Since the London band's formation in 1993, they were subject to both critical acclaim, having been nominated for the 'Best New British Band' category at the Kerrang Awards in 1998 and then again under the 'Spirit of Independence' category in 2000, and the approval of a diverse fanbase, leading to them becoming one of the most highly respected bands to emerge from the UK ska punk scene at the time. King Prawn toured regularly with broad range of bands, varying from hardcore to traditional and two tone ska bands, and were widely regarded as one of the most exciting live bands of Britain. King Prawn songs often contained politically based lyrics that formed wry social commentary, which, along with the band's blending of genres, led to comparisons with bands such as Rage Against the Machine.
King Prawn played their final gig on December 21st 2003 at the pitz, Milton Keynes, and members have since moved on to various other projects, such as Babar Luck's solo project and the Household Name Records signed musical collective Suicide Bid.
Al Rumjen - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Melodica
Babar Luck - Bass, Vocals
Nikolai - Drums
Devil Hands - Guitar
~ Wikipedia
Holy War
King Prawn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(what they're saying now)
Blood will run until the jobs done
One with a stone and one with a gun
Religious posturing sets the great divide
The pictures on the wall of those who died
So peacemaker don't make me laugh
The media's looking for a new devil
Rhetoric dogma spelling good and evil
Deprived but still I will kill
Soldiers entering at their own peril
Cos sticks and stones will break some bones
And send soldiers in bodybags back home
Nobody knew or nobody cared
Cos what you don't know makes you scared
But now you want to smother me
With your cushion of hypocrisy
You give me birth for what it's worth
You make me big with the money you're giving
The bureaucratic ties still lie hidden
And the struggle continues 'til the enemy's smitten
The truth lies buried beneath the great divide
Religious posturing won't fool the wise
But now you wanna smother me
With your cushion of hypocrisy
King Prawn's song Holy War is a bold commentary on the insidious nature of war and the negative impact it has on society. The lyrics delve into the religious, political, and societal factors that contribute to the continued perpetuation of war. The song starts with a bleak realization that bloodshed will continue until the job is done. The lyrics paint a clear picture of the violence perpetuated in war, with one side having a stone and the other a gun. The religious posturing creates a great divide between people; it also brings in the reality of those who have lost their lives in the conflict.
The song emphasizes the futility of war as a means to achieve victory. Peacemakers are seen as jokes, as there is no "victory" in war that comes with a white flag. The media is portrayed as trying to create new enemies and a sense of dogma around the conflict. The lyrics also highlight the hypocrisy of those that support war, claiming to be in support of peace. The struggle will continue until the enemy is smitten, but the truth is buried beneath the great divide created by religious posturing. It seems like peace is out of reach for society, with the cushion of hypocrisy bringing comfort to those who continue to support war.
Overall, the song is a compelling reminder of the insidious nature of war and the devastating impact it has on people. The lyrics paint a picture of frustration and helplessness, with the hope that one day we can conquer our differences and ensure peace for all.
Line by Line Meaning
Blood will run until the jobs done
The violence will continue until the objective is achieved.
One with a stone and one with a gun
Both sides involved in the conflict are willing to use violence to win.
Religious posturing sets the great divide
Both sides are using religion as a way to justify their violence.
The pictures on the wall of those who died
Both sides have lost people to the violence and this is commemorated in imagery.
So peacemaker don't make me laugh
Attempts to negotiate peace are unlikely to be successful given the level of violence.
Cos victory don't come with a white flag
There is no victory in admitting defeat.
The media's looking for a new devil
The media is sensationalising the conflict by creating a scapegoat.
Rhetoric dogma spelling good and evil
Both sides are using propaganda to justify their actions.
Deprived but still I will kill
Poverty and lack of resources is not a reason to excuse resorting to violence.
Soldiers entering at their own peril
Soldiers are putting themselves in danger by becoming involved in the conflict.
Cos sticks and stones will break some bones
The violence is brutal and causing physical harm.
And send soldiers in bodybags back home
The consequences of the violence are death, both for the civilians affected and the soldiers involved.
Nobody knew or nobody cared
The conflict has been ignored by outsiders, leading to a lack of intervention.
Cos what you don't know makes you scared
The lack of knowledge about the conflict is causing fear.
But now you want to smother me
Outsiders who previously ignored the conflict are now attempting to intervene.
With your cushion of hypocrisy
Outsiders are acting hypocritically by attempting to intervene now despite previously ignoring the conflict.
You give me birth for what it's worth
The conflict is being financially supported by outsiders.
You make me big with the money you're giving
The outside support is giving both sides the ability to continue the conflict.
The bureaucratic ties still lie hidden
The motivations behind the outside support may not be clear or may be politically motivated.
And the struggle continues 'til the enemy's smitten
The conflict will continue until one side is victorious or both sides are destroyed.
The truth lies buried beneath the great divide
Both sides are using propaganda, making it difficult to discern the true motivations of the conflict.
Religious posturing won't fool the wise
Attempts to justify the conflict with religion will not work on knowledgeable outsiders.
But now you wanna smother me
Outsiders are attempting to intervene in the conflict.
With your cushion of hypocrisy
Their prior inaction towards the conflict is hypocritical given their current desire to intervene.
Contributed by Skyler W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.