Bush began writing songs at 11. She was signed to EMI Records after Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour helped produce a demo tape. Her debut album, The Kick Inside, was released in 1978. Bush slowly gained artistic independence in album production and has produced all her studio albums since The Dreaming (1982). She took a hiatus between her seventh and eighth albums, The Red Shoes (1993) and Aerial (2005). Bush drew attention again in 2014 with her concert residency Before the Dawn, her first show since 1979's The Tour of Life.
The TV series "Stranger Things" used Bush's "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" in Season 4. As a result of the resurgence of interest, in 2022 the song reached #1 on the UK charts, 37 years after its initial release, and generated 100s of millions of streams.
Bush's eclectic and experimental musical style, unconventional lyrics, performances, and literary themes have influenced a diverse range of artists. She has been nominated for 13 British Phonographic Industry accolades, winning for Best British Female Artist in 1987, and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards. In 2002, Bush was recognized with an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. Bush was appointed a CBE in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to music. She was nominated three times for induction in the 2018, 2021, and 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Army Dreams
Kate Bush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Army dreamers
"Mammy′s hero"
"B.F.P.O."
"Mammy's hero"
Our little army boy
Is coming home from B.F.P.O.
To decorate a mammy's hero
Mourning in the aerodrome
The weather warmer, he is colder
Four men in uniform
To carry home my little soldier
(What could he do? Should have been a rock star)
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
(What could he do? Should have been a politician)
But he never had a proper education
(What could he do? Should have been a father)
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste
Army dreamers
Ooh, what a waste of
Army dreamers
Tears o′er a tin box
Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn′t to know
Like a chicken with a fox
He couldn't win the war with ego
Give the kid the pick of pips
And give him all your stripes and ribbons
Now he′s sitting in his hole
He might as well have buttons and bows
(What could he do? Should have been a rock star)
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
(What could he do? Should have been a politician)
But he never had a proper education
(What could he do? Should have been a father)
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste
Army dreamers
Ooh, what a waste of
Army dreamers
Ooh, what a waste of all that
Army dreamers
Army dreamers
Army dreamers, oh
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(B.F.P.O.)
(Army dreamers)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Mammy′s hero)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(B.F.P.O.)
(Army dreamers)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Mammy's hero)
(B.F.P.O.)
No harm heroes
(Mammy′s hero)
(B.F.P.O.)
Army dreamers
(Mammy's hero)
"Army Dreams" is a song by Kate Bush that was released in 1980. The song tells the story of a young man who joined the army and died in combat. The title refers to the young man's dreams of becoming something other than a soldier.
The song opens with a reference to B.F.P.O., which stands for British Forces Post Office, indicating that the young man was stationed overseas. His mother is referred to as "Mammy" and is depicted as a grieving parent who has lost her son, who she considered her hero. The second verse describes the scene at the airport where the young man's coffin is being brought back to his country, and the people who carry it.
The next verse questions whether the young man could have been something else, such as a rock star or politician, but was unable to do so due to his circumstances or lack of resources. The repetition of "what could he do?" in the chorus emphasizes the wasted potential of this young man who lost his life in the military.
The last verse mentions a "tin box" which is possibly the package sent home with the young man's personal effects. The lyrics suggest that the young man was unable to win the war because of his ego, comparing his behavior to a chicken with a fox. The song ends with a repetition of the opening lines, linking B.F.P.O., Army dreamers and Mammy's hero.
Overall, "Army Dreams" is a poignant and evocative song that explores the futility of war and the waste of young lives.
Line by Line Meaning
B.F.P.O.
British Forces Post Office
Army dreamers
People who dream of joining the Army
"Mammy's hero"
A term of endearment for someone's son/daughter in the Army
B.F.P.O.
British Forces Post Office
"Mammy's hero"
A term of endearment for someone's son/daughter in the Army
Our little army boy
Is coming home from B.F.P.O.
A young soldier is arriving home from serving in the British Army
We've a bunch of purple flowers
To decorate a mammy's hero
Purple flowers are being used to decorate the homecoming of someone's son/daughter in the Army
Mourning in the aerodrome
The weather warmer, he is colder
Four men in uniform
To carry home my little soldier
The mother is mourning the loss of her son, who has been brought home in a casket by four soldiers
"What could he do? Should have been a rock star"
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
"What could he do? Should have been a politician"
But he never had a proper education
"What could he do? Should have been a father"
But he never even made it to his twenties
The mother is contemplating the wasted potential of her son who could have been successful in different careers had he not joined the Army, but unfortunately died before he could achieve anything
What a waste
Army dreamers
Ooh, what a waste of
Army dreamers
Joining the Army can be a waste of potential and life for some, and the mother grieves their loss
Tears o′er a tin box
Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn't to know
Like a chicken with a fox
He couldn't win the war with ego
The mother is crying over her son's coffin, wishing he had known better than to join the Army and fight a war that he couldn't win alone
Give the kid the pick of pips
And give him all your stripes and ribbons
Now he's sitting in his hole
He might as well have buttons and bows
Though in the Army, her son was still a kid who deserved better than a that he was given, ultimately he died a meaningless death
"Did n, did n, did n, dum"
(B.F.P.O.)
