www.moddi.no
Army Dreamers
Moddi Lyrics
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Is coming home from B.F.P.O
I′ve a bunch of purple flowers
To decorate, my daddy's hero
Mourning in the aerodrome
The weather warmer, he is colder
Four men in uniform
To carry home my little soldier
(What should he do? Could have been a rock star)
But he didn′t have the money for a guitar
(What should he do? Could have been a politician)
But he never had a proper education
(What should he do? Could have been a father)
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste, army dreamers
Oh, what a bloody waste of army dreamers
Tears over a tin box
Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn't to know
Like a chicken with a fox
He couldn't win his war with ego
Give the kid the pick of pips
And give him all your stripes and ribbons
Now he′s lying in his hole
He might as well have buttons and bows
(What should he do? Could have been a rock star)
But he didn′t have the money for a guitar
(What should he do? Could have been a politician)
But he never had a proper education
(What should he do? Could have been a father)
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste, army dreamers
Oh, what a bloody waste of army dreamers
(What should he do? Could have been a rock star)
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
(He could have been a politician)
But he never had a proper education
(What should he do? Could have been a father)
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste, army dreamers
Army dreamers
(Army dreamers)
(Army dreamers)
(Army dreamers)
The song "Army Dreamers" by Moddi is a lament for the loss of young lives who have died while serving in the army. The lyrics paint a poignant picture of a young soldier who has been killed in action and his family's grief as they bring his body back home. The little army boy is returning home from the British Forces Post Office, and his father, who is a hero to him, has sadly passed away. The weather is warmer, but he is colder, and he is mourned by his family, who give him a bunch of purple flowers as a tribute. The song's refrain, "What a waste, army dreamers," captures the tragedy of a young life cut short and the loss of potential that could have been realized had he been alive.
The verses then delve into what he could have become, had he not joined the army. He could have been a rockstar, a politician, or a father, but he never got the chance to be any of those things. These possibilities contrast starkly with the soldier's fate. Following these reflections on life, the song's concluding verse returns to the present time, as the singer looks down on the soldier's final resting place.
Line by Line Meaning
Our little army boy
Is coming home from B.F.P.O
I′ve a bunch of purple flowers
To decorate, my daddy's hero
Mourning in the aerodrome
The weather warmer, he is colder
Four men in uniform
To carry home my little soldier
A soldier returns home, deceased, and the singer is mourning their loss by decorating their hero's grave with purple flowers. The weather is warmer than when the soldier left, but they have returned cold and lifeless. Four soldiers are carrying the casket.
(What should he do? Could have been a rock star)
But he didn′t have the money for a guitar
The soldier may have had dreams of being a musician, but didn't have the means to pursue it.
(What should he do? Could have been a politician)
But he never had a proper education
The soldier may have had political aspirations, but lacked the education necessary to pursue them.
(What should he do? Could have been a father)
But he never even made it to his twenties
The soldier never had the chance to become a father, as they died before reaching their twenties.
What a waste, army dreamers
Oh, what a bloody waste of army dreamers
The artist reflects on the loss of potential and talent represented by young soldiers who die in war.
Tears over a tin box
Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn't to know
Like a chicken with a fox
He couldn't win his war with ego
The singer is crying over a box containing the soldier's possessions, lamenting the fact that the soldier could not have known their fate before enlisting. The metaphor of a chicken and a fox suggests that the soldier was outmatched by a powerful adversary, perhaps one of their own making.
Give the kid the pick of pips
And give him all your stripes and ribbons
Now he′s lying in his hole
He might as well have buttons and bows
Although the soldier received honors and recognition for their service, it ultimately did not matter - they are now dead and buried, just like any other deceased person.
Army dreamers
Army dreamers
(Army dreamers)
(Army dreamers)
(Army dreamers)
The phrase 'army dreamers' is repeated as a lament for the loss of young lives in war.
Writer(s): Kate Bush
Contributed by Julia B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ashish
Our little army boy
Is coming home from B.F.P.O
I've a bunch of purple flowers
To decorate a mammy's hero
Mourning in the aerodrome
The weather warmer, he is colder
Four men in uniform
To carry home my little soldier
[Chorus]
What could he do?
Should have been a rock star
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
What could he do?
Should have been a politician
But he never had a proper education
What could he do?
Should have been a father
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste, army dreamers
Oh, what a waste of army dreamers
[Verse 2]
Tears o'er a tin box
Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn't to know
Like a chicken with a fox
He couldn't win the war with ego
Give the kid the pick of pips
And give him all your stripes and ribbons
Now he's sitting in his hole
He might as well have buttons and bows
[Chorus]
What could he do?
Should have been a rock star
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
What could he do?
Should have been a politician
But he never had a proper education
What could he do?
Should have been a father
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste, army dreamers
Oh, what a waste of army dreamers
Oh, what a waste of all them army dreamers
Army dreamers, army dreamers
[Outro]
B.F.P.O
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O
No hard heros
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O
No hard heros
Are you Serious
This is a fantastic version of what I believe to be one of the most important songs of our time. Brilliant.
Forest Lark
0:43 The transition to the chorus/funeral here just kills me. The preceding lyrics coming to fruition, the way the coffin seems to sway in time to the beat at first, but most of all the swell of the violin. The sound of it somehow unites the idyll of the childhood segments with the pang of sadness you get when that scene comes on directly after the boy leaves his friends behind. Really drives home the idea of things left undone, unsaid.
nabil malouf
Everything is perfect: the actors' performance, the way father play with childrens, the place taken by the small soldier, which grows up
Ashish
Our little army boy
Is coming home from B.F.P.O
I've a bunch of purple flowers
To decorate a mammy's hero
Mourning in the aerodrome
The weather warmer, he is colder
Four men in uniform
To carry home my little soldier
[Chorus]
What could he do?
Should have been a rock star
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
What could he do?
Should have been a politician
But he never had a proper education
What could he do?
Should have been a father
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste, army dreamers
Oh, what a waste of army dreamers
[Verse 2]
Tears o'er a tin box
Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn't to know
Like a chicken with a fox
He couldn't win the war with ego
Give the kid the pick of pips
And give him all your stripes and ribbons
Now he's sitting in his hole
He might as well have buttons and bows
[Chorus]
What could he do?
Should have been a rock star
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
What could he do?
Should have been a politician
But he never had a proper education
What could he do?
Should have been a father
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste, army dreamers
Oh, what a waste of army dreamers
Oh, what a waste of all them army dreamers
Army dreamers, army dreamers
[Outro]
B.F.P.O
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O
No hard heros
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O
No hard heros
PEPPERS
"could have been" and "no harm heroes"
Matt Gorak
Oh my... This is honestly one of the best music videos I've ever seen... It has unbelevebly deep meaning... I'm speechless...
Matt Gorak
Yeah, wouldn't give an Oscar either. But hey! At the end it's about a message :)
Karandeep Singh
Mateusz Górak Very true
Matt Gorak
Also, damn, you have such a great subscription list, hope you don't mind borrowing some :P (don't ask why I'm checking out random people's subs, let's not get into it xd .)
Karandeep Singh
Mateusz Górak haha it's all cool. Thanks tho