After 9.11 somebody has seen in this song a sort of prophecy. The lyric was actually about Ceaucescou, the Romanian dictator, so it should be considered a “historical” rather than a “timeless” song, but its narrative style seems to introduce some general statements that could universalize it.
Probably Stewart considers himself not exactly a committed author, but he has always shown a certain sensitivity towards contemporary society and international issues, particularly towards the Middle East, where he grew up.
The vision of the world is grotesquely distorted by the powerful lenses of Stewart’s irony, which has always been an intrinsic and distinctive feature of his lyrics (just think about Bombs Away and Miss Gradenko, but also Does Everyone Stare, On Any Other Day, etc.).
In Wield the Spade the rhythm is marked by the repetition of the word “Barber”, which introduces the metaphor of the shaved nation’s face, but at the same time evokes the word “barbaric”, conveying a negative connotation. In this song as well as in most of Stewart’s ones, the mode of representation is individual and subjective (first person narrative), but the ambiguous use of the “I” and “we” pronouns has not a precise referential value (that’s one of the reasons why, as we’ve said above, this song may be universalized). We can also notice a dialogic structure, especially in the large use of the imperative form (Get this mirror cleaned; Keep a steady hand; Listen to these words…; Wield the Spade; Be careful…). As to the lexical choices, the most frequently used words refer to weapons (Spade; Blade; Firing Squad; Knife) which give the text a more dramatic sound, while the modal verb “must” functions as a speech act through which the protagonist’s volition is communicated even if the passive construction in the refrain contributes to create a sense of inevitability related to the sacrifices to make. Another stylistic feature to be taken into consideration is that of metonymy (personification): the entities personified are the mirror, especially in the last lines of the lyric, when “… the mirror’s telling no lies”, the words “… that soon will ring”, the blade that must be “ready”.

Have you all out there other considerations to do?
Please, don’t hesitate to contact us and your opinion will be upload for other fans to read!