Seventh Day Slumber - Burning An Empire Lyrics
Lyrics
Left with a ghost
We traded our souls
Now we're the ones who run the show
We wanted you out
Ripping your church to the ground
Anything just to have control
What will it take
To see the mess you've made
We're burning an empire
Can we arise from the ashes again
What we've lost in the fire
Can we ever recover
Go back from the state we're in
We are the ones who decide
Who lives and who dies
We let the unborn pay price
It's all just murder for hire
So you could fill your desire
And we go on with our own lives
What will it take
To see the mess you've made
We're burning an empire
Can we arise from the ashes again
What we've lost in the fire
Can we ever recover
Go back the state we're in
There's evil in your eyes
Your bloodstained hands don't lie
You're rotting deep inside
You're rotting deep inside
We're burning an empire
Can we arise from the ashes again
What we've lost in the fire
Can we ever recover
Go back from the state we're in
Video
Burning An Empire
Meaning & Inspiration
Released as part of their 2019 album, *Closer to Chaos*, Seventh Day Slumber's "Burning An Empire" stands as a potent declaration of spiritual and moral decay, urging a reckoning with the consequences of societal choices. The song confronts a world that has seemingly traded its integrity for control, even at the cost of innocence, and asks a vital question: "What will it take to see the mess you've made?" This isn't merely a critique of abstract societal failings, but a call to recognize the deep spiritual rot that can infect individuals and communities when they prioritize self-interest and power over truth and righteousness. The lyrics paint a stark picture of those who have "traded our souls" and now "run the show," ripping down foundations that once offered sanctuary. This echoes the biblical warning found in Proverbs 14:34, which states, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." The song's powerful imagery of "burning an empire" speaks to the self-destructive nature of such pursuits, where the very structures built on flawed foundations crumble, leaving behind devastation. The repeated question of whether "we can arise from the ashes again" and "ever recover" reflects a desperate hope intertwined with the sobering reality of loss.
The core of "Burning An Empire" delves into the profound ethical compromises made when authority is wielded without accountability, particularly the chilling line about letting "the unborn pay the price." This directly confronts the sanctity of life, a foundational tenet throughout Scripture. The song’s accusation of "murder for hire" and filling "desire" at the expense of others’ lives points to a deep moral bankruptcy that has become normalized. This resonates with the prophet Isaiah's lament in Isaiah 5:20: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" The song insists that this rot is not superficial but internal, describing those responsible as having "evil in your eyes" and being "rotting deep inside." This visceral description aligns with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 15:19, where He states, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." The repeated refrain about the possibility of recovery from the ashes underscores a plea for repentance and a return to foundational truths. The song’s message, in its entirety, serves as a powerful sermon in song, urging listeners to examine their own lives and societies, to recognize the devastating impact of choices made in pursuit of fleeting power and pleasure, and to seek redemption and restoration from the spiritual desolation they have wrought.