The Only Way Out - Brown Word and the Big Whine
Liner NotesThis title lent itself immediately to a certain type of song with a certain type of story for me. These lyrics are based around one of the great Icelandic family sagas, The Saga of Burnt Njal. However I added a twist - in this song the intended victims of the house-burning are victorious. Njal and his family weren't so lucky, only a couple of people escaped to seek justice according to the laws of the land at the time. The challenge also naturally lent itself, in my mind to this style of music. So I took the plunge and went with my inspiration, perhaps a daring deed of my own at this stage in Nur Ein. You can hear the downward modulation during the middle guitar solo and also the final round of vocals. Musically, the song changes as the lyrics move from realizing that there is nothing to do but certainly die or try to fight and then facing down the enemy. I really enjoyed putting this together and learned a few things along the way.
The end of the line is here
Let's gather round and make our peace
The enemy surrounds us now
With no intent to set us free
But once we were just a dream
And once again we shall be dust
Nothing is our certain end
Take as many as we can with us
The only way out
We're going in a blaze of glory
Nobody can say what lies beyond
Together we will find
The only way out
The only way out
The flames lick at the rafters
The doors with men are guarded strong
Let us push while strength remains
And dash our blades into the throng
And the folks will speak of this night
In the ages that unfold
Of how we bravely bore our fate
Our daring deeds will be retold
The only way out
We're going in a blaze of glory
Nobody can say what lies beyond
Together we will find
The only way out
The only way out
We face the coming sting of death
My friends we draw our parting breath
As one machine, we draw our sword
And cut the legs from this foul horde
And like the gods had suddenly smiled
The ranks of foes lay dead or dying
They part like clouds after the storm
The only way out became our triumph