Operate
The Dopamines Lyrics

The Dopamines's song "Operate" touches on themes of patriotism, the struggles of being a soldier, and the search for inner peace. The opening line, "Veteran flags are so hard to fold these days," highlights a somber reality - the number of war veterans has increased, making it harder to fold flags for those who have lost their lives in service. The line "There's rain on my face but it's already glazed" suggests a sense of detachment, as if the singer is feeling numb to the emotions of the situation.

The chorus, "Operate, open up my chest, pull my heart out and operate," is a figurative representation of the emotional vulnerability and pain that the singer is experiencing. It's a desperate plea for someone to come in and fix what's broken inside of them. General Danny is mentioned later in the song, possibly alluding to a commanding officer giving orders in a warzone. The line "21 gun salute; oh I wish it'd wake you" is a reference to the military tradition of firing 21 rounds to honor the dead. The singer is haunted by the thought that even this symbolic gesture may not be enough to awaken the consciousness of those who have lost their lives in battle.

Towards the end of the song, the lyrics take a turn towards a more hopeful sentiment. "There's a peace that's in death that you can't feel in life" suggests that, despite the sorrow and grief of losing loved ones, they have achieved a kind of peace that can never be found in life. The final line "With a couple of shells and a piccolo straight mute" is a reference to a "Taps" performance at a military funeral. The juxtaposition of the haunting melody of "Taps" with the loud sound of gunfire suggests that peace can be found, even in moments of mourning and loss.