A Lonely Soldier
Damien Rice and Christy Moore Lyrics
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Lonely, but never alone
Good eyes see nothing to shoot
Good feet feel good giving up good boots
So ask your father how'd you fall
Ask your father how'd you fall
Like a leaf sitting on the ground
She died with her hands stretched out
She died with a hungry mouth
She died with her mind full of doubt
And thoughts of weakening
So may your river never dry
And may your mouth never lie
And may you be satisfied to never know why
Sometimes someone just wants to die
So where'd you get those cuts in your hand
I thought I told you about playing in the sand
There's always someone careless with glass
There's always questions you don't want to ask.
She died with her hands stretched out
She died with a hungry mouth
She died with her mind full of doubt
And thoughts of weakening
So may your river never dry
And may your mouth never lie
And may you be satisfied to never know why
Sometimes someone just wants to die
So lonely soldier go home
Lonely, but never alone
Good eyes see nothing to shoot
Good feet feel good giving up good boots
The song "Lonely Soldier" by Damien Rice and Christy Moore is a haunting and emotive ballad about the devastating human costs of war. The lyrics describe the lonely and traumatised state of a soldier who has returned home, physically intact but battered by the psychological turmoil of conflict. The first verse, "Lonely soldier go home, Lonely but never alone, Good eyes see nothing to shoot, Good feet feel good giving up good boots" is a powerful statement about the horror of war and the relief that comes with the end of the conflict.
The lyrics in the second verse, "She died with her hands stretched out, She died with a hungry mouth, She died with her mind full of doubt, And thoughts of weakening," describe the devastating effects of war on both the soldiers and the people caught in the crossfire. The repetition of the phrase "she died" is a stark reminder of the human toll of war, with the "hands stretched out" and "hungry mouth" suggesting a desire for something more in life, a yearning for something beyond the violence and chaos of war.
The final verse of the song, "So may your river never dry, And may your mouth never lie, And may you be satisfied to never know why, Sometimes someone just wants to die," is a moving and poignant statement about the human condition. It suggests that there are times when life can be too difficult to bear, when the pain and trauma of experience are too great to bear.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonely soldier go home
It's time for you to go back home, where you are expected and loved
Lonely, but never alone
You feel lonely, but you always have yourself to keep you company
Good eyes see nothing to shoot
Your eyes are now able to see beyond the violence and destruction
Good feet feel good giving up good boots
You are eager to surrender your boots and leave behind the war
So ask your father how'd you fall
Reflect on your past and inquire about what led you to become a soldier
Like a leaf sitting on the ground
Feeling disconnected and unimportant, with no clear purpose
Good for nothing 'cept kicking around
You feel useless, with no value or direction
She died with her hands stretched out
Someone has lost their life, reaching out for help
She died with a hungry mouth
Their basic needs were not fulfilled, leading to a tragic death
She died with her mind full of doubt and thoughts of weakening
They departed with a heavy heart, tormented by uncertainty and despair
So may your river never dry
May your source of life, your hopes, and your dreams never fade away
And may your mouth never lie
May you always speak the truth and live a life with integrity
And may you be satisfied to never know why
Accepting that sometimes things happen that we cannot explain or comprehend
Sometimes someone just wants to die
There are times in life where some are overwhelmed with a desire to leave this world
So where'd you get those cuts in your hand
Referring to physical injuries, asking about the pain a person has been through
I thought I told you about playing in the sand
A reminiscence of advice, telling someone to be careful and mindful of their surroundings
There's always someone careless with glass
There's always danger around, even in places and situations where you wouldn't expect it
There's always questions you don't want to ask
There are times when we fear the answers and the truth will unveil more problems
So lonely soldier go home
It's time to stop fighting and start healing, coming back home to rebuild a life
Lonely, but never alone
You may feel lonely at times, but you always have a part of yourself to keep you company
Good eyes see nothing to shoot
Now you have a better perspective on life, seeing that violence is not the answer
Good feet feel good giving up good boots
You are eager to leave the horrors behind, to find peace and move on
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAMIEN GEORGE RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eoghan Brophy
Love this song, 3 great voices, lyrics are brilliant.
Joshua Gonzalez
Always loved this song. It's literally perfect.
ndg43
This song really speaks to me. "Sometimes someone just wants to die." It makes me think of my uncle who committed suicide.
A. B. McCartney
Just watched a wee North of Ireland band called FALSE FRIENDS singing this song tonight.
I've never heard it before, but they really did it justice. Fantastic song and they did it proud. 💚🍀
S M
Used to have his on cd..emotional to hear it again.. great song
Chris Gilroy
this is my favourite ever song it gives me the chills every time,
cuddleymonster
Fantastic... Downloaded it over the weeknend and ahve been listening to it on loop! ! Words are brilliant!
sillyrabbit77
Was looking for this version. Saw him play it with the Birds singer when they were touring together, quite a few years ago. Thanks.
Moniange Quintessence Music
great song, thanks for sharing it :)
kitty lynch
Who wrote the words? It's a beautiful song. Always makes me cry.