Love Vigilantes
Iron & Wine Lyrics
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From a war that must be won in the name of truth
With our soldiers so brave your freedom we will save
With our rifles and grenades and some help from God
I want to see my family
My wife and child are waiting for me
I've got to go home
You just can't believe the joy I did receive
When I finally got my leave and I was going home
Oh, I flew through the sky, my convictions could not lie
For my country I would die, and I will see it soon
And I want to see my family
My wife and child are waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see
When I walked through the door my wife she lay upon the floor
And with tears her eyes did soar, I did not know why
Then I looked into her hand and I saw the telegram
Said that I was a brave, brave man, but that I was dead
I want to see my family
My wife and child are waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see
I want to see my family
My wife and child are waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see
Iron & Wine's song "Love Vigilantes" tells the story of a soldier who has just returned from a war in the "the land of the sun." He speaks of the bravery of the soldiers fighting for the "name of truth" and the help they receive from God. The soldier longs to see his family, his wife and child waiting for him back home. He speaks of the joy he felt when he finally got his leave and was able to go home. He flew through the sky with certainty, his convictions unwavering, convinced that for his country he would die.
When he gets home, he finds his wife lying on the floor, crying. In her hand, she holds a telegram that says he is a "brave, brave man" but that he is dead. The irony is that he had been dreaming of his reunion with his family, but instead, he finds himself in a tragedy.
Notably, the love and joy present in his heart are sharply juxtaposed with the unexpected fate he finds upon his arrival at home. The song captures the tension between the expectations of war and the hope for life after the war. Furthermore, the song speaks to the human costs of war, the loneliness and desperation experienced by the soldiers who often fight for causes beyond their understanding or control.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I've just come from the land of the sun
I have just returned from a country far away with a hot climate.
From a war that must be won in the name of truth
I fought in a war that I believed was necessary to win for the greater good.
With our soldiers so brave your freedom we will save
We had courageous soldiers who were determined to save your freedom.
With our rifles and grenades and some help from God
We relied on weapons and divine intervention to help us win the war.
I want to see my family
I am longing to be reunited with my loved ones.
My wife and child are waiting for me
My spouse and offspring are eagerly anticipating my return.
I've got to go home
I need to go back to the place where I belong.
I've been so alone, you see
I have been feeling isolated and disconnected from my family.
You just can't believe the joy I did receive
I can't even describe the immense happiness I felt.
When I finally got my leave and I was going home
After my service term ended, I was able to leave the war zone and head towards home.
Oh, I flew through the sky, my convictions could not lie
I had a firm belief in what I was fighting for, and this made me feel like I was flying.
For my country I would die, and I will see it soon
I was willing to give my life for my country, but unfortunately, I was unable to rejoin it.
When I walked through the door my wife she lay upon the floor
As soon as I arrived home, I saw that something terrible had happened.
And with tears her eyes did soar, I did not know why
My wife was crying uncontrollably, and I didn't understand what had happened.
Then I looked into her hand and I saw the telegram
I discovered that my death was announced through the telegram that my wife was holding.
Said that I was a brave, brave man, but that I was dead
The telegram praised me for being a courageous soldier, but it also confirmed that I had died.
I want to see my family
Even though I am no longer alive, my deepest desire is to be reunited with my family.
My wife and child are waiting for me
I hope that in some way, they are still waiting for me.
I've got to go home
I still yearn to return to my home, even though it is no longer possible.
I've been so alone, you see
Death has left me feeling isolated from my loved ones and the world itself.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEPHEN PAUL DAVID MORRIS, PETER HOOK, BERNARD (GB 2) SUMNER, GILLIAN LESLEY GILBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LiquidEcho 32
Oh, I've just come from the land of the sun
From a war that must be won in the name of truth
With our soldiers so brave your freedom we will save
With our rifles and grenades and some help from God
I want to see my family
My wife and child are waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see
You just can't believe the joy I did receive
When I finally got my leave and I was going home
Oh, I flew through the sky, my convictions could not lie
For my country I would die, and I will see it soon
And I want to see my family
My wife and child are waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see
When I walked through the door my wife she lay upon the floor
And with tears her eyes did soar, I did not know why
Then I looked into her hand and I saw the telegram
Said that I was a brave, brave man, but that I was dead
I want to see my family
My wife and child are waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see
I want to see my family
My wife and child are waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see
titch
'When I walked through the door
My wife she lay upon the floor
And with tears her eyes were sore
I did not know why
Then I looked into her hand
And then I saw the telegram
Said that I was a brave, brave man
But that I was dead
I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see'
Listened a dozens times i must be dim cause only just heard what its all about -
Adam Gorsky
I don't normally like Covers anywhere as much as the original, but this just joined a very select club, fucking excellent
Allison Schleicher
Beautiful cover. Well done.
LiquidEcho 32
Oh, I've just come from the land of the sun
From a war that must be won in the name of truth
With our soldiers so brave your freedom we will save
With our rifles and grenades and some help from God
I want to see my family
My wife and child are waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see
You just can't believe the joy I did receive
When I finally got my leave and I was going home
Oh, I flew through the sky, my convictions could not lie
For my country I would die, and I will see it soon
And I want to see my family
My wife and child are waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see
When I walked through the door my wife she lay upon the floor
And with tears her eyes did soar, I did not know why
Then I looked into her hand and I saw the telegram
Said that I was a brave, brave man, but that I was dead
I want to see my family
My wife and child are waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see
I want to see my family
My wife and child are waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see
Justin Maurice
Wow, just wow. So so good. Working from home and this is just what I needed to hear to remind me of how lucky I am.
Steve Blazier
Never paid any attention to the lyrics until now. Wow!
barDown76
To many kids die today for what? a richmans war?their sent on a mission to demise.. always a sad story.
LafayetteGirl928
This is perfect!
Elliott C Smith
Has a sadness to it that New Order's didn't (although it's good too) and reveals what a lovely song it is.
Jim Ngo
I like this version but I also think New Order's version is brilliant in that they hide the tragedy in the pop tune
binkey
With the New Order version, I always thought this was a song about grief caused by a bureaucratic mix up. The Iron and Wine version sounds like it's a ghost story narrated by the ghost.