering in society.
Wake up and see death at the door
The listener needs to recognize the looming threat of destruction and demise.
Wake up and see life no more
The potential loss of life and vitality must be recognized by the listener.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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