When Ya Get Drafted
Dead Kennedys Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Are you believing the morning papers?
War is coming back in style
There's generals here, advisers there
And Russians nibbling everywhere
The chessboard's filling up with red
We make more profits when we blow off their heads

Economy is looking bad, lLet's start another war (when ya get drafted!)
Fan the fires of racist hatred, we want total war (when ya get drafted!)

Drooling fingers, panic buttons
Playing with missiles like they're toys
There's easy money, easy jobs
Especially when you build the bombs
That blow big cities off the map
Just guess who profits when we build 'em back up

Yeah, what Big Business wants Big Business gets, it wants a war (when ya get drafted!)
Trilateral Commission goonies laugh and scheme for more (when ya get drafted!)

Call the Army, call the Navy, stocked with kids from slums (when ya get drafted!)
If you can't afford a slick attorney we might make you a spy

Forget your demonstrations, kids today sit on their ass (when ya get drafted!)




Just a six-pack and you're happy we're prepared for when ya get drafted
When ya get drafted!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "When Ya Get Drafted" by Dead Kennedys are a powerful commentary on the military-industrial complex and the commodification of war. The song begins with a reference to the media and how it perpetuates the idea that war is fashionable, and that it's time to bring it back. The lyrics are biting satire on the role of our leaders and politicians in generating wars.


The use of military imagery in the song is particularly strong, with references to generals, advisers, and missiles being played with like toys. The song's chorus talks about the profit motive behind war, with politicians and businessmen making money from war. The message is particularly timely today, where the scale of the military-industrial complex is huge.


The final verses of the song suggest that we should forget our protests and just accept our lot in life: a six-pack of beer and the life of a warrior. The song encourages us to question everything around us and to recognise the destructive forces that are often hidden behind the guise of patriotism, nationalism or defence.


Line by Line Meaning

Are you believing the morning papers?
Do you trust everything written in the news?


War is coming back in style
War is becoming popular again


There's generals here, advisers there
Military commanders and advisors are everywhere


And Russians nibbling everywhere
Russia is expanding its influence


The chessboard's filling up with red
Communist countries are gaining power


We make more profits when we blow off their heads
We gain financially when we kill our enemies


Economy is looking bad, lLet's start another war (when ya get drafted!)
To boost the economy, we should start a new war and draft more soldiers


Fan the fires of racist hatred, we want total war (when ya get drafted!)
Encourage racism to create more hatred and support for war


Drooling fingers, panic buttons
Leaders are excited to push the button for war


Playing with missiles like they're toys
Weapons of mass destruction are being viewed as games


There's easy money, easy jobs
There is a lot of money to be made in the military industrial complex


Especially when you build the bombs
The making of bombs is particularly lucrative


That blow big cities off the map
These bombs can cause destruction on a massive scale


Just guess who profits when we build 'em back up
The same people who make money from the war also make money from the reconstruction


Yeah, what Big Business wants Big Business gets, it wants a war (when ya get drafted!)
Big businesses control the government and want to profit from war


Trilateral Commission goonies laugh and scheme for more (when ya get drafted!)
A secret organization is manipulating the government to ensure continued war


Call the Army, call the Navy, stocked with kids from slums (when ya get drafted!)
The government will draft poor young people to fight its wars


If you can't afford a slick attorney we might make you a spy
If you can't fight in the war, you might be used as a spy instead


Forget your demonstrations, kids today sit on their ass (when ya get drafted!)
Young people are passive and unlikely to protest against being drafted


Just a six-pack and you're happy we're prepared for when ya get drafted
People are content to drink beer and not think about the possibility of being drafted


When ya get drafted!
The government is planning to draft more soldiers soon




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JELLO BIAFRA, EAST BAY RAY, KLAUS FLOURIDE, D.H PELIGRO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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

yo mamma


on This Could Be Anywhere

fuck yo
u
u
u

More Versions