Hammerhead
Offspring Lyrics
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Camouflage and guns
Risk my life
To keep my people from harm
Authority
Vested in me
I sacrifice
Trough this doorway
What's on the other side
Never knowing
Exactly what I'll find
Locked and loaded
Voices screaming
Let's go!
Come on do it!
Here we go
[Chorus: x2]
Take a life
That others may live
Oh that's just the way it goes
It's playing over and over in my head
Where it'll end
Nobody knows
Stay the course
Reasonable force
I believe I serve a greater good
Smoke and dust
Enemies are crushed
Nothing left
Where a man once stood
Trough this doorway
What's on the other side
Never knowing
Exactly what I'll find
Locked and loaded
Voices screaming
Let's go
But I'm just doing what I'm told
[Chorus: x2]
Bang bang it hammers in my head
Bang bang it hammers in my head
Bang bang it hammers in my head
In my head
In my head
Yeah though I walk to the through the valley of the
Shadow of death , I will fear no evil:
For Thou art with me
Locked and loaded
Gonna find my truth
Now I'm busting trough
All hell breaks loose
And you can all hide behind your desks now
And you can cry 'teacher come help me!'
Through you all
My aim is true
The song “Hammerhead” by Offspring is about a soldier at war, who represents the authority vested in him to serve a greater good, risking his life to protect his people from harm. He believes that by taking lives, others may live and therefore accepts that it’s just the way it goes. He walks through a doorway not knowing exactly what he’ll find, locked and loaded, with voices screaming, encouraging him to do it. Although he does what he’s told, he still believes in staying the course with reasonable force. He’s not the only one in battle; he has his brothers in arms with him risking their lives.
The chorus is a repetition of a mantra-like phrase "Take a life / that others may live / oh that's just the way it goes/ It's playing over and over in my head / where it'll end / nobody knows." These lines capture the surrealness and trauma of war, which soldiers experience. The soldier's sense of duty and purpose is juxtaposed against the violence and destruction he causes. The song's title "Hammerhead" is a metaphor for the mental state that the soldier is in, with pounding drums and intense vocals in the background. The song serves as a commentary on the effects of war on soldiers, as they bear witness to unknown horrors and atrocities.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the one
I am the chosen one for the task at hand
Camouflage and guns
I'm equipped with gear for my mission
Risk my life
I'm aware that my life is in danger for what I'm about to do
To keep my people from harm
I'm doing this to protect the well-being of others
Authority
I've been given the power to act and make decisions
Vested in me
This authority has been entrusted to me
I sacrifice
I'm ready to make personal sacrifices
With my brothers in arms
I'm part of a team that's united by a common mission
Trough this doorway
Entering into a challenge
What's on the other side
I don't know what to expect ahead
Never knowing
Unsure of what the future holds
Exactly what I'll find
I'm unsure of what's waiting for me
Locked and loaded
I'm fully prepared for action
Voices screaming
Intense emotions are running high
Let's go!
I'm ready to conquer whatever's ahead
Come on do it!
Encouraging myself to keep going
Here we go
Embarking on the unknown
Take a life
I must make a deadly decision
That others may live
Sacrificing one life for the benefit of others
Oh that's just the way it goes
Accepting the harsh reality of the situation
Stay the course
I must stay determined and focused
Reasonable force
Using appropriate force in the situation
I believe I serve a greater good
I'm convinced that my actions have a purpose
Smoke and dust
The outcome of the action
Enemies are crushed
My mission has been successfully accomplished
Nothing left
The remains of the enemy
Where a man once stood
The enemy's presence is no longer there
But I'm just doing what I'm told
I'm following orders and doing my job
Bang bang it hammers in my head
The sound of the gunshots is still echoing in my mind
Yeah though I walk to the through the valley of the
Shadow of death , I will fear no evil:
For Thou art with me
I'm not afraid of the danger because I feel protected
Gonna find my truth
I'm seeking to find the answers to my questions
Now I'm busting trough
Breaking through the obstacles that held me back
All hell breaks loose
Everything becomes chaotic and out of control
And you can all hide behind your desks now
I'm facing the danger while others avoid it
And you can cry 'teacher come help me!'
Instead of facing the danger, some people ask for help
Through you all
I'm aiming to complete my mission, even if it means harming others
My aim is true
I'm focused and determined to succeed
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bryan Keith Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pchiNe0
I am the one
Camouflage and guns
Risk my life
To keep my people from harm
Authority
Vested in me
I sacrifice
With my brothers in arms
Through this doorway
What's on the other side
Never knowing
Exactly what I'll find
Locked and loaded
Voices screaming
Let's go!
Come on do it
Here we go!
Oh, take a life
Ten others may live
Oh, that's just the way it goes
Oh, shut my eyes
It hammers in my head
Where it'll end
Nobody knows
Oh, take a life
Ten others may live
Oh, that's just the way it goes
It's playing over and over in my head
Where it'll end
Nobody knows
Stay the course
Reasonable force
I believe
I serve a greater good
Smoke and dust
Enemies are crushed
Nothing left
Where a man once stood
Through this doorway
What's on the other side
Never knowing
Exactly what I'll find
Locked and loaded
Voices screaming
Let's go!
But I'm just doing what I'm told
Oh, take a life
Ten others may live
Oh, that's just the way it goes
Oh, shut my eyes
It hammers in my head
Where it'll end
Nobody knows
Oh, take this life
Ten others may live
Oh, that's just the way it goes
It's playing over and over in my head
Where it begins
And where it'll end
Nobody knows
Bang, bang, it hammers in my head
Bang, bang, it hammers in my head
Bang, bang, it hammers in my head
In my head, in my head
Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I fear no evil for Thou art with me
Locked and loaded
Gonna find my truth
Now I'm busting through
All hell breaks loose
And you can all hide behind your desks now
And you can cry, 'teacher come help me!'
Through you all
My aim is true!
My
My aim is true!
My aim is true
@gavinoh7132
This video was made for a contest. The band had their fans make a video for them. They chose a video and the maker won ten grand. He also got this as the official video.
@beataens1
GODrumming i should have known that contest so at least i could give a sketch of my concept
@phitsf5475
This was the official Offspring video before the competition
@RagbagMcShag
Man this really is a piece of history
@yvettemarieg5245
Wow cool video
@jimmypratt
Feel like the second one is cooler
@lucianolopez6534
One of the most underrated videos of the band.
@MrJ0mmy
this song is really underrated its so good
@tudapainicaa
@@MrJ0mmy true that
@theweatherman8474
I wanna thumbs up this. But it's at 69 right now. I don't wanna ruin 3 years of progress.