September 1973
Beautiful Bodies Lyrics


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A generation died
When the shots began
And the planes moved in
We chose the tyrant's side
It's always been the plan
Kill the people's man

Misery's our currency
We buy and sell so gracefully
The open veins and how they bleed
In September 1973

The city's burning, and it's us who lit the fire
It would be his last goodbye
Just one last broadcast so the struggle stays alive
It would be his last goodbye

An innocence had died
As the palace burned
Make the peasants learn
Like a fragile kite
People disappeared
Drifting into fear

Hope was bleeding in the streets
As soldiers killed so willingly
They planted seeds of tragedy
In September 1973

The city's burning, and it's us who lit the fire
It would be his last goodbye
Just one last broadcast so the struggle stays alive
It would be his last goodbye

The streets are quickly growing calm
Like dying winds before the storm
The worst is clearly yet to come
I dare to say that this means war
And things will not be like before
What the hell do we stand for?

The city's burning, and it's us who lit the fire
It would be his last goodbye




Just one last broadcast so the struggle stays alive
It would be his last goodbye

Overall Meaning

The song "September 1973" by Beautiful Bodies is a politically charged track that addresses the Chilean political crisis of that year, which saw the overthrow of democratically elected socialist president Salvador Allende, and the rise of a right-wing dictator, General Augusto Pinochet. The lyrics describe the violence that took place during the coup, and the fear and chaos it provoked in the citizens of Chile. The line "A generation died when the shots began" alludes to the many innocent people who lost their lives during the coup, while "Misery's our currency / We buy and sell so gracefully" speaks to the corruption and brutality of the regime that followed.


The song also explores the role of propaganda in shaping public opinion, as reflected in the lyric "Just one last broadcast so the struggle stays alive". This refers to Allende's final radio address to the nation, made as the presidential palace came under attack. Allende spoke of his own death, but also of the continuing struggle for justice and democracy in Chile. The song suggests that in the face of violence and repression, hope can still survive.


Line by Line Meaning

A generation died
A great number of people passed away


When the shots began
When the gunfire started


And the planes moved in
And the aircraft arrived


We chose the tyrant's side
We supported the oppressive ruler


It's always been the plan
It was always intended


Kill the people's man
Assassinate the leader of the people


Misery's our currency
We thrive on unhappiness


We buy and sell so gracefully
We handle transactions elegantly


The open veins and how they bleed
The exposed wounds and their bleeding


In September 1973
In the ninth month of 1973


The city's burning, and it's us who lit the fire
The urban area is ablaze, and we set it alight


It would be his last goodbye
It would be the final farewell


Just one last broadcast so the struggle stays alive
A lone transmission to keep the fight going


An innocence had died
Someone pure and innocent had perished


As the palace burned
While the royal residence was on fire


Make the peasants learn
Educate and inform the commoners


Like a fragile kite
Similar to a delicate toy that can be easily damaged


People disappeared
Humans vanished


Drifting into fear
Slowly moving towards terror


Hope was bleeding in the streets
Optimism was dwindling publicly


As soldiers killed so willingly
As troops murdered enthusiastically


They planted seeds of tragedy
They initiated a sequence of catastrophic events


The streets are quickly growing calm
The pathways are rapidly becoming peaceful


Like dying winds before the storm
Similar to fading gusts before the tempest arrives


The worst is clearly yet to come
The most terrible outcome is yet to take place


I dare to say that this means war
I am willing to claim that this suggests a conflict


And things will not be like before
And circumstances will not resemble the past


What the hell do we stand for?
What is our purpose?


It would be his last goodbye
It would be the final farewell


Just one last broadcast so the struggle stays alive
A lone transmission to keep the fight going




Contributed by Wyatt B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@SzaraVytra

I like how they are critical in that song about their country's part of job in coup d'etat in Chile. "And it's us who lit the fire"

@varkatzas666

Love this song

@castiel4864

I love this band

@isaacclark1809

This band is very strong!!! Good guys, keep it up.....

@dancbr64

Absolute belter of a tune. Don’t suppose anyone has a guitar tab of this?

@kylewang2876

Wow!! That was awesome

@Alexx_Yang

This is official my new favorite song. <3

@grisvela7573

Me encanto la canción! Muy buena, ahora es una de mis favoritas al igual que la banda.

@benpalomino4476

Great!!!

@janmarek5558

This band remindes me SWS a lot :) Her voice is almost the same like Kellin's :D

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