Civil War
(gnrworld.com) Guns N' Roses Lyrics

Look at your young men fighting
Examine the situation where the youth of the nation are fighting against each other.

Look at your women crying
Observe the pain and suffering of women who are emotionally affected by the ongoing fight.

Look at your young men dying
See the deaths of young people who are sacrificing their lives in the war.

The way they've always done before
This is not a new situation, as conflicts and wars have happened in the past as well.

Look at the hate we're breeding
Draw attention to the negative emotions like hatred that are being instilled into people as a result of the war.

Look at the fear we're feeding
Realize how fear is being used to manipulate and control people's actions and decisions during the war.

Look at the lives we're leading
Reflect on the way in which people's everyday lives are being disrupted and ruined by the war.

The way we've always done before
The pattern of war and destruction is not a new thing and has happened before in history.

My hands are tied
I am powerless and unable to effect any change in the situation of the war and its consequences.

The billions shift from side to side
The huge sums of wealth and money are moving between different countries, but not in a way that is bringing about any positive outcome.

And the wars go on with brainwashed pride
The ongoing wars continue fueled by the beliefs of people who have been brainwashed into thinking that they are fighting for a just and noble cause.

For the love of God and our human rights
People claim to be fighting for God and human rights, but their actions contradict their stated intentions.

And all these things are swept aside
The important things like human rights are being ignored and disregarded in the midst of the war.

By bloody hands time can't deny
The acts of brutality and violence carried out by people during the war cannot be justified or erased with the passage of time.

And are washed away by your genocide
The crimes of genocide that are being perpetuated during the war are being downplayed and ignored.

And history hides the lies of our civil wars
The true history of civil wars is covered up and hidden by the propaganda and false narratives that are created around them.

D'you wear a black armband
Are you wearing a black armband as a symbol of mourning and remembrance for the people who have been killed in the war?

When they shot the man
Refers to the assassination of individuals who were working towards peace and positive change.

Who said 'peace could last forever'
This line refers to the dreams of people who believe in the possibility of a lasting peace, despite the reality of ongoing conflicts.

And in my first memories
The first memories of the artist are memories tinged with violence, death and sadness.

They shot Kennedy
A reference to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

I went numb when I learned to see
The artist was emotionally impacted by the violence they saw happening around them at an early age.

So I never fell for Vietnam
The singer is saying they did not believe in the Vietnam War as a justifiable conflict.

We got the wall of D.C. to remind us all
A reference to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial built in Washington, D.C. to honor those who lost their lives in the Vietnam War.

That you can't trust freedom
Freedom is not always guaranteed and can be manipulated and taken away by those in power.

When it's not in your hands
If you are not actively participating in the fight for freedom, then it is not really within your control.

When everybody's fightin'
When everyone is said to be fighting for freedom, but really they are only fighting for themselves and their own interests.

For their promised land
People are fighting to protect or acquire land that was promised to them by those in power.

And I don't need your civil war
The artist is saying that they do not approve of the ongoing war and do not want to participate in it.

It feeds the rich while it buries the poor
The war mainly benefits those who are rich or in power, while the poor and powerless are the ones who have to suffer and die as a result of the ongoing conflict.

Your power hungry sellin' soldiers
Referring to the morally questionable practice of hiring soldiers to fight in wars for the benefit of those who are in power.

In a human grocery store
A metaphor for the way in which people are being used as commodities in the war, to be bought and sold like products in a grocery store.

Ain't that fresh
A sarcastic remark used to show the cynicism the artist holds towards the war and its propaganda.

Look at the shoes you're filling
The artist is saying to think about the empty shoes - i.e the people who have lost their lives as a result of the war.

Look at the blood we're spilling
The singer wants the listener to realize the human cost of war, and how many lives are being sacrificed for little or no gain.

Look at the world we're killing
The war is causing destruction and devastation not just to human lives, but to the planet itself.

The way we've always done before
The pattern of destruction caused by war is not a new thing, it has happened in the past and will continue to happen unless certain measures are taken to prevent it.

Look in the doubt we've wallowed
The singer wants the listener to consider how the war has caused people to doubt themselves or their beliefs.

Look at the leaders we've followed
The singer wants people to reflect on the people in power who led the country into the conflict, and to consider whether they are truly serving the interests of the people.

Look at the lies we've swallowed
The artist wants the listener to consider how propaganda has been used to manipulate the public into supporting the war, and question the truth of what they have been told.

And all these dreams are swept aside
The war is taking away the hopes and dreams of people who were not directly involved in it, but still impacted by its destructive effects.

By bloody hands of the hypnotized
People are being controlled and manipulated by those in power who have an agenda, and who benefit from the ongoing conflict.

Who carry the cross of homicide
Those in power are responsible for the deaths of countless people who have lost their lives in the war.

And history bears the scars of our civil wars
The scars and negative effects of civil wars can be found throughout history, and it is evident that history repeats itself if the lessons are not learned.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Repeated line that emphasizes the artist's refusal to be part of the ongoing war.

I don't need one more war
The artist is expressing their desire not to be involved in any more violent conflicts or wars in the future.

Whaz so civil 'bout war anyway?
The singer is questioning the commonly held belief that war is a civilized way to solve disputes or conflicts.