This Is Revolution

[jackofallgeeks]

I just burned the first real MixCD I've done in a while. And by 'real,' I mean one that has a coherent focus and theme. I *think* the last one I did that really qualified was for Meredith's Confirmation, but there might've been one other. I'm still most proud of Refractions, which I made for my friend Melissa, but it's been a very long time since I listened to that one.

This one, entitled This Is Revolution, has been sitting on my mind since a few weeks ago when I mentioned to Josh wanting to write a French-Revolution-type story. It's not a 'full' CD, in that it's only 12 tracks and about 62 minutes long, but I feel it really tells a story.

And that story I will list here. I'm actually pretty proud of this, and while I can't post Clips the way Some can, take a look underneath and let me know what you think.

This Is Revolution
01. 'Epicentre' by VNV Nation
02. '4 AM' by VNV Nation
03. 'Electronaut' by VNV Nation
04. 'Dark Angel - Gabriel' by VNV Nation
05. 'I am the Rain' by Assemblage 23
06. 'Honour' by VNV Nation
07. 'Legion' by VNV Nation
08. 'Winterborn (Sacrificial Acoustic Version)' by the Crushadows
09. 'Anthem' by VNV Nation
10. 'Carbon' by VNV Nation
11. 'Holding On' by VNV Nation
12. 'Further' by VNV Nation

[Track One - The Seeds]
I asked myself, "Was I content with the world that I once cherished?" Did it bring me to this darkened place to contemplate my perfect future? I will not stand no utter words against this tide of hate, losing sight of what and who I was again. I'm so sorry if these seething words I say impress on you that I've become the anathema of my soul.

I can say that you're losing me. I always tried to keep myself tied to this world, but I know where this is leading. Please, no tears, no sympathy. I can say that you're losing me, but I must be that which I am. Though I know where this could take me, no tears, no sympathy.

Gracefully, respectfully, facing conflict deep inside myself. But here confined losing control of what I could not change. Gracefully, respectfully, I ask you, "please don't worry," not for me. Don't turn your back, don't turn away.

No tears for me, no sympathy.


[Track Two - A Gathering Dark]
Soft-haunting Instrumental.


[Track Three - Forces Mobilized]
Medium-industrial Instrumental.


[Track Four - Proposal Denied]
In your dream you see me clear, I have no restraint, no fear. Powerless, I watched from faces I'd assumed. My purpose set, my will defined. Caress the air, embrace the skies. Escape the sorrow and restraint of mortal cities.

Give me time, I will be clear. Given time you'll understand What possesses me to right what you have suffered. I'm in this mood because of scorn, I'm in a mood for total war. To the darkened skies once more and ever onward.

So many years I stood among the thoughts and tears of those I served. Among my own I was alone through my own doing. All the years I walked unknown
behind the faces I assumed, powerless to clear your mind of what you'd suffered.

They fall again. They fall again.

Give me time, I will be clear. Given time you'll understand What possesses me to right what you have suffered. I'm in this mood because of scorn, I'm in a mood for total war. To the darkened skies once more and ever onward. There is no faith in which to hide, even truth is filled with lies. Doubting angels fall to walk among the living. I'm in this mood because of scorn, I'm in a mood for total war. To the darkened skies once more and ever onward.

I'd only come here seeking peace. I'd only come here seeking me. It seems I came to leave.


[Track Five - A Vision Darkened]
Too eager to appease. The cure is the disease, and it's only growing worse. Day by day it takes its hold, divides its cells a thousandfold, and makes your blindness seem perverse. 'Out of sight and out of mind' are deadly traits when they're combined, but it's easier that way.

Sit and watch the world go by While all the problems multiply, with nothing left to do but pray.

I am the rain falling down to cover you; wish me away, but I'm here for your own good. I am the storm sent to wake you from your dream; show me your scorn, but you'll thank me in the end.

