"Blood Red Summer"

"Blood Red Summer" is a song by the American rock band Coheed and Cambria. It is the sixth track and second single on their 2003 album In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3.

Lyrics
[Verse 1] Faint white figures paint my sleep Please don't tell my secrets, keep them hidden (You got it, you got it, you got it)

If the words that matter reach your face, from floor Will you be wondering if, or (Do I need what is given or honest?)

Does it cost me scarring if the words stay true Even number your nephew? (I don't want it, don't want it, don't want it anymore)

[Pre-Chorus] And when the answer that you want Is in the question that you state Come what may, come what may

And when the answer that you want Is in the question that you state Come what may, come what may

[Verse 2] In a pain that buckles out your knees Could you stop this if I plead? (You got it, you got it, you got it)

So destined I am, to walk among the dark A child in keeping secrets from (Will they know what I've done in the after?)

In the sought for matter when the words blame you In a blood red summer, I'll give you (I don't want it, don't want it, don't want it)

[Pre-Chorus] And when the answer that you want Is in the question that you state Come what may, come what may

And when the answer that you want Is in the question that you state Come what may, come what may

[Chorus] What did I do to deserve... What did I do to deserve... (This? This?)

What did I do to deserve... What did I do to deserve... (This? This?)

[Chorus] What did I do to deserve... What did I do to deserve... (This? This?)

What did I do to deserve... What did I do to deserve... (This? This?)

What did I do to deserve... What did I do to deserve... (This? This?)

What did I do to deserve... What did I do?

Music Video
An official music video was released for the single on November 9, 2004. It was directed by Marc Webb. Seemingly having nothing to do with the concept, the video features Sanchez out in the woods setting various traps as he is approached by the other band members who seem to be zombies. If Sanchez is a fill in for our intrepid heroes, and the zombies represent the Narrows (a sort of zombie of the Fence), could this be foreshadowing? (Probably not.)



Story Context
"" The first verse describes Claudio's "Ghost Breath" skill. In one scene with Apollo, Claudio says "Some people would call it 'Ghost Breath,' the closest thing to exhaling the spirit world has... and a subtle way to make their presence known." With his parents, Cecil (who at this point in the future is truly gone), and Jesse and Sizer seemingly friendly exactly as described: as "faint, white figures." Each of these figures know Claudio's secret: that he is truly The Crowing and probably wouldn't rat him out, so to speak. On the next page, in the past, we get a description of a dream that everyone in Heaven's Fence had prior to Wilhelm Ryan, who is presumed dead, returning. This is probably what the lines "If the words that matter reach your face, from floor / Will you be wondering if, or" refers to. Can the citizens trust this isn't a trick? The last lines probably come from Ryan himself as he taunts Jesse at his return saying, "the greatest and most trusted minds in the Keywork declared me dead." Could this mockery scar his reputation? Will people leave the rebellion?

The pre-chorus puts these questions into perspective with the line, "And when the answer that you want / Is in the question that you state / Come what may, come what may." These questions are posed, but each already knows that they are true and action must follow. In a way, they are letting the results be decided by faith (come what may).

What follows these events is Ryan orders the death of all The Stars in Camp Si-Revody be killed, and all of Shylos X be cleansed. This of course, includes Claudio's friend, Cecil, and himself, Ambellina, and Sizer, who is still being rebuilt. So the lines, "In a pain that buckles out your knees / Could you stop this if I plead?" is what Claudio's reaction and subsequent wish is. The following actions however, are less big. He worked as quick as possible to fix Sizer and admits he was scared. Ambellina calls him out but he denies it, like a child. So the lines, "So destined I am, to walk among the dark / A child in keeping secrets from" probably refers that he continued to hide, scared, like a child. We also get the line "Will they know what I've done in the after?" following those. Here, "The After" refers to the Keywork which is the afterlife for souls in The Fence. So when everyone is dead, will they all know how he hid and shivered? It ends with the lines, "In the sought for matter when the words blame you / In a blood red summer, I'll give you" probably alludes to the moment when he finally does take action. With Sizer complete, the trio decide they have to get off of the planet. But to do so, they'll have to fight through everyone else that's given up and are causing mayhem. This includes the Narrows, a "race of soulless, malevolent creatures with a hunger for fear and flesh."

Of course, we end the song with the never-ending question, "What did I do to deserve (this)?" Because what follows these actions are plenty and all not good. They team up with Al the Killer to get off planet, but he, as the name implies, is a psycho and almost kills Ambellina, Claudio not only didn't save Cecil, but inadvertently was the one to kill him, and of course, they have to kill Al for his treachery.

Trivia

 * The choir parts were sung by Uncle Birmy’s Dirty Foot Choir, additional Keyboards were provided by Danny Louis.
 * The code name for this track in development was "Strokies".
 * In the demo version, it the chorus comes after the pre-chorus in all instances and the second verse did not finish with its third part.
 * The line "What did I do to deserve" is reprised in "The Willing Well III: Apollo II: The Telling Truth" on the next album, and "No World for Tomorrow" on the album after that.
 * The beginning riff was included at the end of their sequel song, "Jessie's Girl 2".
 * This is particularly amusing as the content of the sequel contains much blood and gore and the title of this song is "Blood Red Summer," which would tie in nicely.
 * In 2005, the music video was on the first preview disk packaged with the PlayStation Portable.
 * This single peaked on the US Billboard Chart for Alternative Songs at #29.