3-5-0-0
Galt MacDermot/Tom Pierson Lyrics
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Caught in barbed wire
Fireball
Bullet shock
Bayonet
Electricity
Shrapnel
Throbbing meat
Black uniforms
Bare feet, carbines
Mail-order rifles
Shoot the muscles
256 Viet Cong captured
256 Viet Cong captured
Prisoners in Niggertown
It's a dirty little war
Three Five Zero Zero
Take weapons up and begin to kill
Watch the long long armies drifting home
The song "3-5-0-0" by Galt Macdermot is a commentary on the Vietnam War. The lyrics describe the brutal reality of being caught in the midst of the conflict, with images of violence and destruction interspersed with references to military tactics and equipment. The opening lines, "Ripped open by metal explosion/Caught in barbed wire/Fireball/Bullet shock/Bayonet/Electricity/Shrapnel/Throbbing meat," paint a vivid picture of the chaos and carnage of warfare. The reference to "electronic data processing" perhaps alludes to the advanced technology being used by the military, contrasting with the brutal, primal nature of the conflict.
The song also touches on the dehumanizing aspects of war, with references to "black uniforms" and "bare feet, carbines" suggesting that individual soldiers are essentially reduced to cogs in a larger, impersonal military machine. The line "shoot the muscles" seems to suggest a mentality of destroying the physical strength and endurance of the enemy, rather than engaging them on an intellectual or emotional level. The repeated refrain of "256 Viet Cong captured" reinforces the impersonal aspect of the conflict, with numbers serving as a substitute for individual lives.
The final verse of the song brings the focus back to the human toll of the war, with the line "Prisoners in Niggertown" alluding to the mistreatment of prisoners of war. The line "It's a dirty little war" suggests that there is something shameful and ignoble about the conflict. The final lines, "Three Five Zero Zero/Take weapons up and begin to kill/Watch the long long armies drifting home," suggest a sense of resignation and sadness, as soldiers are sent off to fight and kill, with little hope of anything changing.
Line by Line Meaning
Ripped open by metal explosion
Violently torn apart by a bomb or grenade
Caught in barbed wire
Trapped and entangled in sharp, spiked fencing
Fireball
A massive explosion resulting in a ball of fire
Bullet shock
The severe impact of a bullet striking the body
Bayonet
A long, sharply pointed knife attached to a soldier's rifle that is used for close combat
Electricity
The power and energy of war machinery, such as tanks and fighter jets
Shrapnel
Small, sharp pieces of metal or other material that are ejected from an exploding shell or bomb
Throbbing meat
Refers to the human body and its vulnerability to war and violence
Electronic data processing
The use of advanced technology in war, such as radar and computer systems
Black uniforms
The dark clothing worn by soldiers, symbolizing death and destruction
Bare feet, carbines
Viet Cong soldiers who are poorly equipped and wear minimal clothing
Mail-order rifles
Rifles that were purchased through the mail and used by the Viet Cong
Shoot the muscles
The act of targeting and killing enemy soldiers, specifically their physically strongest and most capable
256 Viet Cong captured
A specific number of enemy soldiers caught and taken as prisoners
Prisoners in Niggertown
Refers to a derogatory name for a black neighborhood used as a euphemism for a prisoner-of-war camp
It's a dirty little war
The Vietnam War was an unethical and unjust conflict that resulted in countless unnecessary deaths and atrocities
Three Five Zero Zero
Refers to the body count of the enemy soldiers killed in action
Take weapons up and begin to kill
Encourages soldiers to pick up their weapons and engage in violent combat
Watch the long long armies drifting home
Reflects on the impact of war and the devastation it causes not only to the soldiers but also to the families and communities left behind
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GALT MAC DERMOT, GEROME RAGNI, JAMES RADO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind