In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan. He added Steve Byrd on guitar, Liam Glenocky on drums and John McCoy (ex-zzebra) on bass, and initially pursued a progressive rock direction, releasing their eponymous debut in 1978, although they could only get a record deal in Japan. This recording has subsequently become more widely available as THE JAPANESE ALBUM.
The album was sufficiently successful to attract more attention and in 1979 the band secured a European deal with Acrobat Records. Before a new album was recorded, Byrd was replaced by Bernie Tormé and Glenocky by Mick Underwood, Ian Gillan's former colleague in Episode Six. Torme's "screaming guitar" sound fundamentally altered the dynamics and Gillan took a heavy metal direction. This lineup's first album was released as MR. UNIVERSE and contained many re-worked songs from The Japanese Album. The band caught the rise of the NWOBHM at just the right time and the group gained popularity in Europe. At Christmas Gillan turned down an offer from Ritchie Blackmore to join Rainbow, but Blackmore did make a "legendary" guest appearance for Gillan at their Christmas show. It was the first time Ian Gillan and Blackmore had performed together since 1973.
In 1980 Gillan reached the peak of their success, releasing the successful GLORY ROAD album with the limited edition "free" LP for gillan fans only. However the band remained unknown in North America and were unable to raise any interest there despite tours.
By 1981 the band members were becoming disgruntled that their European and Japanese success was not translating into increased pay, and after the FUTURE SHOCK album tour, Torme walked out just before the band were due to appear on Top of the Pops. He was replaced by White Spirit guitarist Janick Gers and this line up releaed the live/studio combi double album DOUBLE TROUBLE at the end of the year. In 1982 final album MAGIC followed. By this time, tension over money had reached fever-pitch and Ian Gillan needed time to have nodes removed from his vocal chords. He also received and accepted an offer to replace Ronnie James Dio in Black Sabbath. After the Magic tour Ian Gillan dissolved the band to the incredulity of the other members, particularly McCoy, and the acrimony remained into the 21st century.
McCoy subsequently released compilations of studio out-takes to which he had the rights, beginning with Gillan Tapes, Vol. 1, and ensured that revenues were distributed fairly amongst the band.
Born To Kill
Gillan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You take a piece of wood
You join it to another
Piece of wood and then
You do it all again
Until you've got a house
A little wooden house
You get a piece of land
Or just a patch of forest
Where you hunt some meat
So you can sit and eat
And when you're warm and fed
You can go to bed
For this you were born to kill
You find a woman who
Will make you feel so good
And she will share your life
And will become your wife
And when you're warm and fed
You can go to bed
For her you were born to kill
It's just a simple life
And when your children grow
And they just want to play
In golden fields of hay
And when the sun goes
The light from your house glows
One day a band of strangers
Knock you to the ground
And take your land from you
Your wife and children too
Tears and blood will mix
You can fight guns with sticks
For this you were born to kill
Life brings
Confusion
Conscience conscious
Mankind
The futurists
The forward path's
Locked in our past
When wise men
And leaders
Sent our young braves out
To the hills
To test their skills
To become stronger
Live much longer
For peace and stillness
They were born to kill
PART TWO
Hear the bastards screaming
They wake you from your dreaming
Can you feel it
Primitively
Positively
Definitely
Just protection
Born to kill
Natural selection
Born to kill
Sophistication
You don't have to cry
Racial menstruation
You don't have to die
Hear the sound of firing
It's politics expiring
PART THREE
It's your house
It's your life
Your kids and wife
Extensions
Of your own seed
Just how far
Do you need to breed
So draw the line
With reason
And understanding
But be sure
That you're not part
Of someone else's
Private planning
Life brings
Confusion
Conscience conscious
Mankind
The futurists
Sent our young braves out
To the hills
To test their skills
To become stronger
Live much longer
We were born to kill
The main theme of the lyrics is about the circle of life, the basic human need of survival, and the darker side of human nature. The lyrics begin with describing how a person can build a simple life by constructing a wooden house and acquiring a piece of land. The second verse talks about forming a family and finding love. However, the mood suddenly changes when a gang of outsiders arrives and takes everything away from the singer. The tone becomes aggressive and violent, and it is suggested that one must be ready to fight and even kill to protect what is theirs. In the second part of the lyrics, the singer seems to be commenting on the innate aggressive tendencies of humans and how they are necessary for survival. The final part suggests that a balance must be found between leading a peaceful life while also being able to defend oneself from external threats.
