Civil War
Motörhead Lyrics
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The wolf at your door
Do you hear the drummin'?
Outside your window
Outside your window
Civil war, civil war
All your yesterdays gone before
Can you tell me what you're fighting for?
Soldiers of Fortune
The traitor within
Blood on the pale moon
Outside your window
Outside your window
Children learn to kill
Bet your ass you'll pay the bill
Season of the dog
The dollar takes the place of God
Death laughs in your face
Anarchy will take your place
You give all your children guns
See what you have done
Backlash coming soon
Joker gonna call the tune
Your children are learning
You teach them to hate
Your cities are burning
Outside your window
Outside your window
The lyrics to Motörhead's song "Civil War" depict the chaos and destruction that ensues when a nation is torn apart by civil war. The first stanza sets the scene for the impending conflict with imagery of a wolf at the door and the sound of drumming just outside the window. The chorus, "Civil war, civil war, all your yesterdays gone before, can you tell me what you're fighting for?", questions the motivations behind the fighting and the destruction it leaves in its wake. The second stanza introduces the idea of "soldiers of fortune" and the presence of a traitor within, leading to bloodshed and violence under a pale moon. The third stanza is a condemnation of the cycle of violence perpetuated in war, with children being taught to kill and the consequences of war being paid for with human lives. The final stanza is a warning of the backlash that will inevitably follow, with the joker - a symbol of chaos and unpredictability - calling the tune.
Line by Line Meaning
White noise is coming
A chaotic and confusing situation is approaching
The wolf at your door
A threatening presence is near
Do you hear the drummin'?
Can you sense the aggression building?
Outside your window
In your immediate surroundings, visible and tangible
Outside your window
In your immediate surroundings, visible and tangible
Civil war, civil war
A violent conflict within a society between different factions
All your yesterdays gone before
All of your previous memories and experiences are irrelevant
Civil war, civil war
A violent conflict within a society between different factions
Can you tell me what you're fighting for?
Do you have a clear understanding of the reasons for this violence?
Soldiers of Fortune
Mercenaries are fighting for personal gain
The traitor within
There is a disloyal member within the community
Blood on the pale moon
Violence has stained the peaceful night sky
Outside your window
In your immediate surroundings, visible and tangible
Outside your window
In your immediate surroundings, visible and tangible
Children learn to kill
Young people are being taught how to use lethal force
Bet your ass you'll pay the bill
There will be negative consequences for your actions
Season of the dog
A period of strife and misery
The dollar takes the place of God
Money is worshipped over moral principles
Death laughs in your face
Mortality mocks and belittles you
Anarchy will take your place
The absence of government will lead to chaos
You give all your children guns
You are responsible for arming and supporting violence in the next generation
See what you have done
Realize the consequences of your actions
Backlash coming soon
Negative repercussions will soon follow the violent conflict
Joker gonna call the tune
An unpredictable force will take control
Your children are learning
The younger generation is absorbing your violent ideologies
You teach them to hate
You are instilling destructive emotions in the next generation
Your cities are burning
Urban centers are being destroyed by violent conflict
Outside your window
In your immediate surroundings, visible and tangible
Outside your window
In your immediate surroundings, visible and tangible
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MAGNUS AX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind