Dove-Tongued Aggressor

Song Meaning

This track paints a stark picture of a manipulative force, a "dove-tongued aggressor," whose words are hollow and whose intentions are self-serving. The narrator immediately distrusts the subject, noting that their "words are counted not weighed" and their face is a "fountainhead that spews out lies." This sets a tone of disillusionment, where communication is a tool of deception rather than genuine connection. The aggressor is characterized by a profound lack of empathy, possessing "no ears to hear your cries." The lyrics then broaden the scope to a systemic critique, suggesting a pervasive "web of greed" that extends to cosmic proportions, with individuals believing they "own the stars." This greed dictates a transactional existence where life itself requires payment, and labor is a constant, unrewarded struggle. The rhetorical question, "But will they feed their children oil?" highlights the moral bankruptcy of this system, implying that even basic sustenance is secondary to profit. The repeated warning, "Don't build yourself a prison baby," serves as a plea against internalizing this oppressive structure. The most striking imagery lies in the transformation from a "prison" to a "prism." While a prison signifies confinement and limitation, a prism refracts light, suggesting a potential for breaking down and reinterpreting reality. The lyrics imply that by resisting the imposed structures, one might find a new way of seeing or experiencing the world, even if it's a painful or fragmented one. This shift is linked to a loss of innocence, as "children of light" and "newborn child" are contrasted with the harsh realities of war and the aggressor's deaf ears. The final, almost resigned, observation, "They're building us all prisons aren't they?" underscores the pervasive nature of this control, leaving the listener to ponder the extent of their own confinement.