This started out as a guitar song, but I decided to record the acoustic part on harp - a more ancient and evocative (and unusual in rock) instrument. The middle part is a "battle' between acoustic and electric instruments, representing conflict between the more developed world and the more traditional nations.
Lyrically, this was a reflection on the conflicts between the Muslim Middle-Eastern nations and Western (mostly Christian) world. This conflict has been going on since before there were Muslims and Christians. Our leaders like to divide us on ethnicity, religion, and culture, but in reality the conflict is often about land, resources, and "glory" - and those who make the decisions to fight and gain from the wars often keep themselves as far from the front lines as possible. Particularly senseless is the concept of one, omnpotent God that somehow isn't the God of all people, and doesn't have the power to kill those he doesn't like Himself - surely religious war only makes sense if your a polytheist or your God is too weak or indifferent to act on Its own?
lyrics
Blood on my hands, of a man I've been told is my foe
Although, not long ago, I knew nothing of his people's ways
And this man, before now, had known none from my land
But was taught by his elders he must hate all those of my kind
In a time not long past, a great empire we feared
With this land in its shadow, in risk of becoming a part
So our king sowed the seeds of dissent in this land
Finding those who sought conflict and selling them weapons of might
They've been told we break laws made by the One God Himself
If he's the One God of all, did he not make this man and I both?
If God's strength knows no bounds, why leave justice to Man?
Could it be that our kings use God's name for their own godless ends?
When a new king arose in this strange foreign land
He made plans to keep his kingdom's wealth in his own nation's bounds
And his people knew joy, in their own nation's health
Until one day a dagger of strange make cut their king's reign short
While the lords sit at home counting gold gained from foreign lands
Squeezed by their agents using methods now outlawed
The poor men of each nation must now be locked in fight
Knowing nought of each other but the sight of his blood
In the fields of the slain, all the blood's formed one pool
From soldiers of both sides who shall never return to their homes
In the towns near the war, even children were killed
While our kings and lords, safe at home, secretly plan the next war
Matthew H Schwarz moves between (and combines) the musical genres of classical, progressive rock, traditional and original
folk, and heavy metal. His main instruments are guitar, harp, and flute. Sheet music can be found at www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/matthew-h-schwarz-sheet-music/3006990. ...more
Somber, beautiful string meditations abound on the debut album by Oxford cellist and composer Lou Lyne and her ensemble. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 30, 2024
Gabriel Kahane is often compared to Sufjan Stevens and Rufus Wainwright (both of whom he’s collaborated with in the past). It’s a lot to live up to, but to that already high bar I’ll add Ben Folds and Randy Newman, if only for Kahane’s similar sense of musical theatre, playful storytelling and ability to set … Continue reading Album of the Week: Where are the Arms → Bandcamp Album of the Day Dec 19, 2011