The Call - The Walls Came Down Lyrics
Lyrics
Well they blew the horns
And the walls came down
They'd all been warned
And the walls came down
They juststood there laughing
They're not laughing anymore
The walls came down
Sanctuary fades
congregation splits
Nightly military raids
The congregation splits
It's a song of assassins
Ringin' in your ears
We got terrorist thinking
Playing on fears
Well they blew the horns
And the walls came down
They'd all been warned
But the walls came down
I do't think there are any Russians
And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals
playin' with tanks
Video
The Call - The Walls Came Down
Meaning & Inspiration
The Call's powerful anthem, "The Walls Came Down," originally released on December 6, 2005, as part of *The Best of the Call*, stands as a compelling prophetic reflection on both historical events and enduring spiritual truths. From its opening lines, the song immediately evokes one of the most dramatic narratives in the Bible: the fall of Jericho in Joshua chapter 6. The imagery of horns blowing and ancient walls crumbling is a direct and unmistakable reference to God's divine intervention, where the people of Jericho, warned by God's decree through Joshua, faced judgment for their defiance. The song harnesses this iconic biblical moment not merely as a historical recount, but as a potent metaphor for the collapse of oppressive systems, the consequences of hubris, and the inevitable triumph of divine justice.
The initial verses, proclaiming "they blew the horns / And the walls came down / They'd all been warned / And the walls came down," directly mirror the events of Jericho. This powerful imagery reminds us that God often sends warnings before judgment, offering opportunities for repentance, as seen with Noah, Nineveh, and numerous prophets throughout Scripture. The subsequent line, "They just stood there laughing / They're not laughing anymore," underscores the reversal of fortunes for those who mock or dismiss divine warnings. Psalm 2:4 declares, "The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them," a clear picture of God's perspective on human arrogance. This passage suggests that worldly powers, confident in their own strength, often find their laughter turned to sorrow when confronted by the true, ultimate power.
As the song progresses, its message broadens to address the decay within spiritual communities and the insidious tactics of the adversary. "Sanctuary fades / congregation splits / Nightly military raids / The congregation splits" paints a stark picture of spiritual decline and internal division. This resonates deeply with biblical warnings about the falling away of faith and the rise of false teachers, which lead to fracturing within the body of Christ, as described in Matthew 24:10, "many will turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other." The "nightly military raids" symbolize not just physical persecution, but the relentless spiritual warfare described in Ephesians 6:12, where believers are reminded that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." The song thus illuminates how external pressures and internal strife weaken the very foundations of faith.
The lyrics then pivot to expose the architects of this spiritual and societal breakdown: "It's a song of assassins / Ringin' in your ears / We got terrorist thinking / Playing on fears." This section unveils the deceptive nature of the enemy, who, like an assassin, operates in the shadows, sowing discord and terror. John 8:44 characterizes Satan as "a liar and the father of lies," whose primary strategy is to instill fear and confusion, thereby paralyzing individuals and communities. This "terrorist thinking" represents the constant bombardment of anxieties, doubts, and divisive ideologies designed to erode trust, undermine peace, and distract from eternal truths. The song effectively cuts through the noise to identify the true source of much human suffering: not just visible conflicts, but the underlying spiritual battle for hearts and minds, fueled by fear.
The most profound shift occurs when the song declares, "I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks / Just corporate criminals / playin' with tanks." This statement radically redefines the perceived enemy, moving beyond geopolitical rivalries to expose the hidden hand of avarice and corruption. The song posits that true oppression often stems not from national identities, but from powerful, shadowy entities driven by insatiable greed and a thirst for control, symbolized by "corporate criminals playing with tanks." This aligns perfectly with biblical wisdom that identifies the love of money as "a root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10) and warns against the deceptive allure of worldly power. James 4:1-3 asks, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?" The song suggests these desires manifest on a global scale through systems of exploitation and oppression. In this light, "the walls coming down" represents the exposure and ultimate downfall of these corrupt systems, revealing their spiritual barrenness and paving the way for God’s righteous justice. The song serves as a powerful call to spiritual discernment, urging individuals to look beyond superficial conflicts and identify the true forces at play, trusting that even in the face of daunting challenges, the divine hand will ultimately dismantle all that stands against His truth.