Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a stark picture of a lost collective innocence, questioning a profound societal or spiritual decline. The opening lines establish a shared past, "Our sky was the same," before a dramatic shift to dispersal: "Each of us was scattered." This immediately sets up the central, haunting question, "What happened to humanity?" The repetition of this question acts as a desperate plea, a bewildered cry for an explanation of this widespread fragmentation and loss.
This sense of decline is further emphasized by contrasting past purity with present degradation. The narrator recalls a time when "Our eyes were innocent" and "Our hearts were just." These images of inherent goodness are violently juxtaposed with the present state, where humanity has transformed from a vibrant "forest" to "ash," and from being "human" to becoming "slaves." This transformation suggests a loss of freedom and a destruction of natural or inherent worth, leaving behind only remnants and scattering.
The core of the lyrics lies in this devastating transformation, captured most powerfully in the repeated refrain: "We were forest, we became ash / We were human, we became slaves." This metaphor highlights a complete inversion of state – from growth and life to destruction and subjugation. The lyrics suggest a collective fall from grace, a loss of identity and purpose that has led to division and an ultimate sense of ending: "We are finished now."
The effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their directness and potent imagery. The simple, declarative sentences and the stark, almost elemental contrasts create an immediate emotional impact. The recurring question, "What happened to humanity?" coupled with the devastating transformation metaphors, resonates as a profound lament for a lost state of being, leaving the listener with a heavy sense of bewilderment and sorrow over a shared, but broken, past.