Agent
Breathing Fire Lyrics
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The DEA were kicking down the back door.
The war on drugs will claim one more.
In the car the burning czar.
Identify the dead by the teeth left in their heads.
Cross the border to the promised land.
To join the chain of supply and demand.
I knew it was over when the bullet hit my spine.
Buried half alive
The song 'Agent' by Breathing Fire is a powerful commentary on the drug war waged by the United States. The lyrics point to the violence and devastation that is inherent in this war. The song begins with a reference to the ATF, or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, feeling the steel in their guys. This could be interpreted as them being armed and ready to engage in violence. The DEA, or Drug Enforcement Administration, is also mentioned as kicking down the back door. This imagery is that of police officers forcibly entering someone's home to make an arrest. The lyrics note that "The war on drugs will claim one more." This suggests that the violence and brutality of the drug war often leads to death and destruction.
The lyrics then go on to describe the burning car of a drug lord, and the bodies left behind. The DEA identifies these bodies by the teeth left in their heads - another gruesome detail that emphasizes the violent nature of the drug war. The song then references crossing the border to the promised land, which is likely a reference to the flow of drugs from Mexico into the United States. The song concludes with a violent image of the singer being shot and left to die in the desert. Overall, 'Agent' is a powerful critique of the drug war, emphasizing the human toll and the violence that is inherent in this conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
ATF felt the steel in their guys cold and real.
The ATF felt the cold, hard reality of the steel weapon used by their enemies.
The DEA were kicking down the back door.
The DEA were forcefully entering a place, likely to make an arrest.
The war on drugs will claim one more.
The never-ending war on drugs will claim yet another victim.
In the car the burning czar.
The leader of a drug ring was burning in a car.
Identify the dead by the teeth left in their heads.
The only way to identify the dead bodies was by examining the teeth left in their heads.
Cross the border to the promised land.
The drug traffickers cross borders to reach a place where they can sell their drugs easily.
To join the chain of supply and demand.
The drug traffickers join the chain of supply and demand to profit from the sale of illegal drugs.
I knew it was over when the bullet hit my spine.
The artist realized that they were done for when they were shot in the spine.
Slaughtered in the desert.
Someone was killed brutally in the desert.
Buried half alive.
Someone was buried while they were still alive, resulting in half of their body being under the soil.
Contributed by Molly H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.