Story Behind The Song
This was a song I developed over a fairly long period of time. I wanted to write something that had longer story form to it, but gradually built into a simple vamp repeated over and over. This particular story has no basis in my life or experience, but I was considering the bombings of Britain and France during WWII as the descriptive inspiration for the verses.
Song Description
The first half of the song deals with setting up the story of the lovers. It begins with the man staring at what used to be his house, which has been destroyed or bombed. The broken glass on the ground reminds him of abandoned buildings he used to meet his lover in, perhaps for fun, or because their love was secret. He then recalls how the war took him away. The second verse describes his weariness of the war, and his hope of finding his love when he returns. Unfortunately, he can't find any sign of her upon returning to his bombed out house.
The vamp just reinforces the point that there is no victory in war when so much is lost.
| Song Length |
5:11 |
Genre |
Rock - Indie/Low-Fi |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Tranquil, Moving |
Subject |
War, Regret |
| Similar Artists |
Death Cab for Cutie, The National |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
The broken eyes of home
Stared back at me all alone
Shattered glass crunching under my feet
Served to remind me of where we would meet
In buildings worn out with the past
You told me that we couldn't last
Then the war that took you from my side
Turned to me and I could not hide
We marched heads down to a beat
Our feet were too weary to keep
And I looked with hope through the air
But not even your ghost was there
Though the soldiers had said we'd won
I couldn't put down my gun
Nothing felt like victory
Without you standing next to me
Without you standing next to me
I looked with hope through the air
Not even your ghost was there