When our rivers run dry and our crops cease to grow
When our summer grow longer and winters won�t snow
From the bank of the ocean and the ice in the hills
To the fight in the desert where progress stands still
When we�ve lost our will;

That�s how we�ll know
This is not a test, oh no
This is cardiac arrest
Of a world too proud to admit our mistakes
Crashing into the ground as all fall from grace

When the air that we breathe becomes air that we choke
When the marsh fever spreads from the swamps to our homes
When your home on the range has been torn down and paved and
The buffalo roam to a slaughterhouse grave
What more will it take

For us to know
This is not a test, oh no
This is cardiac arrest
Of a world too proud to admit our mistakes
We kiss the ground as well fall from grace

This is a chance to set things straight
To bend or break the rules back into place
There is no middle ground, no compromise, we�ve drawn the line
With perfect aim, we stand back and throw
Glass windows break and it�s all about to blow
Lights go out as we pass the torch again
In hope that is stays lit

Neutrality means that you don�t really care
Cuz the struggle goes on whether or not you�re there
Blind and unaware

That�s how we�ll know
This is not a test, oh no
This is cardiac arrest
Of a world too proud to admit our mistakes
Crashing into the ground as we all, yeah we all, all fall from grace



Lyrics submitted by Yoshü

Track duration: 03:19


Collapse (Post-Amerika) song meanings
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44 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:The last song i listend to was "swing life away" and some of these lyrics fit with it which is making me lmao!

    "When our rivers run dry and our crops cease to grow
    When our summer grow longer and winters won�t snow" is one of the lyrics

    Anyways this song was the first rise against song i actually listened to and i love it for that. It does give a end of the world vibe.
    Flag awubbon October 06, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:Rise Against never fails to open their albums with a vigorous, energetic song. Really gets you pumped for the rest of the record. Whether or not you support Rise Against's change in style over the last couple albums, you have to admit that Tim still packs power into his music. They always come in with a bang, as well as go out with one.
    Flag Punkrock1039on February 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:No offense but I think the lines are "kissing the ground as we all fall from grace" and "'Cause the struggle goes on even when you're not there" just thought I'd help you out. This song is obviously that the world around us is collapsing and we don't even notice or take time to care and instead just go about our lives thinking it'll all even out like it always seems to do. On a side not, human beings might be animals of perseverance but there comes a breaking point. I also think the line "Neutrality means that you don't really care|Cause the struggle goes on even when you're not there" refers to the nations that have opted out of the war in the Middle East like Australia and France because they think that if they stop then they won't get hurt but really they're making it worse because they just sit on the sidelines and do nothing to stop it.
    Flag TheSquiggoloon December 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I dont think there should be any arguing, everyone has there own opinion, Replicant212 showed us that all this "brainwashing"(as he says) is bs. I dissagree but what can we do to stop people like replicant from speaking there thoughs? ps. I learned about global warming or "climate change" when I was seven years old
    Flag justaroneeon November 09, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is incredibly catchy, even if it does detail the fall of society xD
    Flag TornStaticon September 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:ok to anyone who didn't notice. at the very end (few last seconds) you hear someone shouting quietly "Help! anyone there? hello?" and the song cuts. well the name of the song 'Collapse post amerika" speaks for itself. I personally don't say its about global warming or any of that otehr retarded climate stuff because i think its a load of shit. They are referring to the U.S completely and how the life style of Americans in particular are intended on improving their lives but are only building a tower of mistakes which will only collapse. My perspective is that americans improve their lives to make life better but don't quite realize that by absorbing all the resources our planet needs, will end up ruining their lives or just make it a hell lot worse. For example: cars and exaust emmissions are a serious issue but we all refuse as a society to put an end to it. By starting this easy going life-style, most of us won't go back and will ruin us. The ending of the song really adds a bright spark of interest though, its a secret message. 'help... anyone there?...hello!?' life will turn out into survival as in surive.
    Flag risea99on August 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:PLEASE READ

    Post-Amerika... Think of it like Post-Apocalyptic... This is a foresight of America in the future, the corruption of mankind and the blindness of those who follow.

    "When our rivers run dry and our crops cease to grow
    When our summer grow longer and winters won�t snow"
    Cause of pollution.. America has 5% of worlds population and uses 30% of the worlds resources, if we all consumed like the USA we would need 3-5 planets!

    "From the bank of the ocean and the ice in the hills" America itself.
    "To the fight in the desert where progress stands still" To their world wide influence
    "When we�ve lost our will;" Basically saying America can't sustain itself...

    "That�s how we�ll know
    This is not a test, oh no
    This is cardiac arrest
    Of a world too proud to admit our mistakes
    Crashing into the ground as all fall from grace":
    When it becomes obvious that America is not self sustained, it's leaders will hide it and not try to change it due to their pride and which we'll make rock bottom hurt a lot more when society hits it.

    "When the air that we breathe becomes air that we choke
    When the marsh fever spreads from the swamps to our homes
    When your home on the range has been torn down and paved and
    The buffalo roam to a slaughterhouse grave
    What more will it take "
    When there is too much air pollution, (C2O) and ground pollution (Nuclear waste)... Industry will take over society and culture. America overly consumes ( Only 4% of its original forests remain.) What more do we need?

    "For us to know
    This is not a test, oh no
    This is cardiac arrest
    Of a world too proud to admit our mistakes
    We kiss the ground as well fall from grace"
    All but those who know it will be apart of it (hence kiss the ground"

    "This is a chance to set things straight
    To bend or break the rules back into place
    There is no middle ground, no compromise, we�ve drawn the line
    With perfect aim, we stand back and throw
    Glass windows break and it�s all about to blow
    Lights go out as we pass the torch again
    In hope that is stays lit"
    Saying this is a chance to change it back to the way it was before its to late. Sings about what riots should look like.

    "Neutrality means that you don�t really care
    Cuz the struggle goes on whether or not you�re there
    Blind and unaware"
    Basically self explanatory...
    Flag KUNSCHNERon May 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:epic song!!!!!


    YES IM A CONSPIRACY THEORIST
    Flag FYKxG3N0C1D3on March 24, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"amerika" is actually what hitler called his atomic bomb he was working on during WWII that he would use to destroy america so thats where i think they got the title from, meaning america is going to "collapse" as hitler wanted
    Flag coolkidtomon March 18, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is pretty self explanitory. r world is going to hell and dis song explains it. global warmings killing mother nature and war isnt progressing anything. rise against is saying that we needa shape up and learn, before its to late (:
    Flag thegreatbambino123on February 25, 2010   Link

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