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Girl Against the Tyrant

from After the End by Joustene Lorenz

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In the Biblical story, the people of Babel/Babylon build a Tower which they think will provide direct access to Heaven. God, though, is incensed, smashing the Tower and scattering humans across all parts of the world.

The tyrant in this song is created out of the same fantasy of greatness and eternal bliss. He may be anyone—a prince, politician, warrior, lover or dog trainer. But he’s still the same tyrannical egoist. The song tracks these ambitions and fall from grace. Despite the seriousness of the theme, it’s a playful song, more inclined to parody than tragedy. In many respects, this song mimics the tone of the original Babylonian parable to comment on the persistence of the deadly sin of pride.

lyrics

1.
I saw you climbing The Tower of Babel,
But you’re unable
To reach the top.
Your pride delights you,
God’s fury strikes you,
But you believe that you’re the Chosen One.

CHORUS
What you gonna do when
The kings and the queens desert you?
What you gonna do when
The pieces fall apart?
Who you gonna love when
Her arms no longer hold you?
Standing on the street
In your sheets
With a broken heart.

2.
Falling, forever falling,
I hear you call
As you tumble down.
People you preyed on,
The drugs you stayed on—
No-one to save you when you hit the ground.

CHORUS
What you gonna do when
The kings and the queens desert you?
What you gonna do when
The pieces fall apart?
Who you gonna love when
Her arms no longer hold you?
Standing on the street
In your sheets
With a broken heart.

BRIDGE
Hallelujah!
Time’s not made of stone…
She’ll see right through ya
Throw off your Hollow Crown.
Hallelujah!
You’re in this Passion Play,
It’s quite peculiar,
You don’t know what to say.

3.
Shaking,
Your body’s breaking,
Your soul is fading like a winter sun.
You say you’re crying,
I know you’re lying,
The Tower of Babel falls in Babylon.

CHORUS
What you gonna do when
The kings and the queens desert you?
What you gonna do when
The pieces fall apart?
Who you gonna love when
Her arms no longer hold you?
Standing on the street
In your sheets
With a broken heart.

CODA
Hallelujah!
Time’s not made of stone…
She’ll see right through ya
Thrw off your Hollow Crown.
Hallelujah!
You’re in this Passion Play,
It’s quite peculiar,
You don’t know what to say.

credits

from After the End, released June 11, 2022
Joustene: vocals, guitars, synthesizer
Bella: vocals, percussion
Jeff : drums
Froggie: brass

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Joustene Lorenz Australia

'Sexy, smart, poetic—Joustene is a unique artist. One of the best singer-songwriters of the current era.' Felipe Rollins (The Musicians' Journal, June, 2023).

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