Dangerline by Avenged Sevenfold Lyrics Meaning – Unpacking the Poignant Narrative of War and Loss

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Avenged Sevenfold's Dangerline at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

My sixteen locked and loaded

All fear has been avoided

You say the words and my weapon is drawn

This one could be my last time

Some people call it war crime

I may be staring down a lethal sight

(To die)

Nothing shocks you like a bullet hole

Leaving my fear on the danger line

Suffering a man should never know

Leaving my faith on the danger line

I do this for my family

My daughter loves her daddy

Too many talk down on things they don’t know

With colors never faded

Reckless and unabated

They may take me but never take us all (I’ll crawl)

Nothing shocks you like a bullet hole

Leaving my fear on the danger line

Suffering no man should ever know

Leaving my faith on the danger line

I know what you’re thinking

I’ve been there before

So think of the times

The time we spent laughing away

So think of the times at home

Now I found myself in my own blood

(never thought I’d lay in my own blood)

The damage done is far beyond repair

I never put my faith in up above

(never had much faith in up above)

But now, I’m hoping someone’s there

Never meant to leave this world alone

I never meant to hurt the ones who cared

And all this time I thought we’d just grow old

You know, no one said it’s fair

Tell my baby girl that it’s alright

I’ve sung my last song today

Remind the lord to leave his light on for me

I’m free

Avenged Sevenfold, a band synonymous with their hard-hitting and emotionally charged lyrics, takes listeners on a harrowing journey through the grim vistas of conflict with their song ‘Dangerline.’ The track is a poignant exploration of war’s toll on the human spirit and the haunting realities faced by those who serve.

The gripping intensity of the song is matched by an equally powerful narrative, laced with symbolism and metaphors that delve deep into the psyche of a soldier. In the following breakdown, we unravel the layers of this compelling piece, uncovering its hidden meanings and echoing its most memorable lines.

The Soldier’s Lament: An In-depth Look at Heroism and Sacrifice

The opening lines, stark with imagery of readiness and imminent peril, thrust the listener directly into the soldier’s world where the line between survival and oblivion is whisper-thin. ‘Dangerline’ depicts this not as a choice but a harsh inevitability, a testament to the tragic heroism of those who face such realities.

Yet, Avenged Sevenfold doesn’t glamorize this existence. The words ‘Some people call it war crime’ suggest a troubled consciousness, an understanding of the contentious nature of their actions, and the moral ambiguities that intertwine with the concept of duty.

A Bullet Hole in the Fabric of Reality: The Song’s Hidden Heart

The visceral image of a ‘bullet hole’ reverberates as a central metaphor throughout ‘Dangerline.’ It’s the cruel, sudden puncture in one’s existence, marking the moment where personal fear and societal faith clash, the line that, once crossed, changes everything unalterably.

‘Leaving my fear on the danger line,’ paired with ‘leaving my faith on the danger line,’ captures the duality of fear and faith that soldiers grapple with. It hints at the internal conflict, the external judgment, and the ultimate hope for something beyond the carnage.

A Patriotic Palette: Vivid Colors of Conviction and Controversy

‘With colors never faded’ is a bold statement of resilience and identity. These colors, likely representing the flag and country, are unfaded, indicative of the unyielding spirit of the soldier. Yet, the mention of the ‘reckless and unabated’ nature of conflict brings an edge of critique into the patriotic narrative.

This is where Avenged Sevenfold masterfully weaves the personal and political, showing that the valor often extolled in tales of war coexists with the chaotic and unjust nature of war itself, a contradiction not lost on those in the trenches.

Tragic Reflections and The Crushing Weight of Mortality

‘Now I found myself in my own blood’ marks a chilling shift in the song, a realization of mortality that is stark and unforgiving. This admission serves as a narrative climax, offering a stark contrast to the earlier sentiments of invincibility.

The soldier, now facing the end, muses on faith—a faith they lacked in higher powers, yet implicitly had in the mortal coils of life and country. It is a profound and heartbreaking admission of vulnerability and the human need to believe in something—perhaps anything—as the final curtain draws near.

Farewell to a Warrior: The Song’s Most Haunting Memorables

The final verses of ‘Dangerline’ are a gut-wrenching goodbye, a soldier’s last words to their loved ones. The lines ‘Tell my baby girl that it’s alright’ and ‘Remind the lord to leave his light on for me’ are powerful in their simplicity, conveying deep love, and an even deeper resignation to fate.

Avenged Sevenfold has a gift for creating memorable closings, and ‘Dangerline’ is no exception. The elegance lies in the plain-spoken honesty, an emotional resonance that makes these lines linger long after the song’s end — a soldier’s eulogy that encapsulates a life lived on the razor’s edge.