That's How Every Empire Falls

By R.B. Morris, 2016, from his album, "Spies, Lies and Burning Eyes"
Reviewed by Ken Bilderback, March 29, 2021

When I first heard R.B. Morris’s “That’s How Every Empire Falls” about four years ago, I pulled the car off the road to listen. Soon I had tears in eyes, which for me happens about once a decade. When I got home I listened to it several more times.

Every verse resonates, with references to innocence lost, and the dangers of religion losing vision. He goes on to talk about a man who evicts people from their homes. That man confides to his wife that he knows he hides behind the law, and she responds that he’s only taking orders. And so it builds to a crescendo (albeit a very soft one) with “For when the heart is never open; that’s how every empire falls.” It closes with “If no one asks then no one answers; that’s how every empire falls.”

Like a stalker I emailed Morris with my thoughts. I specifically asked if this was meant to apply to journalism. In his very gracious response, he said I was right on.

If I had to vote for a song of our times, this would be it.