Battlefield
Chris Gorman Lyrics


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I'm sorry, but I have to go.
I know that you're scared.
Would help you if I told you that I was scared too?
But you know that it's necessary to check out the view,
And I hope that you'll miss me as much as I know I'll miss you.

And I'm coming home on my shield.
Carry me home from the battlefield.
There wasn't a war that needed to be won.
There wasn't a war,
But still I'm gone.

I'm restless, but I don't know why.
Well, maybe I should,
But a million miles seems like a long way to go just to die.
Maybe I'll be a martyr
Of causes... *indecipherable*
But I'd rather be breathing than spread over seventeen states.

And I'm coming home on my shield.
Carry me home from the battlefield.
There wasn't a war that needed to be won.
There wasn't a war,
But still I'm gone.

I didn't ask you to come,
But you came.
If you'd ask me to stay,
I would stay.
And I know it's a little to late to say,
And I'm sorry it ended this way.

Don't panic, because it's luck of the draw,
And I've got a feeling that you won't be without me for very long.
It could be tomorrow,
Or it could be next week.
But I'll ask you to be much more careful when crossing the street.

Because now I've come home like a media storm.
And there's nothing much left for my family to mourn.
And there might be a war,
And I fear for those left.




There's gonna be a war.
In whose interest?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chris Gorman's song Battlefield portray the feelings of a soldier who is about to leave for war. The song starts with the soldier apologizing to someone he loves, maybe a wife or a girlfriend, telling them that he has to go to war. He acknowledges their fears but lets them know that he is afraid too. He asks if it would make it easier if he told them that he was scared as well. He explains that he has to go to war and hopes that they will miss him as much as he knows he will miss them.


The chorus of the song emphasizes how the soldier is willing to give his life for a war that he did not believe was worth fighting in. He says that he is coming home on his shield and asks to be carried home from the battlefield, even though there was no war that needed to be won. He is willing to sacrifice his life for a cause that he does not believe in.


The second verse of the song shows us that the soldier is still unsure about why he decided to go to war. He feels restless and cannot explain why. He is combating the idea of being a martyr for causes he cannot even articulate, but at the same time, he is unwilling to give his life away for a cause he does not believe in. The soldier apologizes for ending the relationship before he leaves, showing a moment of vulnerability before saying goodbye. The song ends with a note of uncertainty as the soldier fears for those left behind and wonders whose interests the war would serve.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm sorry, but I have to go.
I regret to say that I must depart.


I know that you're scared.
I am aware that you are afraid.


Would help you if I told you that I was scared too?
Do you think it would alleviate your fear to know that I feel the same?


But you know that it's necessary to check out the view,
As you are aware, it is important for me to inspect the situation.


And I hope that you'll miss me as much as I know I'll miss you.
I have faith that you will long for my return in the same measure as I will long for yours.


And I'm coming home on my shield.
My return will be that of a fallen warrior.


Carry me home from the battlefield.
Bear my lifeless body from the site of conflict.


There wasn't a war that needed to be won.
There was no just cause for the fighting.


But still I'm gone.
Yet, here I stand no longer among the living.


I'm restless, but I don't know why.
My spirit is unquiet, but the reason eludes me.


Well, maybe I should,
Perhaps, I ought to understand.


But a million miles seems like a long way to go just to die.
However, to travel a great distance only to meet death seems undesirable.


Maybe I'll be a martyr
It is possible that I will die for a cause.


Of causes... *indecipherable*
Of things worth dying for.


But I'd rather be breathing than spread over seventeen states.
Nevertheless, I value life over spreading my remains over a wide area.


I didn't ask you to come,
I did not request your presence.


But you came.
Yet, you accompanied me nevertheless.


If you'd ask me to stay,
Had you implored me to remain,


I would stay.
I would have acceded.


And I know it's a little to late to say,
I am aware that the time to express this sentiment has passed.


And I'm sorry it ended this way.
I apologize for the way matters have concluded.


Don't panic, because it's luck of the draw,
Do not be distressed, since it is a matter of chance.


And I've got a feeling that you won't be without me for very long.
Yet, I sense that you will soon rejoin me.


It could be tomorrow,
This eventuality may transpire tomorrow,


Or it could be next week.
Or possibly the following week.


But I'll ask you to be much more careful when crossing the street.
I would request that you exercise greater caution when traversing the thoroughfare.


Because now I've come home like a media storm.
Since my return has garnered attention akin to a press event.


And there's nothing much left for my family to mourn.
Consequently, there remains little for my relatives to grieve.


And there might be a war,
A war may be in the offing,


And I fear for those left.
I worry about those who remain behind.


There's gonna be a war.
Conflict is inevitable.


In whose interest?
For whose benefit?




Contributed by Aaron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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