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Busman's Holiday
Allah-Las Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Spent two years of my life in a foreign land.
Came home to my own wife, had a different man.
Saw fifteen sons and fathers lying on the ground.
Just one click of my thumb, everybody's down.

Oh it seems that this had become a dream.
Life ain't just what it seems.
Still run by ancient schemes.

And oh, it shows
On the faces of those that know.
Blood flows where the money's stowed
Gotta get your hands ?

But hey, what is anybody tryin'a say?

Spent two years of my life in a foreign land,
Came home to find my mind still stuck in the sand.
There are things I never thought that I could do.
I had to tell myself "Did 'em all for you."

Oh it seems that this had become a dream.
Life ain't just what it seems,
Still run by ancient schemes.

And oh, it shows
On the faces of those who know.
Blood flows where the money's stowed.
Gotta get your hands ?

But hey, what is anybody gonna say?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Busman's Holiday by Allah-Las deal with the complexities and contradictions of a soldier's experience in a foreign land. The singer, having spent two years in a foreign land, comes back home to find his wife with a different man, and his own mind still stuck in the sand. He has seen fifteen sons and fathers lying on the ground and with just one click of his thumb, he could bring everybody down. The horrors of war and the guilt of one's own actions are omnipresent, and the singer is struggling to come to terms with his thoughts and emotions.


The song reflects on the harsh reality of conflicts that continue to exist in the world and the underlying reason behind them - 'Blood flows where the money's stowed'. The line touches upon the idea that war and violence are driven by financial interests of a few, while the common man continues to suffer. The song highlights that life is not always what it seems, and despite advancements in technology and modernization, society continues to be run by ancient and harmful schemes.


In conclusion, the lyrics of Busman's Holiday are a powerful commentary on the nature of war and its impact on individuals, society, and the world at large. It reflects the complexities and contradictions of the human experience in times of conflict and highlights the need for empathy and understanding rather than continuing cycles of violence and bloodshed.


Line by Line Meaning

Spent two years of my life in a foreign land.
I spent a significant portion of my life living in a place that is not my home country.


Came home to my own wife, had a different man.
Upon returning home, I discovered that my wife had moved on to a new partner.


Saw fifteen sons and fathers lying on the ground.
I witnessed a horrific event where many individuals lost their lives.


Just one click of my thumb, everybody's down.
I caused the death of many individuals with a single action.


Oh it seems that this had become a dream.
My experiences have become hazy and surreal, as if they were just a dream.


Life ain't just what it seems.
Life is far more complex than it appears on the surface.


Still run by ancient schemes.
Society and politics are often guided by antiquated systems and traditions.


And oh, it shows On the faces of those that know.
The emotional toll of these experiences is still evident on those who understand what I went through.


Blood flows where the money's stowed Gotta get your hands ?
Violence and death are often the result of greed and the desire for financial gain.


But hey, what is anybody tryin'a say?
Despite the suffering and injustice I have witnessed, it seems that no one is willing or able to change the status quo.


Came home to find my mind still stuck in the sand.
Even though I returned home, I am still mentally stuck in the traumatic experiences I faced abroad.


There are things I never thought that I could do.
I was forced to engage in actions that I never imagined myself capable of.


I had to tell myself "Did 'em all for you."
In order to justify my actions, I convinced myself that everything I did was for the benefit of my loved ones.




Contributed by Makayla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@rjlewis3932

Spent two years of my life in a foreign land.
Came home to my young wife, as a different man.
Saw fifteen sons and fathers lying on the ground.
Just one click of my thumb, everybody's down.

Oh it seems, nightmares have become of dreams.
Life ain't just what it seems.
Still run by ancient schemes.

And oh, it shows
On the faces of those that know.
Blood flows where the money's stowed
Try to get your hands on gold

But hey, why is anybody tryin'a see?

Spent two years of my life in a foreign land,
Came home to find my mind still stuck in the sand.
Did things I never thought that I could do.
I had to tell myself did ‘em all for you.

Oh it seems, nightmares have become of dreams.
Life ain't just what it seems,
Still run by ancient schemes.

And oh, it shows
On the faces of those who know.
Blood flows where the money's stowed.
Gotta get your hands on gold

But hey, when is anybody gonna see?



@stefaniak8875

Spent two years of my life in a foreign land.
Came home to my own wife, had a different man.
Saw fifteen sons and fathers lying on the ground.
Just one click of my thumb, everybody's down.

Oh it seems that this had become a dream.
Life ain't just what it seems.
Still run by ancient schemes.

And oh, it shows
On the faces of those that know.
Blood flows where the money's stowed
Try to getcha hands on gold(?)

But hey, what is anybody tryin'a say?
Spent two years of my life in a foreign land,
Came home to find my mind still stuck in the sand.
There are things I never thought that I could do.
I had to tell myself "Did 'em all for you."

Oh it seems that this had become a dream.
Life ain't just what it seems,
Still run by ancient schemes.

And oh, it shows
On the faces of those who know.
Blood flows where the money's stowed.
Gotta get your hands on gold(?)

But hey, what is anybody gonna say?



All comments from YouTube:

@omgmoreheals

This song kept us sane while we were in Afghanistan.  Rest in peace brothers

@VSSantacruz1

Really been thinking about this, its eerily just like the rise of garage rock in Vietnam with the likes of creedance, this song in some ways is our modern equivalent to fortunate sons, the guitars, the lyrics, everything.

@petelovesmusic79

Thank you for your service.

@michaelw6277

man that experience tied to this music must be a surreal memory

@IrishTryAwarded

​@HipsterHendrix the beauty of constantly being at war is some musician/band is gonna get that distinguishment! 🤘

@crossed6577

If this had been released back in the 60's, everyone in the world would know about this awesome band

@jcatcatcatcat26

The lyrics of this song remind me of a young soldier returning home from Vietnam after the war.

@prod.gavdya4266

jacob nah I think he cane from Iraq or somewhere in the Middle East. I say this because of the line “came home to find my mind stuck in the sand”, the sand meaning desert and that he still thinks about his time in the Middle East fighting terrorists.

@psychedelicpain420

This video shows the exactly same thing their music makes me feel. Somewhere around California. I swear to everything, one day I will visit that goddamn state. It's on my bucketlist. For years...

@slynx873

+Atheist Metalhead Having grown up in California, I can say that it can be either the nicest, or the worst place ever, depending on where you go.. You've been warned!

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