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The meaning of the lyrics of the song "The Headless Waltz" by the artist "Voltaire"

Contents

Voltaire's "The Headless Waltz" is a satirical and darkly humorous work that denounces the cruelty and absurdity of the French Revolution. The text is full of sarcasm and irony, mocking both the ruling class and the revolutionaries.

Main ideas embedded in the text:

The Cyclical Nature of Violence and Hypocrisy: The phrase "As above, so below" emphasizes that the revolutionaries, having overthrown the tyranny of the aristocracy, have themselves become just as cruel and bloodthirsty.

Dehumanization and Madness of the Crowd: Images of beheaded bodies, calls to "sharpen the blade" and "wipe that grin off her face" create a picture of madness and cruelty that has gripped society.

Criticism of Marie Antoinette: The Queen is ridiculed for her detachment from the people ("You never did as you were told") and extravagance ("You like pearls?").

The Revolutionaries' Inability to Create: Beheading one's own head is a metaphor for the rejection of reason and a descent into chaos. The character who lost his head is unable to find it, symbolizing the intellectual and moral collapse of the revolution.

Voltaire uses grotesque and black humor to show that the revolution, which began with good intentions, has turned into a bloodbath dominated by violence and absurdity.

As above, so below, place your bets

Which way the head will roll

Made in your image, we are at least

As twisted and mean as thee

'Fore your eyes, what a curious site

Your children have turned on you

And you say, you don't sleep well at night

Well, we'll take care of that for you

Belle Marie Antoinette

Love the pearls

They'll make a great tourniquet

Never did as you should and you claim

It was all for our very own good

'Twas a lie, a magnificent lie

Now, your subjects have turned on you

And you claim you had lots on your mind

Well, we'll take care of that for you

Get that damn thing off her neck

I'm the head of the board now I'm bored of her head

Sharpen up the blade, boys.

What are you waiting for?

Here's where we all get ahead!

Wipe that damn smile off your face

Or we'll lop it off clean with our new guillotine

Sharpen up the blade boys, what are you waiting for?

Here's where we all get ahead!

All my troubles, all my pain

Stems from this thing that you call a "brain"

Be my guest, sever me from the source of all my agony

What a shame, I've forgotten my name

Without the use of my brain and

My, bet I'll sleep well tonight

Without this head of mine

Get this damn thing off my neck

I'm the head of the board now I'm bored of my head

Sharpen up the blade, boys

What are you waiting for?

Here's where we all get ahead!

Wipe that damn smile off your face

Or we'll lop it off clean with our new guillotine

Sharpen up the blade, boys

Bells are now tolling, soon heads will be rolling

Please Sir, for me, Sir,

Won't you see if you see, Sir?

Oh dear, I dread

I seem to have lost my head

I think I left it about

It fell to the ground

And I kicked it around

Has anyone seen, no need to be mean,

My bloody, fat, ugly head?

Please Miss, for me, Sis,

Won't you see if you see, Sis

It's got black hair

And it's kickin' about in the square

I'm really not totally sure but

I think that it might have rolled into the sewer.

Has anyone seen, no need to be mean,

My bloody, fat, ugly head?

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