Ian Stephen McCulloch (born 5 May 1959) is an English singer-songwriter and… Read Full Bio ↴Ian Stephen McCulloch (born 5 May 1959) is an English singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the frontman of the rock group Echo & the Bunnymen.

In October 1978, McCulloch founded Echo & the Bunnymen with Will Sergeant (guitar), Les Pattinson (bass), and a drum machine (allegedly named Echo), making their live début at Eric's in November that year. In October 1979 the Bunnymen exchanged the drum machine for Pete de Freitas on drums. With their line up solidified, the Bunnymen played in the late 1970s and early 1980s, releasing their critically praised debut album, Crocodiles in 1980, and the heavier, bass driven, Heaven up Here in 1981. They released their third album Porcupine in 1983 with the lead single "The Cutter" finishing in the Top 10 of the UK Charts. Ocean Rain followed in 1984.

In 1988, McCulloch left the group to pursue a solo career under the impression the Bunnymen would be laid to rest, if only temporarily. When the remaining Bunnymen continued using the name with new singer Noel Burke, the split became permanent with McCulloch referring to the band as "Echo & the Bogusmen".

In 1990, McCulloch released the album Candleland which reflected a more mature outlook on the world, owing to the recent deaths of McCulloch's father and his friend Pete de Freitas. The album peaked at number 18 in the UK Charts. It yielded two Modern Rock Tracks hits, "Proud To Fall" (No. 1 for 4 weeks) and "Faith and Healing." His album Mysterio was released in 1992, but the public's interest in the former Bunnyman was waning and it sold less than its predecessor. Shortly after, McCulloch left the public eye to devote more time to his family.

McCulloch rekindled his relationship with Will Sergeant, leading to the formation of Electrafixion in 1994. The band released the album Burned which peaked at number 38 in the UK and included the top-30 hit "Sister Pain." The band soon found themselves performing set lists composed of half Electrafixion songs and half Echo & the Bunnymen songs.

In 1997, Echo & the Bunnymen reformed and released the album Evergreen to positive reviews and chart success. Evergreen made the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart and the single "Nothing Lasts Forever reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart.[12] The reformed Bunnymen have since recorded several further albums, the most recent being Meteorites[/abum] which was released in 2014.

Pro Patria Mori
Ian McCulloch Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pro Patria Mori
Pro Patria Mori
Pro Patria Mori
Pro Patria Mori
A friend of mine in the firing line got shooting pains
Ten plus nine, not enough time for growing pains
He had bills to pay and foes to slay
I asked him why he bled

And this is what he said
How sweet it is, how sweet it is
Yeah, how sweet it is
Tragic you and use, by the magic tree with our fingers crossed
A six and three, then house for tea, we ate albatross
We had shame to hide, our hands were tied..
Why no tears shed, this is what mum said..
How sweet it is, yeah how sweet it is
How sweet it is
Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum
Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum
Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum
Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum
Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum
Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum
I miss those words, I never heard, you never said
Miss the love unscarred, the kiss unshared, the books unread
We had nights to fall
That dreams might call
If only dreams could dare
To meet me on the stairs
How sweet it is, yeah how sweet it is
Yeah how sweet it is
Pro Patria Mori, Pro Patria Mori
Pro Patria Mori
Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum
Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum
Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum
Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum

Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum
Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum

Overall Meaning

The song Pro Patria Mori by Ian McCulloch is a poignant reflection on the tragedy of war and its devastating consequences on those who participate in it. The title is Latin for "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country", a phrase from the Roman poet Horace's Odes. However, the lyrics convey a sense of bitterness and regret at the loss of young lives and the futility of war.

The opening lines set the tone of the song, describing the pain of a friend in the firing line who dies before he has a chance to experience the joys of life. The mention of bills to pay and foes to slay highlights the fact that wars often leave behind significant economic and political issues that have to be dealt with. The repeated refrain of "How sweet it is" is ironic and serves as a biting commentary on the blind patriotism that often drives wars.

McCulloch goes on to describe the irrational and surreal experiences that soldiers endure on the battlefield. The image of eating albatross during a break from fighting is a stark reminder of the absurdity of life in the midst of death. The reference to "Dulce et Decorum" suggests that the singer has read the famous poem by Wilfred Owen, which exposes the lie behind Horace's phrase and portrays the true horror of war.

In the final stanza, the singer expresses his longing for the love and life that was lost in the war. The dream of meeting someone on the stairs represents a hope for a new beginning, but the reality is that the war has taken away that chance. The repeated refrains of "Pro Patria Mori" and "Dulce et Decorum" serve to reinforce the bitter irony of the situation and the tragedy of those who lost their lives in war.

Line by Line Meaning

Pro Patria Mori
Latin phrase meaning 'to die for one's country.'

A friend of mine in the firing line got shooting pains
A friend of mine in the midst of warfare experienced physical pain.

Ten plus nine, not enough time for growing pains
The time to grow and develop is cut short, and there is no room for immaturity.

He had bills to pay and foes to slay
He had a sense of duty and responsibility to himself and his enemies.

I asked him why he bled, And this is what he said
The artist inquired about the cause of the friend’s bleeding, and he shared his perspective.

How sweet it is, how sweet it is, Yeah, how sweet it is
Sarcasm towards the idea of taking pride in dying for one’s country.

Tragic you and use, by the magic tree with our fingers crossed
People are tragically manipulated and exploited, all while hoping for good luck.

A six and three, then house for tea, we ate albatross
Details of an event where odd occurrences transpired and strange decisions were made.

We had shame to hide, our hands were tied.. Why no tears shed, this is what mum said
A feeling of shame, and a lack of ability to express emotions due to societal and familial expectations.

Dulce et decorum, dulce et decorum
Repetition of the Latin phrase meaning 'it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country.'

I miss those words, I never heard, you never said
The singer misses hearing those words because they were never expressed by a loved one.

Miss the love unscarred, the kiss unshared, the books unread
The lamentation of missed opportunities and lost experiences.

We had nights to fall, That dreams might call, If only dreams could dare, To meet me on the stairs
Hopeful thoughts and desires for more opportunities.

Contributed by Gianna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS