3-5-0-0
Hair Lyrics


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Ripped open by metal explosion
Caught in barbed wire
Fireball
Bullet shock
Bayonet
Electricity
Shrapnel
Throbbing meat
Electronic data processing
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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "3-5-0-0" by the musical "Hair" is a representation of the Vietnam War, which was one of the most politicized wars in American history. The first line, "Ripped open by metal explosion," refers to the violent nature of the warfare that involved weapons such as bombs and landmines that caused massive damage to the soldiers. The second line, "Caught in barbed wire," depicts the soldiers' plight as they struggled to free themselves from the traps they were caught in.


The song describes the horrors of war through vivid descriptions that include "Fireball," "Bullet shock," "Bayonet," "Electricity," "Shrapnel," and "Throbbing meat," all of which symbolize the gruesome nature of the conflict. The line "Electronic data processing" represents the use of advanced technology in the war that changed the way it was fought. The next four lines, which include "Black uniforms, Bare feet, carbines, Mail-order rifles," describe the Vietnamese guerrilla fighters that fought against the American soldiers with what little resources they had.


The lines "256 Viet Cong captured, Prisoners in Niggertown" illustrates the American military's use of discriminatory and divisive tactics such as the segregation of prisoners in "Niggertown." The chorus, "Three Five Zero Zero, Take weapons up and begin to kill, Watch the long long armies drifting home" serves as a call to arms for the soldiers to fight for their country and leaders while reminding them that no matter how long the conflict drags on, they will eventually make their way back home.


Line by Line Meaning

Ripped open by metal explosion
The destructive impact of the war is compared to a powerful, violent metal explosion.


Caught in barbed wire
The soldiers were trapped in barbed wire barriers that they couldn't escape from.


Fireball
During the course of the war, large fireballs erupt numerous times because of explosions and artillery fire.


Bullet shock
As they are hit, soldiers feel severe physical stress and shock because of instant bullet impact.


Bayonet
Bayonets were employed by soldiers as a fighting tool for brutal hand-to-hand combat.


Electricity
Electricity was used to provide a semblance of healing to the soldiers, implying that the high-tech medicine could not even alleviate the pain caused by war.


Shrapnel
Being hit by shrapnel could be lethal, with pieces of metal flying around in every direction causing severe injury or death.


Throbbing meat
The bodies of the soldiers are reduced to painful, mutilated structures, as the war takes its toll on them.


Electronic data processing
The government and the army were gathering information via all means, which were useful to them to plan their course of action.


Black uniforms
The black uniform worn by the soldiers symbolizes death and the dark nature of war.


Bare feet, carbines
Despite having little to no resources, the soldiers still mounted an attack with the limited resources they had.


Mail-order rifles
The rifles used by the soldiers didn't have great quality but were precise in what they were meant to do.


Shoot the muscles
The soldiers were rendered useless when their muscles were targeted, which was often the fact as it made them suffer and put them out of action.


256 Viet Cong captured
This states the successful capture of the significant number of Viet Cong soldiers by the American Army.


Prisoners in Niggertown
The captured enemies were held as prisoners and confined in an area close to the fighting, which was commonly known as Niggertown.


It's a dirty little war
The small-scale conflicts between guerilla fighters and American soldiers was brutal and visceral.


Three Five Zero Zero
Refers to the number of Viet Congs captured by the American soldiers.


Take weapons up and begin to kill
The lyrics compel the listener to collect weapons and begin a violent rebellion against the state or government that is driving them to war.


Watch the long long armies drifting home
This line focuses on how the soldiers look back towards the end of the war, an exhausted bunch of people, as armies on the way to home are seen drifting away in the distance.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GALT MAC DERMOT, GEROME RAGNI, JAMES RADO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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