Her Eyes (feat. Serj Tankian)

The song 'Her Eyes' by The Cost, featuring Serj Tankian, delves into the harrowing experiences and emotional turmoil of war. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the confusion and hopelessness faced by soldiers. The repeated lines, 'It's a mistake to move forward / And a mistake to move back,' highlight the sense of entrapment and the lack of good choices in a war-torn environment. This repetition emphasizes the futility and the cyclical nature of conflict, where every direction seems to lead to more suffering and danger.

The imagery in the song is stark and powerful. Phrases like 'Cold and dark / The thunder ripping / The black sky apart' and 'The shrill demented choirs / Of wailing shells' evoke the chaotic and destructive nature of war. The song also touches on the psychological impact of war, with lines like 'Roaming in our sleep / Loaded to the teeth,' suggesting a constant state of alertness and readiness for battle, even in moments of rest. The mention of 'tape the wound' and 'the circling of the flies' further underscores the grim reality of the battlefield, where survival is a constant struggle.

The chorus, 'Lie, lie in her eyes / Morning lights,' introduces a more personal and emotional element. This could be interpreted as the lies told to loved ones or the lies soldiers tell themselves to cope with the horrors they face. The 'morning lights' might symbolize hope or a new beginning, but juxtaposed with the lies, it suggests a fragile and fleeting sense of hope. The song's conclusion, with lines like 'Out on the broken land / Our time to kill again,' reinforces the endless cycle of violence and the longing for an end to the suffering. 'Her Eyes' is a poignant reflection on the devastating impact of war on both the physical and emotional levels.