The song talks about a soldier supposedly retuning home from Vietnam. He has lost all of his senses, except for hearing, and maybe feelings. He's also missing few limbs, both legs and arms, but his brain functions fairly well. So he is practically a prisoner trapped in his own body without being able to interact with the external world. Prior to the riff, ( in the studio version ) helicopter hovering sound and several gun shots can be heard. Lyrics starts off as "I can't remember anything / can tell if this true of dream," setting the pessimistic and dark scene for the rest of the song. The gloomy lighting used in the music video perfectly coincide with the atmosphere depicted in the lyrics.
I can't remember anything
Can't tell if this is true or dream
Deep down inside I feel to scream
This terrible silence stops me
Now that the war is through with me
I'm waking up, I cannot see
That there is not much left of me
Nothing is real but pain now
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God, wake me
Back in the womb it's much too real
In pumps life that I must feel
But can't look forward to reveal
Look to the time when I'll live
Fed through the tube that sticks in me
Just like a wartime novelty
Tied to machines that make me be
Cut this life off from me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God, wake me
Now the world is gone, I'm just one
Oh God help me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God, help me
Darkness imprisoning me
All that I see
Absolute horror
I cannot live
I cannot die
Trapped in myself
Body my holding cell
Landmine has taken my sight
Taken my speech
Taken my hearing
Taken my arms
Taken my legs
Taken my soul
Left me with life in hell
Jethro Tull**
ReplyDelete