In this post, I will break down the lyrics of “Miles Apart” by War of Ages and discuss how the song talks about enduring life while waiting for Jesus’s return.
War of Ages is a Christian metal band known for their strong expression of faith and their sound that’s described as a mix of classic heavy metal and hardcore. They formed back in 2002 out of Pennsylvania, and their newest album, Dominion, was released last September. Sadly, Dominion was the last album recorded by drummer Kaleb Lubechow before he died in 2022. According to Facedown Records, “The album will be dedicated to his memory as a gifted musician and as a brother. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.”
Photo of War of Ages retrieved from their band website.
“Miles Apart” is from War of Ages’ 2019 album Void. Here is the official music, so check out the song if you haven’t heard it yet.
The title, "Miles Apart," is never said in the song, but it can refer to how far away God can feel when we're going through hardships, even though He is actually with us. Also, the title can be a warning to let God into your life, so you don't have to endure life miles apart from Him.
And now for the lyrics:
This life is hell without you
My world is fading faster now
If you would search the bounds of time
To have me back for a moment
If I would turn away from the fire
Your strength would carry my soul
Throughout this song, “you” refers to God. The opening lyric, “This life is hell without you,” means that a life apart from God is full of pain. In fact, that’s what hell is: eternity away from God. But God doesn’t want us to be apart from Him, which is what the lyric, “If you would search the bounds of time / To have me back for a moment” refers to. God loves us so much that He would move mountains for us.
In the lyrics afterwards, “fire” can refer to evil and the things of this world that can destroy us, and “Your strength would carry my soul” means that God gives us the strength to persevere in life.
Drowning in my sweat
Retribution
If I live one more day without you
The shadows are more than I can bare
Take me from this nightmare
The second part of this verse is a cry out to God for help. If we live apart from God by choosing to not accept Him into our lives, then the “shadows” of life (like sin, fears, and worries) will overcome us.
This life is hell without you
I would trade it all to feel you
My world is fading faster now
Find strength
Through the suffering
Skies turn black
But the sun will rise
Find strength
Through the suffering
Lord reign down
Let your power fall
The chorus focuses on enduring life while waiting for Jesus to return and make everything right. Even if we follow God, we will face hardships. But we know that “Skies turn black / But the sun will rise,” meaning that even though things are bad at the moment, God will make them right. Similarly, Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” In other words, what we endure now is nothing compared to the amazing things God has planned for us in Heaven. The last lyrics of the chorus, “Lord reign down / Let your power fall” are asking God to show His power and glory to the world.
Void album cover
Biting on my tongue
Holding my breath
I will die and my heart will follow
Your death on the cross
Showed me true love
Set us on fire
Biting your tongue and holding your breath are signs of anticipation. In this situation, it's waiting for God to show His power. But the second part of this verse is my favorite. “Your death on the cross / Showed me true love” is a pure, obvious declaration of faith in Jesus that we don’t always hear in Christian metal. God showed us His love by sending His Son to die in our place for our sins. “Set us on fire” is asking God to let His followers be fully dedicated to Him and overfilled with the Holy Spirit.
Find strength
Through the suffering
Skies turn black
But the sun will rise
Find strength
Through the suffering
Lord reign down
Let your power fall
The chorus also reminds me of John 16:33, in which Jesus comforted His disciples before He was arrested. He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We can find strength in suffering because we know that Jesus is in control of everything and will make everything right in His time.
If you would turn away from the fire
Your strength would consume my soul
This life is hell without you
I would trade it all to feel you
My world is fading faster now
“If you would turn away from the fire / Your strength would consume my soul” means that because Jesus was tempted but didn’t sin, He is able to guide us and give us strength to endure our trials.
Find strength through the suffering because God has a plan for us, a perfect plan. And we can trust that Jesus will return and make Earth perfect again in time.
Facedown Records. (2023). War of Ages. https://facedownrecords.com/family/war-of-ages/
Genius Contributors. (n.d.-a). War of Ages – Miles apart. Genius. https://genius.com/War-of-ages-miles-apart-lyrics
War of Ages. (2023). Photos. https://warofagesmetal.com/photos/
Wikipedia contributors. (2023). War of Ages. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Ages