Through a War

Tonight we're gonna drink 'til the streets sound like music And the music is just noise Tonight we're gonna drink 'til I look like Hercules Come on, gather 'round, boys Come close, listen in The year was 1862 We took up arms after the war was through We knew that we could take what was left The city was ours We burned down their churches We built an arcade I was a natural leader, to whom the tribesmen bowed I strolled around in the General's clothes and had the only gun I fired warning shots and made the children dig I tortured all insurgents; I ruled with an iron fist But for you, my love, I offered only grace At the very first sight of you, I lay myself prostrate For your touch, I'd have conquered every village in the land I would have disemboweled myself just to hold your hand I saw you appear like a dream between trees I knew I'd have to get you to live with me Did you deceive? Maybe so But still, I breathe for you alone I put them into ranks; I made them build a castle for me And a big statue in the square I made them carve my name on every piece of gold I made them carve yours everywhere On every tree, on every train On every drop of rain What a feeling to hold in your grip A beating heart, to squeeze it hard 'til it bursts To feel its blood running down your wrist To know you are a God Have you ever seen a man beg for his life? Have you ever seen that kind of fear? Have you ever seen a man boiled alive? Have you seen him writhe, and writhe, and writhe, and writhe And writhe, and writhe, and writhe, and writhe, and writhe? Have you sat on a throne of men? Have you watched father and son fight to the death? Have you tasted human flesh? Have you had sex with the dead? Have you seen a brain split in two? Do you know what courage looks like? Have you seen a woman give birth to a goat? That's what courage looks like Do you know how to fashion a boat out of bones? Do you know what betrayal is? Do you know what disrespect is? Do you know what ungratefulness is? I'll tell you all about it Oh, but you, my love, I could never blame All the things they say are hearsay You, my love, are faultless; you will never die You, my love, remain the apple of my eye You gave me nothing but an incurable disease For which I'm so glad, you'll always be with me With each itch of my loins, the music of your voice With each tremor and shake, your unmistakable voice You help me lapse into unreason You help me disintegrate With this whiskey, you are with me, hot in my throat You are, once again, whole I drink of your soul Betrayal is to overthrow the man who gave you everything Disrespect is to blow up the city he built Ungrateful is the savage who knows not his luck I forgive them nothing; damn them all to hell And that's how I spent my adolescence Who's next? I'm listening Who's next? Cantonese