(Army dreamers)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Mammy′s hero)
The song concludes with a march, while repeating the terms used throughout the song
(B.F.P.O.)
No harm heroes
(Mammy′s hero)
(B.F.P.O.)
Army dreamers
(Mammy's hero)
At the end of the song, the mother is left with nothing but the phrase 'Army dreamers', which are mocking, ironic terms used for those who thought joining the Army was heroic, when in reality, they are people who have been failed and let down.
Contributed by Hailey S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sandrastevens4418
As a mother with 2 sons in the Army and a husband retired from the Air Force.
This song gives me chills.
Not just about possible losing a son.
But the reasons she gives for joining the army.
B.F.P.O.
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O.
Mammy's hero
Our little army boy
Is coming home from B.F.P.O.
I've a bunch of purple flowers
To decorate mammy's hero
Mourning in the aerodrome
The weather warmer, he is colder
Four men in uniform
To carry home my little soldier
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
(What could he do?)
(Should have been a politician)
But he never had a proper education
(What could he do?)
(Should have been a father)
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste
Army dreamers
Oh, what a waste of
Army (army) dreamers (dreamers)
Tears o'er a tin box
Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn't to know
Like a chicken with a fox
He couldn't win the war with ego
Give the kid the pick of pips
And give him all your stripes and ribbons
Now he's sitting in his hole
He might as well have buttons and bows
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
(What could he do?)
(Should have been a politician)
But he never had a proper education
(What could he do?)
(Should have been a father)
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste
Army dreamers
Ooh, what a waste of
Army (army) dreamers (dreamers)
Ooh, what a waste of all them
Army (army) dreamers (dreamers)
Army (army) dreamers (dreamers)
Army (army) dreamers (dreamers), oh
B.F.P.O.
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O.
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O.
No hard heroes
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O.
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O.
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Kate Bush
Army Dreamers lyrics
@TnhxU4TVnm
Lyrics
Army dreamers
Our little army boy
Is coming home from B.F.P.O.
I've a bunch of purple flowers
To decorate a mammy's hero.
Mourning in the aerodrome,
The weather warmer, he is colder.
Four men in uniform
To carry home my little soldier.
"What could he do?
Should have been a rock star."
But he didn't have the money for a guitar.
"What could he do?
Should have been a politician."
But he never had a proper education.
"What could he do?
Should have been a father."
But he never even made it to his twenties.
What a waste --
Army dreamers.
Ooh, what a waste of
Army dreamers.
Tears o'er a tin box.
Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn't to know,
Like a chicken with a fox,
He couldn't win the war with ego.
Give the kid the pick of pips,
And give him all your stripes and ribbons.
Now he's sitting in his hole,
He might as well have buttons and bows.
"What could he do?
Should have been a rock star."
But he didn't have the money for a guitar.
"What could he do?
Should have been a politician."
But he never had a proper education.
"What could he do?
Should have been a father."
But he never even made it to his twenties.
What a waste --
Army dreamers.
Ooh, what a waste of
Army dreamers.
Ooh, what a waste of all that
Army dreamers,
Army dreamers,
Army dreamers.
@veloboldie
Four years in the military have showed me that vast majority of my fellow comrades joined because they came from poor, broken families, could not afford higher education w/o military's help or just wanted to get out of their towns, villages were there was no future for them. Very few joined because they felt it was their patriotic duty to serve.
@mottthehoople693
exactly right.Not many diggers in the army coming from the top end of town even the majority of officers arent too flush..Most of us from the poorer end of town.
@user-ux1lz6hq2x
Not the case for us, ukrainians
@2kewlfirskool
I’ve heard many depressed people back in highschool say they’d resort to the military if they still didn’t have “purpose to live” as a last resort.
@lotuseater7247
shouldn't need four years in the military to know that!
@veloboldie
@@lotuseater7247My active duty contract was for four years. First year you spend in boot camp and learning your MOS.
Second year you really get to know your fellow soldiers, once you get placed in a unit.
@zappababe8577
B.F.P.O. in the lyrics stands for "British Forces Posted Overseas" in case anyone was wondering.
@AH-be6bu
Actually it's 'British Forces Post Office'. The point is that her son is coming home in a box. As cargo to be delivered, rather than as a passenger.
@samsami2827
Yes, to Iraq and Afghanistan.
@6qtqq
Post Office!*