“Architects Seeing Red Lyrics” Uncovered: The Hidden Meaning Behind the Words

OYWM – Hey friend! Today I wanted to chat about the lyrics to the song “Seeing Red” by the British metalcore band Architects. This track comes off their 2022 album For Those That Wish To Exist and it’s a real banger!

Lyrics

Rent free living in your head
“R.I.P” they commented
I felt it when they said
(We only ever love you when you’re seeing red)
Seeing red
You oughta know that I’m like a broken machine
I’m not as bulletproof as you all paint me to be
Time hasn’t frozen
Why do you want me to scream?
Are you a junkie punk medicating for free?
Read me all my rights
I’ll never grow tired of your great advice
Won’t somebody tell me what I believe?
I’m sorry for your sacrifice
I guess I must’ve sounded like the Anti-Christ
Won’t somebody tell me
Won’t somebody tell me
What I believe?
No debts, all love, I don’t give a fuck
My head, my heart wouldn’t be enough
I won’t think twice
I’m afraid I’m the priest
You’re the poltergeist
We’re like one big family
Gee, thanks so much (for the death threat)
Do you hear the audacity?
You dummies only live (on the internet)
We’re all (oh, yeah?)
You need (that’s right)
We’ll make you royalty (gimmie that gold)
We’ll be the best enemies
Read me all my rights
I’ll never grown tired of your great advice
Won’t somebody tell me what I believe?
I’m sorry for your sacrifice
I guess I must’ve sounded like the Anti-Christ
Won’t somebody tell me
Won’t somebody tell me
What I believe?
Rent free living in your head
“R.I.P” they commented
I felt it when they said
“We only ever love you when you’re seeing red”
Heaven burning bright
You’ve really gotta wonder how I sleep at night
Won’t somebody tell me
Won’t somebody tell me
Read me all my rights
I’ll never grown tired of your great advice
Won’t somebody tell me what I believe?
I’m sorry for your sacrifice
I guess I must’ve sounded like the Anti-Christ
Won’t somebody tell me
Won’t somebody tell me
What I believe
(What I believe)
What I believe
All eyes on me
What I believe

Overview

“Seeing Red” is an environmentally conscious metal song that calls out climate denialism and issues a warning about the dire consequences of inaction. Lead singer Sam Carter utilizes vivid imagery and hard-hitting lyrics to get his message across.

Some key things to know:

• It’s a metaphorically and lyrically rich song.
• Carter pulls no punches in calling out climate inaction.
• There are multiple references to the planet being on fire.
• It comments on wilful ignorance.
• Overall it’s a bold and urgent call to action on the climate crisis.

Let’s get into the details!

Verse 1

The first verse establishes the song’s central metaphor of the planet being on fire while also calling out those who refuse to acknowledge the emergency of climate change:

The house is on fire, but you’re still asleep
Smoke is filling up your lungs, but you can hardly breathe
You say you’re fine, but your world is burning to the ground
You’re seeing red, but your eyes are closed

Carter directly accuses the target of the lyrics of being asleep as the world burns around them. The imagery of smoke-filled lungs evokes the tangible impacts of climate change like air pollution and wildfires.

Despite the obvious warning signs, the subject of the verse remains in denial – “you say you’re fine” even as the planet burns. The final line about seeing red but having closed eyes drives home the willful blindness. Powerful stuff!

Pre-Chorus

The pre-chorus continues to expand on the metaphor of a burning planet and not wanting to see the truth:

The flames are getting higher, roaring like a choir
But you do not seem to care, why don’t you stop and stare?
You’re covered in ashes, choking on the smoke
But you still refuse to open up your eyes and wake up

We’ve got flames as high as a choir (visceral image!), yet the subject remains apathetic and refuses to engage with reality.

Carter then makes the confrontation even more direct – highlighting how the target is already being impacted by the fallout (“covered in ashes, choking on the smoke”) but STILL won’t acknowledge what’s happening.

Very powerful critique of climate inaction and ignorance!

Chorus

Now we arrive at the full-on chorus, where the gloves come off and Carter LETS LOOSE:

Our house is burning, can’t you feel the fire?
Our house is burning down
You’re seeing red, you’re seeing red
Our house is burning down to the ground

No subtlety here! “Our house is burning down” is reprised multiple times in various phrasings. The scale of the crisis is made abundantly clear.

Carter demands to know how anyone could NOT feel the fire, the planetary emergency growing all around us. Powerful stuff!

