Games Without Frontiers
Massive Attack Lyrics

The lyrics to Massive Attack's "Games Without Frontiers" contain a collection of seemingly random names and actions that are actually symbolic of the political and societal tensions of the time when the song was written. The first verse references the games that nations play with one another, where each player is represented by a person's name. The whistling tunes could represent the forces acting in the background while these political games are taking place. The second verse references the costumes and games played by the players of these games, representing the facade of friendlier relations that is often displayed as a cover for more sinister actions. The symbolism of national flags, hills, and various ethnicities suggests the global stage on which these games are played.

The chorus of "If looks could kill they probably will, in games without frontiers, war without tears" suggests the deadly struggles that flourish in the midst of these political and societal games, which are too often devoid of any real emotion or empathy. The final repetition of "Jeux sans frontieres" ("Games without frontiers" in French) underlines the point that this is not just a national, but a truly global problem.