Back In The Day
Erykah Badu f/ Lenny Kravitz Lyrics
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We're gonna bring it down and give it to you, that's how we go
We're gonna drop from the sky like a killer tornado
[Chorus]
Here we are again my friends
We're back in Vietnam
Back in Vietnam
Back in Vietnam
We're gonna keep on riding 'til the enemy's been severed
Well never turn around, we don't care if it takes forever
Men women children will die we're all in this together
[Chorus]
do do do do do
do do do do do
do do do do do
do do do do do
[Chorus]
We're gonna fly over the world inside a giant eagle
We do just what we want and don't care if it isn't legal
We're on a horse that is high, we think We're so damn regal
Here we are again my friend
We're back in Vietnam
Back in Vietnam...oh yeah
We're back in Vietnam (back in Vietnam)
Back in Vietnam (make no mistake about it)
We're back in Vietnam (We're back in Viet)
Back in Vietnam
We're back in Vietnam
The lyrics of Erykah Badu f/Lenny Kravitz's "Back in the Day" are metaphorical, but they are seemingly about a military mission that the two singers are on. The song talks about how they will bring down the enemy's ego, how they will drop from the sky like a killer tornado, and how they will ride until the enemy has been conquered. The use of the name 'Vietnam' in the chorus implies that this is a war they are waging, and they are determined to win at all costs. In the last verse, there is a shift in the metaphor as they talk about flying over the world inside a giant eagle and being on a high horse. This implies that they see themselves as superior to everyone else, even as they wage this war.
However, the song is not really about the war at all. The metaphor is a deliberate reference to the 1960s and 70s, which was a turbulent time of unrest and change. It was a time when the war in Vietnam was being fought, and the lyrics are a commentary on the people living through that time. The song celebrates the rebellious spirit and the sense of adventure that was so prevalent back then. The 'pirates' that Erykah Badu and Lenny Kravitz refer to are the people who were fighting for a cause they believed in, even if it meant going against the established norms of society. The use of the name 'Vietnam' in the chorus is a deliberate reference to the war and the protests that were happening then.
In conclusion, "Back in the Day" by Erykah Badu f/Lenny Kravitz is a song that celebrates the spirit of rebellion and adventure of the 1960s and 70s. The song uses the metaphor of a military mission to highlight the determination and sense of purpose that people had back then. However, the real message of the song is about the need to fight for what you believe in and to never give up, no matter how hard the battle might be.
Line by Line Meaning
We are like pirates and we are comin' with the biggest ego
We have a fearless and audacious demeanor resembling that of pirates, and we're confident in our abilities and worth.
We're gonna bring it down and give it to you, that's how we go
Our aim is to conquer and triumph over our goals, and give our all in doing so.
We're gonna drop from the sky like a killer tornado
Our arrival is sudden and overwhelming, just like a powerful and destructive tornado.
[Chorus]
Our presence returns us to a place with past traumas, just like the soldiers returning to Vietnam in the chorus.
We're gonna keep on riding 'til the enemy's been severed
We'll continue fighting relentlessly, with the objective to eliminate our enemies.
Well never turn around, we don't care if it takes forever
We're prepared to keep going forward indefinitely, regardless of how long it takes or the difficulties we face.
Men women children will die we're all in this together
An allusion to the horrors and tragedies of war, acknowledging the sacrifices of all involved in the conflict.
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus, underscoring the sense of being stuck in a recurrent cycle of conflict.
We're gonna fly over the world inside a giant eagle
Our journey will transcend limitations, soaring to great heights like a majestic eagle.
We do just what we want and don't care if it isn't legal
Our actions are driven by our own desires, regardless of the laws or cultural norms that exist.
We're on a horse that is high, we think We're so damn regal
We hold ourselves to a high standard, feeling superior and regal in the way we live and operate.
Here we are again my friend
Acknowledging once again the refrain of returning to a problematic situation or place.
Back in Vietnam...oh yeah
Reiterating the sense of coming back to a place of past conflict and turmoil.
We're back in Vietnam (back in Vietnam)
Echoing and reinforcing the previous lines about coming back to Vietnam.
Back in Vietnam (make no mistake about it)
Making it clear that we truly are back in Vietnam, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
We're back in Viet)
Another reminder and emphasis on the theme of return to this place of earlier trauma.
Back in Vietnam
Final repetition of the refrain, fully embodying the sense of reliving past conflict and turmoil.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LENNY KRAVITZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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