This song is just about persecution and scapegoating of minorities or unpopular groups or people in general. It refers to the old practice of burning likenesses of community figures or leaders to express displeasure. The imagery of the song calls to mind the scene in "Frankenstein" where the crowd went after the monster with torches and pitchforks. The reference to the silent majority not keeping quiet anymore is the tip-off that this is about mob justice, and the line "In the mornin' few were left to watch
the ashes die." shows that we could all fall subject to the wrath of the mob for something or other, and thus it echoes Martin Niemöller's "First they came for the Jews..." speech, in which in the end there is no one left because everyone had participated in their way, by not objecting to the evil practices. CCR is saying don't give in to the mob mentality, to emotionalism and persecution of unpopular groups, because the public sentiment is fickle and you may find yourself becoming the subject of their wrath the next time around. It's a brilliant and chilling song about the evil that can come about when people give in to their base emotions and do not stand up for what's right.
This song is just about persecution and scapegoating of minorities or unpopular groups or people in general. It refers to the old practice of burning likenesses of community figures or leaders to express displeasure. The imagery of the song calls to mind the scene in "Frankenstein" where the crowd went after the monster with torches and pitchforks. The reference to the silent majority not keeping quiet anymore is the tip-off that this is about mob justice, and the line "In the mornin' few were left to watch the ashes die." shows that we could all fall subject to the wrath of the mob for something or other, and thus it echoes Martin Niemöller's "First they came for the Jews..." speech, in which in the end there is no one left because everyone had participated in their way, by not objecting to the evil practices. CCR is saying don't give in to the mob mentality, to emotionalism and persecution of unpopular groups, because the public sentiment is fickle and you may find yourself becoming the subject of their wrath the next time around. It's a brilliant and chilling song about the evil that can come about when people give in to their base emotions and do not stand up for what's right.
Starwatcher, you inspired me to sign up. What a brilliantly concise and lucid explanation of this song.
Starwatcher, you inspired me to sign up. What a brilliantly concise and lucid explanation of this song.
@Starwatcher23
@Starwatcher23
Nailed it
Nailed it