Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: industrial
Song Meaning of “August Spies” by Rome
“August Spies” is a song by Rome about sending a desperate plea to someone. The narrator is struggling with something deep within, and is seeking help from the person they love. The lyrics tell the story of a person hoping their loved one will remain close and offer solace of some kind.
The title of the song, “August Spies,” is a reference to August Spies, one of the martyrs of the Haymarket Riot, a labor demonstration that occurred in 1886 in Chicago. This connection gives the song the implication of resistance against tyranny and injustice. The narrator calls out for help in the face of injustice, possibly with a sense of hopelessness and despair.
The first part of the song speaks to feelings of fear and anxiety, with the singer repeatedly asking “Stick by me if you will/Hurry now,” indicating that they need something urgently and cannot move forward without the help of whomever they are speaking to. The second part of the track is more defiant, with the singer pushing back against any attempts at oppression or injustice, wanting the person they are speaking to to join them in the fight against it.
The chorus comes around again and again in the song, signifying that even though the odds may seem stacked against the singer, they will continue fighting. The last line of the song encapsulates this feeling of confronting injustice: “For you who burning hate comes to search me still.” Despite all of the forces of oppression facing them, the narrator is determined to persist.
Overall, “August Spies” by Rome is a powerful song about surviving difficult odds and standing up against injustice. The chorus at the end of the track perfectly captures this sentiment, reminding us all to stay strong and fight against injustice, no matter how overwhelming it may seem.