The third track to 1995’s Drainland, “I See Them All Lined up” is an industrial take on a song later redone on Swans‘ 1996 opus Soundtracks for the Blind, released then as “All Lined Up”.
[Verse 1]
I see them all lined up
Like broken children at the wall
Their skin is hanging off in sheets
Each face is painted like a clown
Their blood is shining in the sun
Their wounds are powdered with white salt
Their lips are making silent words
I see my name as it spills out
I see them walking on their knees
Led in a chain by laughing girls
I see them sucking on the dirt
As if inhaling the whole world
And one by one their throats are cut
And each one sings his choking song
And each one sings his lullaby
And each one falls and then he's gone
[Refrain]
And I feel good
Yeah I feel fine
Yeah I feel good
And I've been waiting far too long
[Verse 2]
I see their bodies in the pyre
Leaking black smoke into the flames
And all the people stand around
Shaping lips into my name
And soon the sun begins to sink
Behind a wall of dirty air
I see their bones there in the pile
And taste the smell of burning hair
And all the children howl for milk
The rain spits down a million knives
I see you running naked through the field
I see you running for your useless life
I feel you choking on your tongue
I feel your breath attack your chest
The dogs are ripping at your feet
I see you bleeding out your happiness
[Refrain]
And I feel good
Yeah I feel fine
And I feel good
I finally got back what was always rightfully mine
I See Them All Lined Up was written by Bill Rieflin & Jarboe & Michael Gira.
I See Them All Lined Up was produced by Jarboe & Michael Gira & Bill Rieflin.
Michael Gira released I See Them All Lined Up on Fri Jun 09 1995.
On the press release to the album, Michael talks about this track:
“ I See Them All Lined Up” (later re-recorded for Swans) is a naked hate/revenge diatribe, some of the most vile words I ever wrote. I apologize to all concerned. Thank god it’s not too obvious who the subject of my hatred was….