One By One
Wayne Burton Lyrics
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Martian: Ulla!
I stopped, staring towards the sound. It seemed as if that mighty desert of houses had found a voice for its fear and solitude.
Martian: Ulla!
Martian: Ulla!
I saw, over the trees on Primrose Hill, the fighting machine from which the howling came. I crossed Regent's Canal. There stood a second machine, upright, but as still as the first.
Martian: Ulla!
Abruptly, the sound ceased. Suddenly the desolation, the solitude, became unendurable. While that voice sounded London still seemed alive. now suddenly there was a change, the passing of something, and all that remained was this gaunt quiet.
I looked up, and saw a third machine. It was erect and motionless, like the others. An insane resolve possessed me: I would give my life to the Martians, here and now.
I marched recklessly towards the titan and saw that a multitude of black birds were circling and clustering about the hood. I began running along the road. I felt no fear, only a wild, trembling exultation as I ran up the hill towards the monster. Out of the hood hung red shreds, at which the hungry birds now pecked and tore.
I scrambled up to the crest of Primrose hill, the Martian's camp was below me. A mighty space it was, and scattered about it, in their overturned machines, were the Martians, slain after all man's devices had failed by the humblest creatures on the earth: bacteria. Minute, invisible, bacteria. Directly the invaders arrived and drank and fed, our microscopic allies attacked them. From that moment, they were doomed.
The torment was ended. The people scattered over the country, desperate, leaderless, starved, the thousands who had fled by sea including the one most dear to me; all could return, the pulse of life growing stronger and stronger would beat again.
As life returns to normal, the question of another attack from Mars causes universal concern. Is our planet safe, or is this time of peace merely a reprieve? It may be that across the immensity of space, they have learned their lessons , and even now await their opportunity. Perhaps the future belongs not to us, but to the Martians.
The lyrics are actually an excerpt from H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds, a science fiction novel about a Martian invasion. The passage describes the aftermath of the Martians' attack on London, where the city is deserted and looted. The singer, known as the singer, hears a haunting cry of "Ulla!" which turns out to be the dying sound of a Martian fighting machine. The singer then sees the Martians, who were once invincible, dead on the ground due to bacterial infection. The passage ends with the singer questioning whether or not the Martians will ever return and if the future belongs to them.
The lyrics capture the despair of a post-apocalyptic world, where life has been devastated and everything that once mattered has been reduced to rubble. The image of dead bodies and looted shops is a chilling reminder of the fragility of society. The cry of "Ulla!" echoes with despair and loneliness, as the singer questions why they survived when everyone else is dead. The sight of the dead Martians offers a glimmer of hope that the human race will survive and rebuild.
Line by Line Meaning
There were a dozen dead bodies in the Euston road, their outlines softened by the black dust.
The devastation and death caused by the Martian invasion is evident in the sight of dead bodies lying in the street.
All was still, houses locked and empty, shops closed, but looters had helped themselves to wine and food, and outside a jewelers some gold chains and a watch were scattered on the pavement.
The once busy and bustling city is now abandoned, and even those who are left have resorted to stealing to survive.
Martian: Ulla!
The Martians are shown to be a powerful and fearful force through their distinctive and eerie cry.
The desolating cry worked upon my mind. The wailing took possession of me.
The Martian cry has a deep impact on the artist's mental state, causing him to feel overwhelmed and consumed by the sound.
Why was I wandering alone in this city of the dead?
The artist is questioning the purpose of his presence in a city that has been left lifeless and destroyed.
I felt intolerably lonely, drifting from street to empty street, drawn inexorably towards that cry.
The singer's loneliness is further emphasized as he aimlessly wanders towards the ominous sound of the Martians.
I saw, over the trees on Primrose Hill, the fighting machine from which the howling came.
The singer sees the destructive power of the Martians through their machine that is responsible for emitting the eerie cry.
I would give my life to the Martians, here and now.
The desperation and hopelessness of the situation is revealed as the artist considers sacrificing his own life to the Martians.
Out of the hood hung red shreds, at which the hungry birds now pecked and tore.
The gruesome aftermath of the Martian's defeat is seen through the birds tearing at the remains of the machines.
From that moment, they were doomed.
The Martians were eventually defeated by something as small and invisible as bacteria.
Is our planet safe, or is this time of peace merely a reprieve?
The fear and uncertainty of a potential future invasion from Mars looms over the people, despite their recent victory.
It may be that across the immensity of space, they have learned their lessons , and even now await their opportunity. Perhaps the future belongs not to us, but to the Martians.
The possibility that the Martians could still pose a threat to humanity implies that despite their defeat, they remain a superior and unpredictable force in the universe.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEFF WAYNE
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