These amenities are nice, but there is need for sacrifice; you must lose so you may gain. It's too easy to malign the implements that steal our time, but it's we who are to blame. Fill your pockets while you can and try to keep the upper hand. The voice of reason sounds so shrill. Surround yourself with all you own, work your fingers to the bone, and happiness evades you still.

I am the rain falling down to cover you; wish me away, but I'm here for your own good. I am the storm sent to wake you from your dream; show me your scorn, but you'll thank me in the end.

Too eager to appease, you've lost the forest for the trees, and it really is a shame. It is such a sorry sight; when you evaluate your life, you've only got yourself to blame.

I am the rain falling down to cover you; wish me away, but I'm here for your own good. I am the storm sent to wake you from your dream; show me your scorn, but you'll thank me in the end.


[Track Six - Conflict Joined]
Passive fields. January, two thousand and twelve; A nation that stands alone. Cold voices, faces pale, gathered unto their judgement day. Such pride remains unbroken, such words remain unspoken, just mothers to stand in vain and cry tears and medals in the rain. Shall I recall when justice did prevail? No reason to be found why reason did fail. The all clear resounding, the way was clear to rebuild this land. Shall I call on you to guide me well to see our hopes and dreams fulfilled, On this day of our ascension?

Stand your ground this is what we are fighting for! For our spirit and laws and ways! Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war, for heaven or hell we shall not wait. Shall I think of honour as lies? Or lament it's aged slow demise? Shall I stand as a total stranger on this day in this stone chamber?

The all clear resounding, the way was clear to rebuild this land. Shall I call on you to guide me well to see our hopes and dreams fulfilled? On this day of our ascension. On this day we praise the fallen.

Stand your ground this is what we are fighting for! For our spirit and laws and ways! Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war, for heaven or hell we shall not wait. Shall I think of honour as lies? Or lament it's aged slow demise? Shall I stand as a total stranger on this day in this stone chamber?


[Track Seven - War Is Hell]
Enveloped in a sentiment, a sound that rushes over me. Engage an impulse to pretend I have a faith as pure. Not forgetting what it means to dream, indulging everything, entertaining thoughts that I've the strength of those I yearn to be. Cheers and tribute greet the saviours. Reckless thoughts survive, anachronistic and impulsive.

And what will happen, will I dream? I am too scared to close my eyes, for a second please hold me. None can change in me these things that I believe, but I don't know what happens now. I am too scared to close my eyes.


[Track Eight - An Epic Struggle]
Dry your eyes and quietly bear this pain with pride, for heaven shall remember the silent and the brave. And promise me they will never see, the fear within our eyes. We will give strength to those who still remain. So bury fear, for fate draws near, and hide the signs of pain. With noble acts the bravest souls endure the heart's remains. Discard regret that in this debt a better world is made, that children of a newer day might remember and avoid our fate.

And in the fury of this darkest hour, We will be your light. You've asked me for my sacrifice, and I am Winterborn. Without denying, a faith is come that I have never known. I hear the angels call my name, and I am Winterborn.

Hold your head up high, for there is no greater love. Think of the faces of the people you defend. And promise me they will never see the tears within our eyes; although we are men, with mortal sins, angels never cry.

So bury fear, for fate draws near, and hide the signs of pain. With noble acts the bravest souls endure the heart's remains. Discard regret that in this debt a better world is made, that children of a newer day might remember and avoid our fate.

And in the fury of this darkest hour, We will be your light. You've asked me for my sacrifice, and I am Winterborn. Without denying, a faith in God that I have never known. I hear the angels call my name, and I am Winterborn.

And in the fury of this darkest hour I will be your light. A lifetime for this destiny, for I am Winterborn. And in this moment I will not run, it is my place to stand. We few shall carry hope Within our bloodied hands. And in our Dying, we're more alive than we have ever been. I've lived for these few seconds, for I am Winterborn.

And in the fury of this darkest hour, We will be your light. You've asked me for my sacrifice, and I am Winterborn. Without denying, a faith in man that I have never known. I hear the angels call my name and I am Winterborn.

