Cataclysm
din_fiv Lyrics
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Nothing has gone wrong at all
A feeling takes a hold of me
Standing against the wall
One-thousand cries in the night
Did our humanity die
Was it a plague of insanity
I will not ever forget
The depth of the atrocities
Tell me how you would feel
Awaiting the chamber's gas
Naked, stripped of everything
Taking your final breath
Why is it so hard for us
To conceive a horror
No one should endure
So we must fight on
To keep the light on
So the nightmare
Never happens again
Never again
The lyrics of din_fiv’s song Cataclysm speak about the horrors of genocide and the need to acknowledge and remember the atrocities that occurred during such events. The opening lines of the song ask how one can pretend that nothing has gone wrong, alluding to the denial and apathy towards the suffering of those affected by such tragedies. The feeling of helplessness and being trapped is expressed through the lines “A feeling takes hold of me, standing against the wall”.
The lyrics go on to mention the deaths of six million people, which is a reference to the Holocaust, and the need to remember the depth of the atrocities committed. The lines “Tell me how you would feel, awaiting the chamber’s gas, naked stripped of everything, taking your final breath” vividly describe the horrors of the gas chambers used during the Holocaust. The song then questions why it is so hard for society to conceive and acknowledge such horrors and emphasizes the need to fight against such events to prevent them from happening again.
Overall, the lyrics of Cataclysm offer a poignant and powerful commentary on genocide and the importance of remembering the atrocities that have occurred in the past in order to prevent them from happening again.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me how can you pretend
Asking for an explanation for pretending that everything is alright.
Nothing has gone wrong at all
Questioning the assumption that nothing has gone wrong despite clear signs of disaster.
A feeling takes a hold of me
Describing a sudden emotion that overwhelms.
Standing against the wall
Visualizing the position taken when one is afraid or under attack.
One-thousand cries in the night
Illustrating the magnitude of suffering and despair that is beyond comprehension.
Did our humanity die
Reflecting on the possibility that the goodness and caring of human nature may have been lost.
Was it a plague of insanity
Considering the chaos and irrationality of the event.
If it takes six-million dead
Asserting the severity of the atrocities and the importance of never forgetting them.
I will not ever forget
A commitment to remember the tragedy and honor the victims.
The depth of the atrocities
Emphasizing the gravity and extent of the tragic event.
Tell me how you would feel
Asking the listener to imagine themselves in an unthinkable situation.
Awaiting the chamber's gas
Devising a horrific image of the inhumane treatment of the victims.
Naked, stripped of everything
Describing the dehumanizing and humiliating experience of being stripped of one's dignity and belongings.
Taking your final breath
Acknowledging the terrible finality of death and the pain it causes.
Why is it so hard for us
Reflecting on the challenging nature of understanding and responding to horror.
To conceive a horror
Trying to grasp the magnitude of a calamity that exceeds normal suffering.
No one should endure
Expressing a belief that no one deserves to suffer such a fate.
So we must fight on
Advocating for determination and the perseverance to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
To keep the light on
Keeping hope and perseverance alive in the face of such darkness.
So the nightmare
Describing a catastrophic event as a nightmare.
Never happens again
Expressing a desire that future generations will not experience the same nightmare again.
Contributed by Camilla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.