This song was first played publicly on the BBC Radio 1 program, Rock Show With Daniel P. Carter, on May 22, 2016.
The song is written from the perspective of a U.S. military drone operator [see the Vagrant Records Thrice bio in May 2016] and almost certainly inspired by the accounts of Brandon Brya...
[Verse 1]
I always thought, I always thought, that there was something different, setting us apart
That I was led, that I was led by men with sober minds and sympathetic hearts
I swore an oath, swore an oath, but never knew just what it was to take a life
I play at God, play at God across such distances and from so great a height
[Chorus]
But I am never sure who I am killing
How many innocents were in the building?
I drop death out of the
No longer human beings, no longer people
Just targets on a screen, none of it's real
I drop death out of the sky... Tell me why
[Verse 2]
One day they sent, one day they sent me to the chaplain when I said I can't go on
All he said, all he said was just to shut my mouth and do the "will of God"
[Chorus]
But I am never sure who I am killing
How many innocents were in the building?
I drop death out of the
No longer human beings, no longer people
Just targets on a screen, none of it's real
I drop death out of the sky... Tell me why?
[Bridge]
Tell me why?
"To make us safe," so it would seem
But we shoot further than we dream
Can’t we see? We only justify
Someone’s resolve to rise against
And to avenge the innocent
And defend the ones that still survive
I'm still asking "why?"
Death from Above was written by Dustin Kensrue & Teppei Teranishi & Eddie Breckenridge & Riley Breckenridge.
Death from Above was produced by Eric Palmquist.
Thrice released Death from Above on Sun May 22 2016.