The lyrics are written in a poetic style using simple language. The verses are constructed in a conversational tone to draw in the listener, and it is particularly effective when delivering the deeper, darker message. The song is not advocating for violence, but rather, it is a thought-provoking piece that encourages listeners to question the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
You take a piece of wood
Start with simple resources.
You join it to another
Combine effort with others.
Piece of wood and then
Keep building one step at a time.
You do it all again
Repeat the same pattern in life.
Until you've got a house
Create a place to call home.
A little wooden house
A house doesn't have to be grand.
You get a piece of land
Claim your own space in the world.
Or just a patch of forest
Find your own way to live life.
Where you hunt some meat
Provide for yourself and others.
So you can sit and eat
Appreciate the simple things in life.
And when you're warm and fed
Satisfied with the necessities in life.
You can go to bed
Enjoy peaceful rest at night.
For this you were born to kill
Survival sometimes requires aggression.
You find a woman who
Find someone to share life with.
Will make you feel so good
Find pleasure and companionship in life.
And she will share your life
Partner up for life's journey.
And will become your wife
Form a lasting bond and commitment.
It's just a simple life
Appreciate the simplicity in life.
And when your children grow
Witness the growth of your own legacy.
And they just want to play
Enjoy the innocence of childhood.
In golden fields of hay
Experience the beauty of nature.
And when the sun goes
Enjoy the beauty of sunset.
The light from your house glows
Home is where the heart is.
One day a band of strangers
Unexpected events can disrupt peaceful living.
Knock you to the ground
Lose everything one has worked for.
And take your land from you
Lose ownership of one's land and property.
Your wife and children too
Lose family and loved ones.
Tears and blood will mix
Suffering and pain are inevitable.
You can fight guns with sticks
Resistance requires creativity and resourcefulness.
Hear the bastards screaming
Hear the cries of injustice and war.
They wake you from your dreaming
Take you out of a peaceful state.
Can you feel it
The harshness of reality is tangible.
Primitively
At the most basic level of human nature.
Positively
Necessary for survival and protection.
Definitely
Unavoidable in certain situations.
Just protection
Violence can serve as protection.
Natural selection
Survival of the fittest.
Sophistication
Civilization has not eliminated violence.
You don't have to cry
Accepting the reality of violence is necessary.
Racial menstruation
Violence is often associated with race.
You don't have to die
Violence is not always fatal.
Hear the sound of firing
The sound of war is distinct and disconcerting.
It's your house
Protecting your home requires aggression.
It's your life
Protecting your life requires aggression.
Your kids and wife
Protecting your family requires aggression.
Extensions
Family is an extension of oneself.
Of your own seed
Procreation ensures the survival of genes.
Just how far
The limits of aggression are unclear.
Do you need to breed
Is procreation necessary for survival?
So draw the line
Set boundaries for one's own aggression.
With reason
Take a logical approach to aggression.
And understanding
Understand the consequences of aggression.
But be sure
Be confident in one's own decisions about aggression.
That you're not part
Avoid contributing to someone else's aggression.
Of someone else's
Avoid getting caught up in someone else's war.
Private planning
Avoid getting manipulated by others in aggression.
Confusion
The complexity of life can cause confusion.
Conscience conscious
The morality of aggression requires consciousness.
Mankind
Humanity is subject to violence.
The futurists
The future of humanity includes violence.
Sent our young braves out
Aggression has been a part of human history.
To the hills
War has often been fought in the mountains.
To test their skills
War is a test of one's aggression.
To become stronger
Overcoming violence can make one stronger.
Live much longer
Surviving violence can prolong life.
We were born to kill
Human nature includes aggression and violence.
Contributed by Owen C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.