John Watts recorded and performed as 'John Watts' during 1981-83 before forming The Cry in 1984. Watts later continued with a new incarnation of Fischer-Z in 1987, with him being the only original member. Albums were released with a similar line-up until 1995 when John Watts returned to being 'J M Watts', 'Watts' and John Watts. In 2002 the moniker was revived once more for the album "Ether". There was a 2004 reunion of the original band for one short show which featured on the Garden Party DVD which was released along with the Fischer-Z Highlights 1979-2004 25th anniversary compilation album.
After this John continued performing and recording solo with the most recent album being 2005's 'Real Life Is Good Enough', "It Has To Be" (2006) and "Morethanmusic & Films" (2009).
In august 2010 John Watts had a couple of shows in the Netherlands with his current band (Sam Walker on drums and Matthew Gest on keyboard) playing good old Fischer-Z repertoire. He presented this band as "the new Fischer-Z". Though John Watts focuses on his solo efforts more than on Fischer-Z (no new releases under that name) lately he revives the band when concert tent to be focused on that period of his live.
Battalions of Strangers
Fischer-Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's burning in the afternoon.
The smell's so strong.
No chance to wait away.
Gold medallions for the proud men in kahki.
Battalions of strangers. Battalions of strangers.
No one wants to lead the way.
Be the first death of the day.
It must all be in the minds of
Battalions of strangers. Battalions of strangers...
Battalions of strangers. Battalions of strangers...
The sound of guns has given way to children's cries.
The war has come home.
The black smoke and the hordes of flies.
Gold medallions for the citizens who stand and wait.
Battalions of strangers. Battalions of strangers...
No one wants to lead the way.
Be the first death of the day.
Leave his family behind.
It must all be in the minds of
Battalions of strangers...
...Battalions of strangers.
The voice of calm from Moscow to the Pentagon.
Sound the alarm, and try to back the better one.
Gold medallions for men who must negotiate.
Battalions of strangers... Battalions of strangers.
Battalions of strangers... Battalions of strangers.
...Out.
The lyrics of Fischer-Z's song "Battalions of Strangers" deal with the horrors of war and the consequences it has for those who are involved in it. The opening lines of "The map has gone. It's burning in the afternoon. The smell's so strong. No chance to wait away" evoke a sense of chaos and destruction as the setting is described. The mention of "gold medallions" and "citizens" highlights the fact that this is a war fought by strangers who don't necessarily have any significant differences between them. The use of the word "battalions" emphasizes the scale of the conflict, and the sense of anonymity that comes with it.
The chorus, repeated throughout the song, adds to this sense of anonymity with the words "No one wants to lead the way. Be the first death of the day. Leave his family behind. It must all be in the minds of Battalions of strangers." The soldiers are not fighting for any personal reason, but simply because they have been told to, and are part of a larger group that is carrying out the conflict. The final verses of the song add a layer of introspection as the war has ended, and the soldiers have returned home to face the fallout of their actions. The lines "The sound of guns has given way to children's cries. The war has come home. The black smoke and the hordes of flies" suggest that the trauma and destruction of war don't stay confined to the battlefield.
Line by Line Meaning
The map has gone.
The geographical location that led them to war is no longer a guide or a means of navigation.
It's burning in the afternoon.
The destruction and ruin of war are happening in broad daylight, without any shame.
The smell's so strong.
The horrific stench of death and destruction is overpowering and impossible to ignore.
No chance to wait away.
There is no opportunity to escape or wait out the conflict.
Gold medallions for the proud men in kahki.
The uniform and status of military personnel is an emblem of pride and honor.
Battalions of strangers. Battalions of strangers.
Large groups of unknown soldiers are fighting each other, with no personal connection or sense of individuality.
No one wants to lead the way.
There is a distinct lack of leadership and direction, leaving soldiers unsure of what to do next.
Be the first death of the day.
The risk and consequences of dying in battle are ever-present and looming.
Leave his family behind.
Soldiers are forced to leave their loved ones behind and face the horrors of war alone.
It must all be in the minds of Battalions of strangers. Battalions of strangers...
The concept of war might only exist in the minds of the soldiers on each side, as they are strangers to each other and fighting for an unknown cause.
The sound of guns has given way to children's cries.
The chaos and destruction of war are causing innocent children to suffer and become victims.
The war has come home.
The conflict that was once far away has now come to their own doorstep and caused destruction in their own lives.
The black smoke and the hordes of flies.
The destruction of war brings with it death, decay, and disease, represented by the ominous presence of smoke and flies.
Gold medallions for the citizens who stand and wait.
Those who are not involved in the fighting but must endure the effects of war as innocent bystanders receive no recognition or honor.
The voice of calm from Moscow to the Pentagon.
Leaders and officials who are far-removed from the frontlines offer words of reassurance and guidance from the safety of their distant locations.
Sound the alarm, and try to back the better one.
There is an urgent call to action to support and defend their own side, with the goal of proving their superiority.
Gold medallions for men who must negotiate.
Diplomats and negotiators who try to resolve the conflict peacefully receive recognition and praise, despite the fact that their efforts may be ineffective.
Battalions of strangers... Battalions of strangers.
The idea of faceless, anonymous soldiers continues to be emphasized, highlighting the dehumanizing effects of war.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN MALCOLM WATTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Asier de la Torre Atxurra
Without a doubt,one of the most underrated band in the history of the music...AMAZING FISCHER Z
Klaus Schiess
Fast vergessen!! Diese Super Musik-Band , Die Vinyl-Scheibe steht heute noch im Regal bei mir. Die Texte sind Weltkritisch und treffen auch HEUTE genau die Lage und Situationen zu . Danke an Fischer - z
Susanne Buchholz
Klaus Schiess Super Musik!Höre ich heute noch sehr gerne!Erinnert mich an eine besondere Zeit.👍🏻👏🏻
Manny Oliveira
This album is a masterpiece of political rock created by a passionate man named John Watts. A true humanitarian the likes of which don't exist any more in today's music scene!
Vox Veritas
Bought the original album in 1981 and remember playing this track on the record player, over & over. Still sounds fantastic 35 years later!
M
We are now almost 40 years later and I still love it ! Will be here in 20 more years ! Eternal Fischer-Z love !
Chrissein63
same here. Always coming back to this music when reminiscing over the old times :))
Wuce Brayne
I'm a new Fischer-Z fan, I wish I could have had that experience. All is digital now though....
Randall Withell
After so many years, this rhythm hurts ... the intense vocals, the threatening thunder of guitars, the immense burden that leans, so beautifully, on my old age ...
coldwar1977
Hands down my favourite F-Z song. Love them!!!