Our buildings have fallen
Our walls all caved in,
And we can't comprehend this sad state
That we're in so we sift through the ashes
Of what we've become and surrender
Here one by one, so push us down

And we get right back up again
The things you're telling me aren't making any sense
Right back up again
I'm sick of wishing for someone else to come

Let the blind lead the blind
'Cause it's eye for an eye in your so called life
Are you out there? are you listening?
Is there something we're still missing?
Let the blind lead the blind,
'Cause it's eye for an eye, we all fall down

And we get right back up again,
The things you're telling me aren't making any sense
Right back up again
I'm sick of wishing for someone else to come

We're spinning out of control
We're trying to find somewhere to land
And I don't want you to know
The things that keep me down
We get right back up again


Lyrics submitted by rjbucs28

Broken English Lyrics as written by Dave Genn Marianne Faithfull

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Broken English song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Before I say anything else, this is my interpretation only and I pulled this out of my ass, so this is not official by any means.

    DT9832, I think you're on to something with 9/11. Rise Against is a somewhat political group (what punk band isn't?) and they've likely got something to say. After the attacks the devastation was enormous and people were confused and scared ("we can't comprehend the sad state that we're in") so they were willing to surrender to the freedom-limiting government reforms ("surrender here one by one"). The message is that the way to truly win in this is with infinite resolve ("so push us down and we get right back up again"). The title Broken English and the line "the things you're telling me aren't making any sense" would be about the reaction to the attacks (reducing rights with sweeping anti-terrorism legislation and launching bombs) and how they feel these tactics don't make sense.

    The most creative line in the song is "so let the blind lead the blind, cause it's eye for an eye" which takes two well known cliched concepts and ties them together. By fighting fire with fire (eye for an eye) we become blind (Ghandi's saying, "an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind"), and those blind in turn lead the blind "in your so called life" (expressing that he does not agree).

    This is the real interesting part of interpreting songs, because all these things could be metaphors for a relationship and I could be way off. But it's great when songs are this way...it can mean something different to everyone. Either way, great song, great band.

    twilight13on August 10, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I like the 9/11 thing, it sounds like since the towers fell we started to listen to the Bush administration. The line "I'm sick of waiting for someone else to come", sounds like he's saying he is sick of waiting out the years until Bush is out. Pretty much no matter what bullshit we are told by him, and how we are restricted with a lot of the new bills passed (patriot act for example) we get back up again and start again as a country, but it's hard to see that in our war torn and terrorized state.

    ihoodzon January 04, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Dang, the intro sounds a lot like "Survive"

    pastachickennugget42on March 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Oh man. This song is absolutely INCREDIBLE. Especially live. The whoel crowd gets into it. This is definately a fist pumping song.

    WayneSaysYeson May 14, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree.. this is probably the best song off Revolutions.. as well as Black Masks and Gasoline.

    refinehateloveon July 02, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "I'm sick of wishing for someone else to come" ..i love this line... and this song ...and Rise Against<3

    sofarfromhereon December 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song isnt emo

    HotWaterMusic777on January 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah...i don't know where you got the emo thing from, max112...Rise Against is far from emo...

    WayneSaysYeson January 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah it isnt emo... and fuck yes, this song rocks. I saw them Live and when they played this the whole crowd went nuts and sang along. Rise Against are the best band ever, and sound even better live. RISE AGAINST 4 LIFE

    the_gurraon January 24, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah it isnt emo... and fuck yes, this song rocks. I saw them Live and when they played this the whole crowd went nuts and sang along. Rise Against are the best band ever, and sound even better live. RISE AGAINST 4 LIFE

    the_gurraon January 24, 2005   Link

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