Within this moment now, I am for you, though better men have failed. I will give my life for love, for I am Winterborn. And in my dying I'm more alive than I have ever been. I will make this sacrifice, for I am Winterborn.


[Track Nine - And There Were None]
Medium-industrial with news clips of death on the battlefield.


[Track Ten - What Have We Accomplished?]
A million points of light ascending to the sky, monuments in darkness standing watch until the sun will rise. Screaming to an emptiness of how we deified ourselves, with our hands over our eyes, claiming all of creation. What inspires in us this madness that our existence should be defined by a light that can't be seen by anyone? What inspires in us this madness that our existence should be defined by a light that we can't see?

A million points of light ascending to the sky, monuments in darkness standing watch until the sun will rise. I can't see this all as progress, how did we come this far, when we see ourselves as deities claiming nature for ourselves? By our actions we betray the instincts in our race, by our blindness and stupidity we killed everything. We kill everything.

Can someone see our self destruction? Are we reminding ourselves that our existence is so delicate, that without this light we are no more? That without this light we've made we are no more?

A million points of light ascending to the sky, monuments in darkness standing watch until the sun will rise. We torch the earth until it bleeds, rain ashes from the sky, just to make a light that no one can see. We cut the earth until it bleeds, rain ashes from the sky, just to make a light. Just to make a light we kill everything. By our blindness and stupidity we kill everything.

In a thousand years what will be our legacy? A million lights that no one could see? A million points of light.


[Track Eleven - That Which Was Wrought]
I thought the future held a perfect place for us. That together we would learn to be the best that we could be. In my naivety I ran, I fell and lost my way. Somehow I always end up falling over me. And one day I woke to find the future had no place for me. I was unwanted in a world that with my hands I helped build. Where once was honesty and pride, I now stand broken and alone; just a shadow of what I was meant to be. They say that, "Time will heal," "The truth shall set us free." Well that depends on what it is that you choose to believe. In this prison made of lies We see what it is we want to see, and find comfort in this broken hall of dreams.

Does anybody feel the way I do? Is there anybody out there? Are you hearing me? I believe in you, will you believe in me? Or am I alone in this hall of dreams? I believe in you, you believe in me, but I have no trust in anything. Somehow I'm always, always falling over me.

Somehow I'm always, I'm always falling over me.


[Track Twelve - Resignation]
At the end of days, at the end of time, When the sun burns out will any of this matter? Who will be there to remember who we were? Who will be there to know that any of this had meaning for us?

And in retrospect I'll say we've done no wrong. Who are we to judge what's right and what has purpose for us? With designs upon ourselves to do no wrong, running wild, unaware of what might become of us.

The sun was born and so it shall die, so only shadows comfort me. I know in darkness I will find you giving up inside like me. Each day shall end as it begins and, though you're far away from me, I know in darkness I will find you, giving up inside like me.

Without a thought I will see everything eternal; forget that once we were just dust from heavens far. As we were forged we shall return. Perhaps some day I will remember us and wonder who we were.

The sun was born and so it shall die, so only shadows comfort me. I know in darkness I will find you giving up inside like me. Each day shall end as it begins and, though you're far away from me, I know in darkness I will find you, giving up inside like me.

Comments

[starlight1184.livejournal.com]

Bring me a copy of that CD when you come visit... please?

[surichan.livejournal.com]

The only thing I would question is how one-band-heavy it is. But what works, works, and I'm gonna go out and find these songs and piece this mix together, so I can hear it for myself.

[jackofallgeeks.livejournal.com]

Actually, that occured to me as I was building it, and I *tried* to get other artists in there, but... well, for one I was just building with what I have, for two there's only so many war-type songs on my computer, and most that weren't VNV Nation didn't fit what I was going for, and for three the whole idea thing was inspired by a VNV Nation song (Holding On, I think), anyways.

Really, I'm all about the story. With this as an outline, I may try writing it.