During the 70s, while still in his teens, Mitchell began playing with local bands in the city of Sarnia. After evolving through a few name changes with essentially the same band, Mitchell and a group titled "Zooom" headed off for Toronto, Ontario. The band eventually dissolved, with Mitchell travelling over to the Greek islands.
Upon his return to Canada, he formed the band Max Webster, which managed to finally break through commercially. Besides playing the group, Mitchell and wrote most of the band's songs with fellow Sarnia native and lyricist, Pye Dubois (Paul Woods). Max Webster toured extensively and built a string of hits. Mitchell's solo career began after his departure from Max Webster, with session work and a succession of solo albums.
In early 1985, the song "Go For Soda" from the Akimbo Alogo album became an international hit and perhaps remains his best known song outside of his native Canada.
In 2004, Mitchell entered the radio broadcasting industry, becoming afternoon drive time host on Toronto classic rock radio station Q107.
As of 2005, Mitchell, still does the afternoon drive time on Q107, and is working on a new double CD set for a Spring 2006 release.
In December of 2005, Mitchell had proposed to the Q107 listeners that they write a Christmas song together. The resulting song is entitled "A Christmas Smile". At the end of the song, Mitchell advises his fans not to drink and drive, but to "go for a soda" instead.
Battle Scar
Kim Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Found a fist in an empty field
Only quarters for meals
Feel the way I feel
Bust the busters
Screw the feeders
Make the healers
Tried to understand the white man's fears
Make 'em bend but they wouldn't yield
Uncle Sam's time is only a greased wheel
Feel the way I feel
The song "Battle Scar" by Kim Mitchell is a powerful anthem of rebellion and defiance against the oppressive and corrupt system that can leave one feeling like they've been in jail for a thousand years. The opening lines "Been in jail for a thousand years, found a fist in an empty field, only quarters for meals, feel the way I feel" suggest a sense of hopelessness and desperation. The imagery of a fist in an empty field evokes a sense of isolation and the idea of being stuck in a barren, desolate landscape with no hope of escape.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more confrontational, with the lines "bust the busters, screw the feeders, make the healers feel the way I feel" conveying an intense desire for revenge against those who have oppressed and mistreated the singer. The use of strong, aggressive verbs such as "bust" and "screw" reinforce this sense of anger and defiance. The final lines, "tried to understand the white man's fears, make 'em bend but they wouldn't yield, Uncle Sam's time is only a greased wheel, feel the way I feel" suggest a larger, systemic problem that even attempted understanding failed to solve. The message is clear: the singer feels betrayed and defeated by the system, and is determined to make those in power feel the same pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Been in jail for a thousand years
I have been trapped in a situation that feels like an eternity.
Found a fist in an empty field
I came across something unexpected in a place where I didn't anticipate to get anything.
Only quarters for meals
I am struggling to sustain myself with very little resources.
Feel the way I feel
I want others to empathize with my situation.
Bust the busters
I want to take down those who are oppressing me.
Screw the feeders
I don't want others to control me or give me pity through their power.
Make the healers
I want to empower those who can help me and others recover.
Feel the way I feel
I want others to truly understand my perspective.
Tried to understand the white man's fears
I attempted to comprehend the perspective of those in power, though I still struggle to do so.
Make 'em bend but they wouldn't yield
I tried to force change, but it was not successful.
Uncle Sam's time is only a greased wheel
The government operates efficiently but may overlook or not prioritize my needs.
Feel the way I feel
I want to be understood and feel validated in my emotions.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Anthem Entertainment
Written by: THOMAS OWEN MOSTYN ROWLANDS, EDMUND JOHN SIMONS, WILLY MASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind