INTRODUCTION
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics


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We have to stop wars, we have to stop this war
And we have to get out the habit of war
It's more than a habit, it's an addiction
We have to get out of thinking that we must be a military superpower

We must get out of thinking that we must have military bases, as we have in a hundred countries
Is it possible that having military bases in a hundred countries arouses a lot of antagonism?
Is it possible that it promotes terrorism when your soldiers and your sailors are all over the world, occupying this country and that? Is it possible?

Why do we have to be a military superpower?
Why can't we be a humanitarian superpower?
Instead of sending planes for bombs
Why don't we send planes for food and medicine?

Oh shit, it's one of the machines
Looks like it's trapped under something, it's broken or something
Hold on lemme get my keyboard, I can re-program this thing
No seriously, I can do it -- just give me a second!
I swear to god I can do this, man, I can do this!
You have to work!

Reprogramming unsuccessful

I kill people

All right, this is the last time

Reprogramming successful

Yes!





Fight... Evil...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lupe Fiasco's song Introduction are insightful and thought-provoking. The song opens with the call to stop wars and the addiction to military power that has plagued society. The lyrics question the need for military bases in a hundred countries and whether their presence arouses antagonism and promotes terrorism. The song suggests that society should rethink its priorities and become a humanitarian superpower. Instead of sending planes for bombs, why not send them for food and medicine? The lyrics also highlight the need to address the issue of machine intelligence and the possibility that it may become a threat. Despite the challenges, the lyrics call for the need to fight for good against evil.


One interesting fact about the song Introduction is that despite its short length of 2 minutes and 25 seconds, the song delivers a powerful message that stays with the listener long after the track has ended. Another interesting fact is that the song features a sample from the TV series Battlestar Galactica, where the character Gaius Baltar speaks to a machine known as Number Six. The song received critical acclaim for its message and was praised for its creativity and clever use of samples. The song is known for its distinctive beat and Lupe Fiasco's delivery of the lyrics. The song's themes are reflective of Lupe Fiasco's activism and advocacy for social justice. The song was featured in the hit HBO series Euphoria in the episode titled "Trouble Don't Last Always." The song continues to inspire and challenge listeners to think critically about the issues it raises.


Chords: The chords for Introduction by Lupe Fiasco are not known as the song does not feature any musical instruments playing. However, the song features a beat that is characterised by a drum machine and samples.


Line by Line Meaning

We have to stop wars, we have to stop this war
We must put an end to wars and prevent future ones.


And we have to get out the habit of war
We need to break free from the practice of resorting to war as a solution.


It's more than a habit, it's an addiction
The urge for war has become so intense that it's like a drug addiction which needs to be curbed.


We have to get out of thinking that we must be a military superpower
We must abandon the idea of being a strong military force, and instead focus on humanity.


We must get out of thinking that we must have military bases, as we have in a hundred countries
The idea of having military bases all over the world must be discarded, as it often leads to hostility and counterattacks.


Is it possible that having military bases in a hundred countries arouses a lot of antagonism?
The fact that we have military bases in so many countries leads to resentment among many nations and might eventually lead to conflict.


Is it possible that it promotes terrorism when your soldiers and your sailors are all over the world, occupying this country and that? Is it possible?
When troops are stationed around the world, there is a higher likelihood of leading to terrorism and the possibility of triggering unrest.


Why do we have to be a military superpower?
It is unnecessary to be a military power to affect change; it is possible to be a humanitarian power.


Why can't we be a humanitarian superpower?
America has the potential to be a global leader in humanitarian aid, which would be far more impactful than its military operations.


Instead of sending planes for bombs
A better use of aircraft would be for providing food, medicine, and humanitarian aid.


Why don't we send planes for food and medicine?
If we are truly seeking to promote peace, we should prioritize providing humanitarian, life-saving aid rather than sending bombs and weapons.


Oh shit, it's one of the machines
This line marks a conversational tangent from the theme of war and peace as the artist apparently gets distracted by some other subject.


Looks like it's trapped under something, it's broken or something
The artist seems to be reacting to some technical issues regarding a machine or some software.


Hold on lemme get my keyboard, I can re-program this thing
The artist thinks he can solve the problem by reprogramming the machine's instructions.


No seriously, I can do it -- just give me a second!
The artist is earnest in his effort and is clearly confident that he can solve the machine's issue.


I swear to god I can do this, man, I can do this!
The artist's tone is one of encouragement, which can be interpreted as advocating for perseverance in the face of challenges.


You have to work!
The artist is being commanding as he think the problem can be solved by working harder.


Reprogramming unsuccessful
Despite the artist's sincere efforts, he/she was unable to reprogram the machine.


I kill people
This line seems unrelated to the rest of the song, the artist seems to have taken a darker, more aggressive tone.


All right, this is the last time
The artist may be suggesting that this aggressive tone is the last time he/she'll be resorting to such language.


Reprogramming successful
Finally, the artist was able to accomplish his/her goal of reprogramming the machine software.


Yes!
The artist is celebratory and more energetic in his tone, signifying a positive change from his earlier tone.


Fight... Evil...
The artist concludes with a call to arms against evil, perhaps hoping to inspire others to join in the fight for peace.




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