Another Death
Birth Control Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

A fisherman is out at sea
But there's no fish in the water
His net is black as he pulls it free
A shock's awaiting him

He always tried to find a good place
He knew the fish would be there
Last fish he saw had death on its face
A fate he soon would share

Another man was spending his life
Transporting oil in tankers
Then one day, they said to his wife
We must give you our thanks

Your husband tried, he tried his best
To save our precious cargo
Our ship was caught by a gale from the west
It sank, dragged him below

Another death, another life is gone
The ocean now is turning into an oilpit
Another ship, another load is gone
We only live as long as it takes us to spoil it

Ow, another death, another life is gone
The ocean now is turning into an oilpit
Another ship, another load is gone
We only live as long as it takes us to spoil it

La-la-la...





La-la-la...

Overall Meaning

The song "Another Death" by Birth Control is a poignant commentary on the destructive nature of human activity on the environment. The lyrics describe two individuals, a fisherman and an oil tanker worker, both of whom are ultimately killed by their respective jobs. The fisherman, once a proud and successful fisherman, finds that his net no longer catches any fish. The last fish he caught had a look of death on its face, foreshadowing his own fate. The oil tanker worker's fate is equally tragic. He tries his best to save the precious cargo of his ship when it is caught in a gale from the west, but ultimately he is dragged below the waves and drowned. The chorus of the song describes the toll that these tragedies are taking on the ocean, which is "turning into an oilpit." The song suggests that human actions are responsible for this destruction, and that the continued exploitation of natural resources will only lead to more death and destruction in the future.


One interesting fact about the song "Another Death" is that it was released in 1971, during a period of heightened environmental awareness in the United States and Europe. The environmental movement gained momentum during the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in response to the widespread ecological devastation caused by industrialization and urbanization. Birth Control's song can be seen as a part of this broader cultural moment, in which people began to recognize the need to protect and preserve the natural world.


Another interesting fact about the song is that it was included on the band's second album, called "Operation." This album was notable for its fusion of hard rock, jazz, and blues influences, as well as its politically charged lyrics. Birth Control's music was part of a larger movement known as "Krautrock," which originated in Germany in the late 1960s and included bands like Can, Neu!, and Kraftwerk. The Krautrock scene was characterized by a rebellious and experimental aesthetic, and was heavily influenced by the social and political turmoil of the era.


One final interesting fact about the song "Another Death" is that it features a simple but haunting melody, which is repeated throughout the song. The melody is played on a distorted guitar, and is accompanied by a driving bassline and pounding drums. The repetition of the melody reinforces the song's central message, which is that the cycle of destruction and exploitation that humanity has created will only lead to further pain and suffering. The song's somber tone and powerful lyrics make it a powerful reminder of the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainability.


Chords:


Unfortunately, I do not have the exact chords for this song.


Line by Line Meaning

A fisherman is out at sea
A person who fishes for a living is on the water.


But there's no fish in the water
The fisherman cannot find any fish in the sea.


His net is black as he pulls it free
The fisherman's net is empty, and he removes it from the water.


A shock's awaiting him
The fisherman is about to discover something that will surprise or disturb him.


He always tried to find a good place
The fisherman sought out suitable spots to fish.


He knew the fish would be there
The fisherman's experience allowed him to determine the best location to catch fish.


Last fish he saw had death on its face
The last fish the fisherman encountered appeared to be dead or near death.


A fate he soon would share
The fisherman may suffer the same fate as the previously observed ill-fated fish.


Another man was spending his life
Another person spent their life doing a particular job or task.


Transporting oil in tankers
The man was responsible for moving large quantities of oil in tanker ships.


Then one day, they said to his wife
At some point, authorities or the man's employer informed his wife of a situation involving his job/career.


We must give you our thanks
The artist, someone likely connected with the oil transportation industry, thanks the man's wife for his work.


Your husband tried, he tried his best
The man made an earnest effort to perform his job well.


To save our precious cargo
The man made efforts to ensure that the oil he was transporting arrived its destination safely.


Our ship was caught by a gale from the west
The vessel carrying the oil met with difficulty due to a strong westward wind.


It sank, dragged him below
The ship carrying the man and the oil crashed or sank, and the man was pulled under the water.


Another death, another life is gone
An individual has passed away, while someone else can begin living.


The ocean now is turning into an oilpit
The ocean is becoming polluted or damaged with oil.


Another ship, another load is gone
Another vessel and its cargo have been lost.


We only live as long as it takes us to spoil it
Human existence is fragile and temporary and depends on how quickly we can ruin or contaminate the environment.


Ow, another death, another life is gone
A life has ended, and another can now begin.


The ocean now is turning into an oilpit
The ocean is turning into a place where oil is taking over and causing damage.


Another ship, another load is gone
Another vessel and its contents are no more.


We only live as long as it takes us to spoil it
Human beings are only alive for as long as it takes us to ruin the world around us.


La-la-la...
A musical interlude or instrumental break in the song.


La-la-la...
Another musical interlude or instrumental break.




Contributed by Natalie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions