Brave New World
featuring Richard Burton and David Essex Lyrics
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Brave New World
Artilleryman
Take a look around you at the world we've come to know
Does it seem to be much more than a crazy circus show
Maybe from the madness, something beautiful will grow
We'll start... we'll start all over again!
All over again! All over again! All over again!
Artilleryman: We'll build shops and hospitals and barracks, right under their noses, right under their feet. Everything we need: banks, prisons and schools. We'll send scouting parties to collect books and stuff, and then like you we'll teach the kids. Not poems and rubbish; science, so we can get everything working! We'll build villages and towns, and... and we'll play each other at cricket! Listen, maybe one day we'll capture a fighting machine, eh, learn how to make 'em ourselves, and then: WALLOP! Our turn to do some wiping out! WHOOSH! With our heat ray! Whoosh! And them running and dying, beaten at their own game, man on top again!
Artilleryman
Now our domination of the earth is fading fast,
And out of the confusion a chance has come at last,
To build a better future from the ashes of the past,
In a brave new world, with just a handful of men,
We'll start all over again!
Look, man is born in freedom, but he soon becomes a slave,
In cages of convention from the cradle to the grave,
The weak fall by the wayside but the strong will be saved,
In a brave new world, with just a handful of men,
We'll start all over again!
I'm not trying to tell you what to be,
Oh no, oh no, not me...
But if mankind is to survive, the people life alive,
They're gonna have to build this world anew
And it's going to have to start with me and you... YES!
I'm not trying to tell you what to be,
Oh no, oh no, not me...
But if mankind is to survive, the people left alive,
They're gonna have to build this world anew
Yes and we will have to be the chosen few...
Just think of all the poverty, the hatred and the lies,
And imagine the destruction of all that you despise,
Slowly from the ashes the phoenix will arise,
In a brave new world, with just a handful of men
We'll start all over again!
Take a look around you at the world you've loved so well,
And bid the aging empire of man a last farewell
It may not sound like heaven but at least it isn't hell
It's a brave new world with just a handful of men,
We'll start, we'll start all over again!
All over again! All over again! All over again!
I'VE GOT A PLAN!
Artilleryman: Can't you just see it? Civilization starting all over again! A second chance! Heh- we'll even build a railway and tunnel to the coast, go there for our holidays! Nothing can stop men like us! I've made a start already. Come on down here and have a look.
In the cellar there was a tunnel scarcely ten yards long. It had taken him a week to dig. I could have dug that much in a day, and I suddenly had my first inkling of the gulf between his dreams and his power.
Artilleryman: It's doing the working and the thinking that wears a fellow out. I'm ready for a bit of a rest. How about a drink, eh? Nothing but champagne now I'm the boss.
We drank, and then he insisted upon playing cards. With our species on the edge of extermination, with no prospect but a horrible death, we actually played games. Later he talked more of his plan, but I saw flames flashing in the deep blue night, red weed glowing, tripod figures moving distantly, and I put down my champagne glass. I felt a traitor to my kind, and I knew I must leave this strange dreamer.
Artilleryman Take a look around you at the world we've come to know
Does it seem to be much more than a crazy circus show?
Maybe from the madness something beautiful will grow...
The lyrics to the song "Brave New World" tell the story of the Artilleryman's vision of a new world after an extraterrestrial invasion left the Earth in ruins. The Artilleryman believes that their only chance for survival is to build a new society underground, away from the deadly machines that roam the surface. He is convinced that they can create something wonderful out of the madness of this new world. He envisions a complete new world under the ground, with everything from shops to schools and even banks and prisons. The Artilleryman believes they can even rebuild civilization and start again with new communities, towns, and villages. He believes the few survivors, who have to be “chosen” to help in this endeavor, can learn from the destruction of the past and create a completely new world.
The song portrays the Artilleryman's hope and determination, but it also highlights the flaws in his plan. For example, the lyrics suggest that the Artilleryman may be too idealistic and not quite aware of his limitations in terms of resources, capabilities, and leadership. The song also emphasizes the theme of rebuilding after destruction and how a new world can be created out of the ashes of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a look around you at the world we've come to know
The current world we live in appears to be nothing more than a chaotic circus, and we need to create a new, better world.
Does it seem to be much more than a crazy circus show
The world we live in today seems chaotic, disorganized, and dysfunctional.
Maybe from the madness, something beautiful will grow
There is an opportunity to create something beautiful and new from the chaos that surrounds us.
In a brave new world, with just a handful of men, We'll start... we'll start all over again!
With a small group of dedicated individuals, we can create a new world, free from the chaos and dysfunction of the old one.
Now our domination of the earth is fading fast, And out of the confusion a chance has come at last, To build a better future from the ashes of the past, We'll start all over again!
