Are You Tired? (Keep on Singing)

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a stark refusal to conform, rejecting "western time" and challenging established truths. There's an immediate sense of defiance against a system whose "investors need to heal," suggesting a deep-seated brokenness. The repeated command to "Lie on the floor" initially feels like forced submission, yet it quickly evolves into an act of attentive listening. The central tension arises from a profound sense of dispossession. The narrator confronts the cold, legalistic theft of land, noting "signatures on paper" that declare "this is not your land." This injustice extends beyond mere property, as "the ink on the trees stolen too" powerfully connects the act of signing to the very resources of the earth, culminating in the chilling image of a "stolen tomb." The craft here lies in the evolving meaning of repetition. The insistent questioning, "Are you tired?", underscores a pervasive weariness in the face of such systemic oppression. Yet, this exhaustion is met with the equally insistent command to "Just keep on singing!" This isn't just a call for endurance; it's an act of defiance, a refusal to be silenced despite the burden. Ultimately, the lyrics suggest that even when the "Mother country has got her arms" on everything, denying choice and agency, the act of singing becomes a vital form of resistance. It's a testament to persistence, implying that even when tired, the voice itself holds power against forces that seek to erase identity and claim ownership.