Empire

Album: My Better Self (2005)
Play Video
  • Who's afraid of the sun?
    Who'd question the goodness of the mighty?
    We who banish the threat,
    When your little ones all go nighty-nighty.

    Well, there's no time for doubt right now
    And less time to explain.
    So get back on your horses,
    Kiss my ring, join our next campaign.

    And the empire grows with the news that we're winning.
    With more fear to conquer
    And more gold thread for spinning.
    Bright as the sun, shining on everyone.

    Some would say that we forced our words
    And we find that ingenuously churlish.
    Words are just words.
    Don't be so pessimistic, weak and girlish.

    We like strong, happy people
    Who don't think there's something wrong with pride,
    Work makes them free
    And we spread that freedom far and wide.

    And the empire grows,
    The seeds of its glory,
    For every five tanks,
    Plant a sentimental story,
    Till they worship the sun,
    Even Christ-loving ones.

    And we'll kill the terror who rises
    And a million of their races.
    But when our people torture you
    That's a few random cases.

    Don't question the sun
    It doesn't help anyone.

    But the journalist cried out
    When it was too late to stop us.
    Everyone had awakened
    To the dream they could enter our colossus.

    And now I'm right,
    Here you said I'm right,
    There's nothing that can harm me.
    Cause the sun never sets
    On my dungeons or my army.

    And the empire fell
    On it's own splintered axis.
    And the emperor wanes
    As the silver moon waxes.

    And the farmers will find our coins
    In their strawberry fields
    While somebody somewhere
    Twists his ring as someone kneels.

    Oh where is the sun, shining for everyone.
    Oh where is the sun, shining for everyone. Writer/s: BRETT HASTINGS WILLIAMS, IAN GRAHAM HULME, LINDSAY EDWARD TEBBUTT, MARK DIXON GABLE
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Hipgnosis Songs Group, MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD, Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Patricia from UsaI loved the song the first time I heard it, but I disagree with the artist that establishing an hegemony was what we were doing in Iraq. We now know there were WMD in Iraq - this information was published not long ago by the Obama administration, so the "Bush lied, people died" mantra is itself a proven lie. There are at least two other major nuclear powers who are filling the power vacuum left when the current administration gave Russia the "reset button" and essentially unilateral nuclear disarmament, so that Vladimir Putin is now free to be the hegemon of Eastern Europe, while ISIS (using arms given them partly by the Obama administration and money by Saudi Arabia) has its own hegemony, and a criminal, murderous, bloody and literally rapacious one where 5 thousand American troops died to establish a working democracy. Walking away from being able to deter crimes like these is just as bad as what Dar Willams accused Bush of doing.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.