He sees the corruption of power, "It's just how it's always been, One man with a ruling dream, And everyone falls for him . . ."
He feels the trap of being stuck in a small town, "Some days will stay a thousand years, Some pass like the flash of spark, Who knows where all our days go ?"
He feels anger and loss at what he and his family have sacrificed for capitalism, "Here I stand with my own kin, At the end of everything, Finaly the dream has gone, I've nothing left to hang upon"
He feels the sacrifice of giving oneself for country, "i wait here in this hole, playing poker with my soul, i hold the rifle close to me, it lights the way to keep me free"
He feels the loss of someone he loves, "You never should have gone, I was so young and full of pride, And you were wild and strong, I never knew how weak I was"
He feels the loss of who he wanted to be when he was younger, "I hear your voice, And it keeps me from sleeping, Why must it always be dreams, When your voice comes to me"
He finds love, "I look at you and you will turn and smile, For a little while be happy, I want you with all that loving brings, Like a church bell rings for the morning"
He faces the adventure of sharing his life with another, "We are not dust we are not stone, Just as the wild seed is sown, No one knows how we bring it home, We only take as we have grown"
He discovers the important things in life, "And suddenly I find the truth…and all it is is sighs and youth"
He then reflects back on his life and what it's been, "Did we ever have it good, While we lived in Eldorado did we find the gold we should, If it really was the truth, Why are faces filled with anger that should only shine with youth"
Now I may be reading too much into these songs, but I don't think so. Some reviewers say the lyrics are pretentious, but I think it is what it is the voice of a 25 year old man growing up and beginning to look a the world with different eyes. His voice isn't quite a mature as his thoughts.
Their most critically acclaimed album would come out 15 years later called Driving to Damascus. It was also their last album sadly. I have listened to this album, but I miss the youthful energy that is so a part of Steeltown.
Big Country - Steeltown (1984)
1. Flame of the West
2. East of Eden
3. Steeltown
4. Where the Rose is Sown
5. Come Back to Me
6. Tall Ships Go
7. Girl With Grey Eyes
8. Rain Dance
9. Great Divide
10. Just a Shadow
Discover Big Country!