Our current societal structure is unsustainable and on the brink of collapse, but from the destruction, we have an opportunity to rebuild and create a better future.
Look, man is born in freedom, but he soon becomes a slave, In cages of convention from the cradle to the grave, The weak fall by the wayside but the strong will be saved, I'm not trying to tell you what to be, Oh no, oh no, not me...
At birth, humans are free, but societal norms and expectations force us into conforming cages that limit our potential. Only the strong can break free, and I'm not telling you what to do or be, but encouraging you to join me.
But if mankind is to survive, the people left alive, They're gonna have to build this world anew And it's going to have to start with me and you... YES!
If we as a species are going to survive, those of us left must come together and create a new world, and it starts with each of us taking responsibility and taking action.
Just think of all the poverty, the hatred and the lies, And imagine the destruction of all that you despise, Slowly from the ashes the phoenix will arise, In a brave new world, with just a handful of men
Think of all the negative aspects of our current world and picture them being destroyed. From the destruction, a new world can arise, with a small group of dedicated individuals leading the way.
Take a look around you at the world you've loved so well, And bid the aging empire of man a last farewell, It may not sound like heaven but at least it isn't hell, It's a brave new world with just a handful of men, We'll start, we'll start all over again!
Say goodbye to the old world that we once loved, as it is fading away. Our new world may not be perfect, but it surely will be better, and we will begin building it with a small group of courageous people.
In the cellar, there was a tunnel scarcely ten yards long. It had taken him a week to dig. I could have dug that much in a day, and I suddenly had my first inkling of the gulf between his dreams and his power.
The Artilleryman's dreams seemed larger than his abilities, and his actions did not match his words.
It's doing the working and the thinking that wears a fellow out. I'm ready for a bit of a rest. How about a drink, eh? Nothing but champagne now I'm the boss.
The Artilleryman is fatigued from his work of creating a new world, and he wants to take a break for some champagne and relaxation.
We drank, and then he insisted upon playing cards. With our species on the edge of extermination, with no prospect but a horrible death, we actually played games. Later he talked more of his plan, but I saw flames flashing in the deep blue night, red weed glowing, tripod figures moving distantly, and I put down my champagne glass. I felt a traitor to my kind, and I knew I must leave this strange dreamer.
Amidst the dangerous reality of their current situation, the Artilleryman insisted on playing a game of cards. As he described his plans for creating a new world, the artist experienced a feeling of betrayal to his own species and knew he could not stay with this dreamer any longer.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GARY OSBORNE, JEFF WAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lorrainecouch348
ARE YOU LOT FOR REAL???
GHOSTS ON MARS... THE MARTIANS.
THIS PLANET COULD HAVE LOST CORE MASS AND BE MOTHER TO MARS... A MOON.... WHICH MUSK WANTS TO TERRAFORM A MOON!?!?
A GIANT RED RUSTY MOON... WHICH WILL REACT BADLY TO WATER AND ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION!!!!!
MY RESEARCH IS SOLID!!!!
AMERICA AND CO HAVE BEEN CREATING ALL THINGS FLYING SORCERY FOR ABSOLUTE AGES.
THOSE DISCO BALL STARS TWINKLING AWAY ARE SATELLITES... ARMED WITH LASERS AND ALL THINGS DIRECT ENERGY WEAPONS.
H.G. WELLS WAS A VISIONARY... HE PREDICTED STUFF.
HIS EPITAPH IS SOMETHING LIKE:
"I TOLD YOU SO. YOU DAMNED FOOLS"
HIS DAMNED WAS IN ITALICS AND HE SAID IT WAS INTENTIONAL.
GET A GRIP
@druunderwood5602
@neil73" Its doing the working and the thinking that wears a fellow out"
"Morlock Charter"
(1) Schools in Prison
?
Feel free to add your own, lets see where this go's?
Cricket Cucumber Sandwiches & Tea Obviously.
@johncole9121
The older I get, the more confidently I can say, this song is just incredible.
@peterbrecker784
Well said.
@rabidbigdog
The Super Audio CD 5-channel version is just extraordinary. Along with Dark Side Of The Moon, I purchased a (cheap now) system just to hear it.
@Minillus
It's the best one in the album lmo
@Glombandtomb1
This is the best of the best
@SomewhatDapperExtraterrestrial
I love how the song really drags the audience into the Artillerymans fantasies with how optimistic it sounds. It perfecty captures how the protagonist must have felt.
@frederikklotzskov9673
And how disappointed he feels when he sees the little progress he's actually made
@SunnyAznable
I love how many of the commenters have missed this- the theme and point of the song - in their analysis. Well put.
@milliondollarmistake
I find it hilarious that this guy gets a whole 12 minute ballad dedicated to his dream and it just ends with the protagonist calling the guy crazy and leaving
@abigohobgoo7455
@MillionDollarMistake same.