Truce

Truce
SONG
Artist	The Dresden Dolls
Written by	Amanda Palmer
Length	8:34
Album(s)	A Is for Accident The Dresden Dolls

Truce is a song by The Dresden Dolls.

History[]

This song was written mostly in the summer of 2001, after a break-up, and completed at the end of the year, after 9/11.

Meaning[]

This song is, at it's most basic level about a bad break-up, seperating the world between Amanda and an ex-lover in order to avoid any future contact.

9/11[]

The song has a lot of lyrics that could be interpreted as having to do with 9/11. These include:

References to "Washington" and "New York City", the sites of the attacks.
Refernce to air travel: "carry-on baggage" & "black box".
"ground zero" is how the former site of the WTC is now refered.
"disguised as a hero to get past your borders", could reference the hijackers.
"I am the tower around which you orbited". United Airlines Flight 175 did a half-circle around WTC Tower 2 before crashing.
"I fall to the ground within hours of impact" could refer either to the fact that each of the two towers collapsed within 1 and 2 hours respectively of the impact of the planes. Or to the several people who either jumped or fell from the towers between the time of impact and collapse.
"I hit back when hit and attack when attacked" could refer to the 'War on Terror' that was sparked by 9/11 as retaliation.
"I'm laughing like mad as you strangle the captain" could refer to the hijacking of the planes.
"I'll strike like the States on fire" could have some reference to the fires in the towers.
There are also reference to running in fear: "you won't sleep very tight" & "no hiding, no safe covers".
"you can fake it for the papers but I'm on to you" could refer to several 9/11 conspiracy theories.

These were most likely intentional, as the song was completed shortly after the attacks.

Lyrics[]

You can have Washington I'll take New Jersey

You can have London but I want New York city

I should get Providence I've got a job now

Los Angeles - obvious - that's where you belong now

You can have Africa, Asia, Australia

As long as you keep your hands off Cafe Pamplona

We can split Germany right down the middle

You'd hate it there anyway

Take Berlin and we'll call it even

You can have all of the carry-on baggage

I'll trade the saskia jokes for the alphabet language

On special occasions we'll split between parents

Who forced us to hate them on alternating weekends

You call it over and I call you psycho

Significant other? just say we were lovers!

And we'll call it even, we'll call it even

I am the ground zero ex-friend you ordered

Disguised as a hero to get past your borders

I know when I'm wanted I'll leave if you ask me to

Mind my own business and speak when I'm spoken to

I am the tower around which you orbited

I am not proud, I am just taking orders

I fall to the ground within hours of impact

I hit back when hit and attack when attacked!

You get Route 2 between Concord and Lexington

I want Mass Ave from the square to my apartment

And if we should meet through some misunderstanding

I'll be very sweet very patient and forgiving

(Now get off my side of the state)

And if we should see one another in passing

Despite these techniques there is sometimes no avoiding

(There must be some kind of mistake)

We'll raise high our white flags and bow heads and shake hands

Declaring the land we're on unamerican

We'll call it even

I am the tower around which you orbited

I am not proud, I am just taking orders

I fall to the ground within hours of impact

I hit back when hit

And attack if attacked

I am an accident waiting to happen

I'm laughing like mad as you strangle the captain

My place may be taken, but make no mistake

From a little black box I can say without shame

That you've lost

Do you know what you've lost?

So take whatever you'd like

I'll strike like the States on fire

You won't sleep very tight

No hiding

No safe covers

Make your bed and now lie

Just like you always do

You can fake it for the papers but I'm on to you

I'm on to you, I'm on to you!

Truce

Contents

History[]

Meaning[]

9/11[]

Lyrics[]

Release[]

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