Literature
Literature
Songs
Killing An Arab by The Cure
History
Composer Robert Smith has said that the song "was a short poetic attempt at condensing my impression of the key moments in L'Étranger (The Stranger) by Albert Camus". The lyrics describe a shooting on a beach, in which the Arab of the title is killed by the song's narrator; in Camus' story the protagonist, Meursault, shoots an Arab on a beach, overwhelmed by his surroundings. Meursault is condemned for his honesty about his feelings. He is considered an outsider (or "stranger") because "he refuses to lie" and "doesn't play the game".
Lyrics
Standing in the beach with a gun in my hand, With a gun in my hand, Staring at the sea, Staring the sand, Staring down the barrel, At the Arab on the ground, I can see his open mouth, But I hear no sound
I’m alive, I’m dead, I’m the stranger, Killing an Arab
I can turn, And walk away, Or I can fire the gun, Staring at the sky, Staring at the sun, whichever I choose, it amounts to the same, absolutely nothing
I’m alive, I’m dead, I’m the stranger, Killing an Arab
I feel the steel butt jump, Smooth in my hand, Staring at the sea, Staring at the sand, Staring at myself, Reflected in the eyes, of the dead man on the beach, The dead man on the beach
I’m alive, I’m dead, I’m the stranger, Killing an Arab
Flight of Icarus by Iron Maiden
The song is loosely based on the ancient Greek myth of Icarus who was imprisoned with his father Daedalus in the palace of Knossos on Crete. In an attempt to escape, the pair fabricated wings from feathers and wax so they could fly away. Unfortunately Icarus, not heeding the advice of his father, flew too close to the Sun, melting the wax that held the feathers and thus fell to his death in the sea. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson modified the original tale to make it an allegory of teenage rebellion against adult authority, which caused the death of Icarus in this case.
Lyrics
As the sun breaks, above the ground,
An old man stands on
Songs
Killing An Arab by The Cure
History
Composer Robert Smith has said that the song "was a short poetic attempt at condensing my impression of the key moments in L'Étranger (The Stranger) by Albert Camus". The lyrics describe a shooting on a beach, in which the Arab of the title is killed by the song's narrator; in Camus' story the protagonist, Meursault, shoots an Arab on a beach, overwhelmed by his surroundings. Meursault is condemned for his honesty about his feelings. He is considered an outsider (or "stranger") because "he refuses to lie" and "doesn't play the game".
Lyrics
Standing in the beach with a gun in my hand, With a gun in my hand, Staring at the sea, Staring the sand, Staring down the barrel, At the Arab on the ground, I can see his open mouth, But I hear no sound
I’m alive, I’m dead, I’m the stranger, Killing an Arab
I can turn, And walk away, Or I can fire the gun, Staring at the sky, Staring at the sun, whichever I choose, it amounts to the same, absolutely nothing
I’m alive, I’m dead, I’m the stranger, Killing an Arab
I feel the steel butt jump, Smooth in my hand, Staring at the sea, Staring at the sand, Staring at myself, Reflected in the eyes, of the dead man on the beach, The dead man on the beach
I’m alive, I’m dead, I’m the stranger, Killing an Arab
Flight of Icarus by Iron Maiden
The song is loosely based on the ancient Greek myth of Icarus who was imprisoned with his father Daedalus in the palace of Knossos on Crete. In an attempt to escape, the pair fabricated wings from feathers and wax so they could fly away. Unfortunately Icarus, not heeding the advice of his father, flew too close to the Sun, melting the wax that held the feathers and thus fell to his death in the sea. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson modified the original tale to make it an allegory of teenage rebellion against adult authority, which caused the death of Icarus in this case.
Lyrics
As the sun breaks, above the ground,
An old man stands on