How long must she stand
Before the ground, it gives way
To an endless fall
She can feel this
War on her face
Stars on her pillow
She's folding in darkness
Begging for slumber

I'm not blind
Can see it coming
Looks like lightning
In my child's eye

I'm not frantic
I can feel it coming
Violently shakes
My body

Her son's slanted
Always giving her
The sideways eye
And empty chair where dad sits
How loud can silence get?
And mom, she reassures
To contain him
But it's becoming a lie

She tells herself
And everyone else
Father is risking
His life for our freedoms

I'm not blind
I can see it coming
Looks like lightning
In my child's eye

I'm no frantic
I can feel it coming
Darling you'll save me
If you save yourself



Lyrics submitted by N0 C0DE 79

Track duration: 03:43


Army Reserve song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Just a note....yes this song was co-written by Damien Echols. Please anyone not familiar with the case visit wm3.org. Or just browse the net for any info on the case. Its very sad, and a complete travesty of our justice system. A new hearing for the 3 in Dec 2011.

    Eddie Vedder as well as Johnny Depp, Dixie Chicks ect are HUGE supporters.
    Flag w8ing4winteron June 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:As everyone agree, and as the title of the song states, it's about the family of a soldier.

    But the fact that this song was co-written with a guy who has been waiting in death row for about 13 years for a crime he had never done, leaving his wife and kid back home - that kinda gives it a new dimension.
    Flag hadaron January 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:What I think this song is about is that right now there's a war being fought, and people and their families are suffering because of it, but it's not anywhere near over, and might even escalate to an even higher level...maybe another World War.

    As for this album...it was so unbelievably good that I couldn't help but try to lick it a few times thinking that the cover would taste as good as the album sounded! Self-Titled (or avacado) makes me salivate.
    Flag havana4saleon December 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think JoNNieS K hit the nail on its head on this one. It's clearly about the war, clearly about a family who's father is sent to the war and clearly about the struggles with the truth that even seems to devide the family (her son's slanted always giving her the sideways-eye). The best song on the latest album if you ask me. Emotions flow at times when I hear this song, the lyrics and the guitars. A great one which i believe we will enjoy many many times on concerts, built out with extraordinary instrumental parts.
    Flag CCDevlinon January 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I reckon this song is actually addictive.the guitar at the start is real coll. theres a cool as bit of guitar in the intro, thats goes all DIII DIIIWWWW ...............i dunno THE GREATEST BAND OUT>
    Flag nic000on October 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:its about a mom lieing and telling evryone her husband is over seas when he's really he's just in the reserve because she asked him not to join
    Flag SomePurpleGuyon October 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Nice NorthWriter! :)

    I agree.
    Flag mobileinfantryon June 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:written from the perspective of a mother whose husband is out fighting at war and she is left alone with her son.

    the family is breaking apart as their lives become a lie:

    "And mom, she reassures
    To contain him
    But it's becoming a lie

    She tells herself
    And everyone else
    Father is risking
    His life for our freedoms"

    she tries to claim that her husband is fighting for the good of America to contain her son from total anguish - trying to make her son think the fighting is worthwhile.


    but as the chorus shows:

    "I'm not blind
    I can see it coming
    Looks like lightning
    In my child's eye"

    She can see that the son is not buying her story! the son is starting to realise that the war is not worthwhile after all! the "lightning in my child's eye" is the rage that is building up inside the son from his father being gone. and "i can see it coming" is how the mother knows that if this continues the son is going to burst and go crazy.


    the closing chorus is amazing:

    "I'm not frantic
    I can feel it coming
    Darling you'll save me
    If you save yourself"

    she is making a desperate plea to her husband in her mind to return from war.

    "Darling you'll save me
    If you save yourself"

    she's trying to say to her husband - if you leave the war and save yourself from dying and come back to the family, you'll save me from despair.
    Flag JoNNieS Kon May 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I figured it was an anti war song but ive never heard of damien echols. Its a good song.
    Flag longliveconradon May 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think they got in contact after Eddie got interested in the case. I know he has visited him at DR.
    Many people belive this Damien and his two friends are innocent and many celebrities are trying to help to push for a new trial.
    The story is a real tradgedy for all involved.
    I don't want to start a discussion about this case here, visit the site: wm3.org if you want to read about it.
    Flag Nasthaqon May 17, 2006   Link

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