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Old 09-11-2014, 11:05 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Songs About War



I was listening to the song above today—a song I've been a fan of for a couple years—when I found myself paying attention to the lyrics closely for the first time and I was a little surprised to discover that it's about war. It's unclear to me if it's simply supposed to be a metaphor about relationships or if it's supposed to be the final thoughts of a man dying on the front lines while thinking of his relationship with his wife, but either way it's a song that really chokes me up despite it's cheery veneer. I'm curious if anyone else has any similarly emotional songs about war that they can think of, or really any kind of song about war since I don't think we have a thread on the topic anywhere.

Two others that immediately came to mind when I started thinking about this are below.

War as a romanticized vision of camaraderie:



War as horrible, pointless, tragic exploiter of youth:

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Old 09-12-2014, 06:31 AM   #2 (permalink)
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How did you not post this?

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Old 09-12-2014, 06:43 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dylstew View Post
How did you not post this?

Because I had to leave something for other people to post.
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Old 09-12-2014, 06:52 AM   #4 (permalink)
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A very '70s take on the pointlessness of war,

a well-known song about the brotherhood of soldiers in Vietnam,

and a song about the unofficial 1914 Christmas truce.
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Old 09-12-2014, 06:54 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Rolf Harris - Two Little Boys - YouTube


Kate Bush - Army Dreamers - Official Music Video - YouTube


Kate Bush - Breathing - Official Music Video - YouTube
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Old 09-12-2014, 07:11 AM   #6 (permalink)
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well being a fan of martial industrial i could post hundreds but i'll just post a couple


Death In June - Symbols of the Sun

haunting and simplistic....but lyrically amazing....it's very much like an anthem for all people who have fallen in battle.....very moving


Dernière Volonté ‎- Au Travers Des Lauriers

so putting aside the lyrics (which are in French)....the music is amazing....a perfect blend of pop music and harsh martial beats....lyrically he basically tells the story of a woman widowed and how her husband fell in battle with honor

Spoiler for english translation:
He leaves for war, not knowing when he will return
He will return at Easter, or maybe at the trinity
The trinity passes but he doesn't return
She, to her tower climbs up, as high as she can climb
She glimpses of his page dressed in black
Beautiful page, o my beautiful page, what news are you bringing?
She glimpses of his page dressed in black
Beautiful page, o my beautiful page, what news are you bringing?

To the news I bring, your beautiful eyes will cry
Quit your pink clothes and your pinned satins
He is dead madame, dead and buried
I saw him carried to earth by four officers
One held his great saber the other his shield
One held his armor the other his destroyer
Around his grave rosemary was planted
On the highest branch a nightingale was singing
We saw his soul fly through the laurels
Each one set their bellies to the ground and stood again.

To sing the victories he won,
The ceremony done, each one went to bed...



Subhumans - Religious Wars

my favorite Subhumans song
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Old 09-12-2014, 08:31 AM   #7 (permalink)
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Old 09-12-2014, 09:13 AM   #8 (permalink)
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No idea how they left RA the Rugged Man off the credits since this claims to be the official version. His verse (the second one) makes this one of the greatest hip hop songs of all time. It's actually about his dad's experiences in Vietnam. Can't get through it without getting a little choked up.


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Old 09-12-2014, 01:28 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Corb Lund did a really good album 2007 about war, mostly from a cavalry idea because horses. He started the album off with a really upbeat song about the naive and idealistic vision of war from a young mind, then ends it with a reprise of the same song with some very strong imagery.



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Old 09-12-2014, 01:54 PM   #10 (permalink)
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I've posted this countless times, and I know you all hate Blunty but for god's sake listen to the lyric and tell me you're not just a little choked up...
Edit: is it weird that the ad before this is a war one too?


Then there's this overlooked classic by Marillion


And if you want poignant, totally effortless and without a trace of self-satisfaction....
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