Hair 22 3-5-0-0
MacDermot Galt Lyrics
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Caught in barbed wire
Fireball
Bullet shock
Bayonet
Electricity
Shrapnel
Throbbing meat
Black uniforms
Bare feet, carbines
Mail-order rifles
Shoot the muscles
256 Viet Cong captured
256 Viet Cong captured
Prisoners in Niggertown
It's a dirty little war
Three Five Zero Zero
Take weapons up and begin to kill
Watch the long long armies drifting home
The opening lines of MacDermot Galt's "Hair 22 3-5-0-0" sets the tone for the song, as a portrayal of the Vietnam War. The "metal explosion" creates a sudden burst of sound, followed by the image of being caught in the "barbed wire," which represents the physical danger and war's effect on soldiers. Continuing with the idea of physical harm, the "fireball" and "bullet shock" add to the chaos and violence of war. The use of the word "throbbing meat" further emphasizes the inhumanity of war - reducing soldiers to mere flesh and blood, rather than individuals with personalities and families.
In addition to the physical violence, the lyrics also hint at the technological advancements in warfare. The "electricity" and "electronic data processing" both emphasize the growing role of technology, which arguably depersonalized warfare. When the verse mentions "256 Viet Cong captured," it hints at the increasing efficiency of war - the idea that these soldiers aren't just individuals, but are instead reduced to numbers in a larger body count. The last lines of "Hair 22 3-5-0-0" signifies the aftermath of war, as "armies" begin drifting home, with the implication that, as much as the war changed soldiers, it changed the broader society as well.
Line by Line Meaning
Ripped open by metal explosion
Exploding metal caused physical injury, tearing open skin and flesh
Caught in barbed wire
Trapped and immobilized by sharp, pointed wire designed to inflict pain
Fireball
A large ball of fire caused by an explosion
Bullet shock
The physical impact of a bullet on the body causing shock and trauma
Bayonet
A long, pointed blade attached to the end of a rifle for close combat
Electricity
The use of electrical current as a form of torture or execution
Shrapnel
Pieces of metal or other material that become lethal projectiles when an explosive device detonates
Throbbing meat
Human flesh suffering intense pain and injury
Electronic data processing
The use of computers and other digital technologies for military purposes
Black uniforms
Clothing worn by soldiers that signifies their allegiance to a particular group or cause
Bare feet, carbines
Weaponry carried by soldiers who are not fully equipped, including those who may be forced to fight without shoes
Mail-order rifles
Weapons purchased through the mail or by other remote means
Shoot the muscles
A call to target the physical bodies of enemy soldiers with gunfire
256 Viet Cong captured
The number of enemy soldiers taken into captivity during a particular military operation
Prisoners in Niggertown
Referring to a location where captured enemy soldiers are held, using a racial slur in the process
It's a dirty little war
The recognition that war is often an ugly, violent, and morally problematic phenomenon
Three Five Zero Zero
A reference to a specific military operation, possibly involving a particular battalion or unit
Take weapons up and begin to kill
A call to engage in violence against enemy combatants by assuming arms and actively participating in the conflict
Watch the long long armies drifting home
The spectacle of large groups of soldiers returning from a war, often bearing physical and emotional scars they will carry with them for life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GALT MAC DERMOT, GEROME RAGNI, JAMES RADO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind