https://hatsoffgentlemen.bandcamp.com/album/one-word-that-means-the-world-arkhipov
One World That Means The World (Arkhipov) is the first single from London-based progressive rock band Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate’s eighth studio album ‘The Uncertainty Principle’, due to be released later in 2024. The song will be released on Bandcamp on 5 April 2024, and later on will be released on other platforms.
The song was inspired by the refusal of Soviet naval officer Vasily Arkhipov (1926-1998) to agree to an action that could have led to nuclear war.
During the Cuban missile crisis, Arkhipov was the chief of staff of a flotilla of diesel powered submarines armed with nuclear torpedoes. He was stationed on the submarine B-59. The decision to launch nuclear torpedoes against the United States Navy required the agreement of all three onboard officers. Arkhipov refused to authorise the launch that had been approved by the other two officers. He was described by Thomas Blanton, director of the US National Security Archive as “the man who saved the world”.
Lyrics
“Trapped beneath the waves
Hunted by their fleet
The burning lifeless air
Still waiting for orders
Two decide to launch
But you were the third with the key
The pressure above, around and inside
And you said no
We don’t know who we are, till we’re forced to decide
We don’t know what’s inside
One word that means the world
We don’t know who we are, till we have to decide
What we’ll say if that day comes
That was the day when you said no
When came home you were told
It would have been better if we’d drowned
You were silenced
You were disappeared
You were supposed to have been ashamed
That was years ago, and now I’m told I’m a hero
Maybe, I just hope if I faced the same again
I’d have the strength to still say no
We don’t know who we are, till we’re forced to decide
We don’t know what’s inside
One word that means the world
I never knew who I was, till I was forced, to decide
I didn’t know what was inside, I found out when I said no
We don’t know, who we are, till we’re forced to decide
We don’t know what’s inside, one word that means the world
I never knew, who I was, till I was forced to decide
I didn’t know what was inside
I found out when I said no”
The B-side of the single is the instrumental ‘Music For Dancing’.
