Death or glory
Blankass Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Paroles & musiques : The Clash

Every cheap hood strikes a bargain with the world
And ends up making payments on a sofa or a girl
Love 'n' hate hate tattoed across the knuckles of his hands
The hands that slap his kids around 'cause they don't understand.

Death or glory becomes just another story
Death or glory becomes just another story

'N' every gimmick hungry yob digging gold from rock'n'roll
Grabs the Mike to tell us he'll die before he's sold
But i believe in this, and it's been tested by research
That he who fucks nuns will later join the church.

Death or glory becomes just another story
Death or glory becomes just another story

See you in the gunsights you say hello
I say ok don't wanna play the show
all you are thinking 'bout is death or glory
now playing the losers game, surely it's better now

Death or glory becomes just another story
Death or glory becomes just another story


From every dingy basement on every dingy street
I hear every dragging handclap over every dragging beat
That's just the beat of time, the beat that must go on
If you been trying for years, then we already heard your song.





Death or glory becomes just another story
Death or glory becomes just another story

Overall Meaning

The song "Death or glory" by Blankass is a cover of the original song by The Clash. The lyrics speak of the struggles faced by artists and musicians as they navigate the music industry, facing the choice between death or glory. The song reflects on the compromises that artists must make in order to succeed or even get recognition. The lyrics start by describing how every person, even the cheap hood, makes a deal with the world and ends up making payments on things like sofas and girls. The love and hate tattooed across their knuckles represent the struggle between the two emotions that they feel towards their situation. The same hands that slap their kids around are the ones being used to pay for their compromised lives.


Next, the song addresses the gimmick-hungry yob, who believes that he will die before he sells out. However, the song suggests that even such artists may eventually compromise and join the establishment. The line "he who fucks nuns will later join the church" suggests how even the most rebellious artists eventually end up joining the mainstream music industry. The chorus "Death or glory becomes just another story" symbolizes how artists' idealistic dreams of achieving something great are often reduced to mere "stories" in the industry. The final verse suggests that every aspiring artist, struggling in dingy basements, is trying to make a difference, but the beat of time goes on, and their song has already been heard.


In summary, the lyrics of the song "Death or glory" by Blankass, reflect the struggles faced by artists trying to succeed in the music industry, highlighting the compromises they may have to make to achieve their dreams. 


Line by Line Meaning

Every cheap hood strikes a bargain with the world
Every poor person tries to work out a deal with society just to survive


And ends up making payments on a sofa or a girl
But in the end, they end up owing money for material possessions or relationships


Love 'n' hate hate tattoed across the knuckles of his hands
This struggle for survival leaves them emotionally scarred


The hands that slap his kids around 'cause they don't understand.
And sometimes they take out their frustration on their own children


Death or glory becomes just another story
These struggles for survival and recognition often end up being forgotten or insignificant


'N' every gimmick hungry yob digging gold from rock'n'roll
Many people try to make a quick buck from the music industry by using cheap ploys and tricks


Grabs the Mike to tell us he'll die before he's sold
They may even put on a show of defiance to prove their authenticity


But i believe in this, and it's been tested by research
However, studies have shown that those who act out are likely to later conform


That he who fucks nuns will later join the church.
Those who engage in rebellious behavior eventually end up conforming to society


See you in the gunsights you say hello
Some may find themselves in a dangerous situation, but still try to act tough


I say ok don't wanna play the show
Others may refuse to take a risk for the sake of making it big


all you are thinking 'bout is death or glory
In the end, it all comes down to a desire for fame and recognition


now playing the losers game, surely it's better now
But sometimes, it's better to avoid the game altogether and focus on what really matters


From every dingy basement on every dingy street
Despite the obstacles and challenges, there are still people pursuing their dreams


I hear every dragging handclap over every dragging beat
Their music may not be perfect, but it's a reflection of their struggles and experiences


That's just the beat of time, the beat that must go on
And no matter what, time keeps moving forward and their music continues to exist


If you been trying for years, then we already heard your song.
Even if they haven't made it big yet, their voice has still been heard and appreciated by some




Contributed by Madelyn E. 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