Meaning of "Night Of Broken Glass" by Jay Reatard
The lyrics of "Night Of Broken Glass" convey a sense of trauma and fear, likely referencing the Kristallnacht, a violent anti-Jewish pogrom carried out by Nazis in Germany in 1938, where thousands of Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues were destroyed. The repeated refrain of not wanting to feel that way or go back there reflects a deep-seated fear of reliving such a horrific event and the emotional scars it leaves behind. The mention of it being the first but not the last implies a sense of foreboding and the potential for history to repeat itself if such atrocities are not prevented. Overall, the lyrics paint a bleak picture of the lasting impact of violence and the strong desire to move forward and avoid a return to such darkness.