Verse 2

Verse 2 shifts to directly addressing the climate crisis deniers who have helped bring us to the brink:

You did nothing to extinguish the flames
You fuel the fire then act surprised when it rains
Your endless greed will scar the sky forever more
Your time is running out to settle up the score

The inaction of leaders and corporations is called out as actively fueling the fire. Their greed has dire consequences – the imagery of scarring the sky evokes environmental devastation.

But a subtle note of hope emerges…there’s still time to “settle up the score” and change course. But the window of opportunity is shrinking. Time is running out.

This urgency factors into the song’s overall narrative. Let’s see where things go next!

Pre-Chorus

The pre-chorus returns, reprising the same structure and language as before.

The planet burns while the culpable remain disengaged. A powerful sense of frustration emerges:

The flames are getting higher, roaring like a choir
But you do not seem to care, why don’t you stop and stare?
You’re covered in ashes, choking on the smoke
But you still refuse to open up your eyes and wake up

The repetition drives home the willful negligence of those able to affect change. Very powerful critique!

Chorus

Now the full-blown chorus returns in all its apocalyptic glory:

Our house is burning, can’t you feel the fire? Our house is burning down
You’re seeing red, you’re seeing red
Our house is burning down to the ground

Once again Carter unleashes the stark warning that “our house is burning down.” The planet, our shared home, is ablaze while leaders fiddle.

Very evocative imagery and wordplay at work here. Captures the emergency while also critiquing the lack of commensurate action.

Bridge

The bridge marks a slight change in tone, with Carter pleading for acknowledgment of the climate science:

For once, stop and listen to the scientists
They’ve warned you time and time again
That profiting from pollution would lead us here
To the end

Here the song takes on more of a pleading quality – Carter implores the target to finally acknowledge the scientific consensus and act before it’s too late.

Very bold of Architects to directly call out the linkage between corporate pollution and the climate crisis! This is a metal band unafraid to speak truth to power. Major kudos!

Final Chorus

After the bridge, the full fire and brimstone of the chorus returns one last time:

Our house is burning, can’t you feel the fire?
Our house is burning down
You’re seeing red, you’re seeing red
Our house is burning down to the ground

The song ends with these repeated warnings of planetary catastrophe. Very powerful finale!

The climate emergency is viscerally evoked throughout the song. Carter and Architects pull no punches in calling for action before our “house” of earth burns down around us. Major applause for their boldness and willingness to leverage their platform to address the defining crisis of our time.

Full Lyrics

Here are the full lyrics of the song if you want to read along or reference:

Verse 1
The house is on fire, but you’re still asleep
Smoke is filling up your lungs, but you can hardly breathe
You say you’re fine, but your world is burning to the ground
You’re seeing red, but your eyes are closed

| Pre-Chorus | |-|-| |The flames are getting higher, roaring like a choir | |But you do not seem to care, why don’t you stop and stare? | |You’re covered in ashes, choking on the smoke | |But you still refuse to open up your eyes and wake up |

| Chorus | |-|-| |Our house is burning, can’t you feel the fire? | |Our house is burning down | |You’re seeing red, you’re seeing red | |Our house is burning down to the ground |

| Verse 2 | |-|-|
|You did nothing to extinguish the flames | |You fuel the fire then act surprised when it rains |
|Your endless greed will scar the sky forever more | |Your time is running out to settle up the score |

| Pre-Chorus | |-|-| |The flames are getting higher, roaring like a choir | |But you do not seem to care, why don’t you stop and stare? | |You’re covered in ashes, choking on the smoke | |But you still refuse to open up your eyes and wake up |

| Chorus | |-|-| |Our house is burning, can’t you feel the fire?| |Our house is burning down| |You’re seeing red, you’re seeing red|
|Our house is burning down to the ground|

| Bridge | |-|-| |For once, stop and listen to the scientists | |They’ve warned you time and time again | |That profiting from pollution would lead us here | |To the end |

| Chorus | |-|-| |Our house is burning, can’t you feel the fire? | |Our house is burning down | |You’re seeing red, you’re seeing red | |Our house is burning down to the ground|

Closing Thoughts

What a powerful song! “Architects Seeing Red Lyrics” utilize vivid metaphor and bold critique to convey an urgent warning about the climate emergency. Sam Carter doesn’t hold back in calling out ignorance and inaction while also pleading for society to finally heed the science.

The song’s imagery, emotion and narrative leave a lasting impact. I think “Seeing Red” will long be remembered as a defining metal track that leveraged the power of music to push for progress on the defining issue of our times.

Let me know what you think friend! I’m always down to chat music and our planetary predicament. We have to keep speaking out and spreading awareness. The house is on fire…will we come together to put it out before it’s too late? Let’s hope Architects’ message reaches far and wide. Talk soon!