Nightmare
One Way System Lyrics
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Self protection there's a lack
Scream the pain into the night
The generals play, the soldiers fight
Nightmare of war
War, war
Hand grenade then smoked visage
Night attack disturbs the dreams
As the wire wall tears the seams
Crosses placed one nameless graves
Treating us like precious slaves
Committed to the earth, the crust
As the roses fall to dust
Bullet in a wounded back
Self protection there's a lack
Scream the pain into the night
The generals play, the soldiers fight
The lyrics to the One Way System song "Nightmare" describe the brutal reality of war and its impact on soldiers. The first verse opens with the lines "Bullet in a wounded back, self-protection there's a lack," indicating the vulnerability of the soldiers who are fighting to protect their nation. The following line speaks to the pain and trauma of war: "Scream the pain into the night." The second verse describes the tactics and weapons used in warfare, including camouflage uniforms, hand grenades, and night attacks that disturb the soldiers' dreams. The song's chorus emphasizes the idea of war as a nightmare, repeating the word "war" several times.
The final verse of the song describes the aftermath of war, with crosses placed on nameless graves and soldiers treated like "precious slaves." The final line of the song reads, "As the roses fall to dust," suggesting that the sacrifices of soldiers are often forgotten or ignored once the conflict has ended.
Overall, "Nightmare" presents a bleak and unflinching view of war, focusing on its devastating impact on soldiers and the futility of violence to solve problems. The song's lyrics suggest that while the generals and leaders who wage war may see it as a game, it is the soldiers who are left to suffer the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Bullet in a wounded back
A soldier is shot and wounded in battle
Self protection there's a lack
The soldiers feel unprotected and vulnerable in the midst of war
Scream the pain into the night
The soldiers cry out in agony and fear as they experience the horrors of war
The generals play, the soldiers fight
The leaders make strategic decisions from afar while the soldiers suffer and fight on the front lines
Nightmare of war
The brutal realities of war are like a horrific, endless nightmare
War, war
The repetition emphasizes the all-consuming nature of war
Uniform of camouflage
The soldiers wear disguises to blend into their surroundings and avoid detection
Hand grenade then smoked visage
The smoke from a grenade obscures the soldiers' vision and creates a hazy, surreal atmosphere
Night attack disturbs the dreams
The soldiers are haunted by the stress and trauma of nighttime attacks
As the wire wall tears the seams
The barbed wire barricades that once kept enemies at bay are now insufficient and failing
Crosses placed on nameless graves
The graves of fallen soldiers are anonymous and unacknowledged, just another symbol of the dehumanizing nature of war
Treating us like precious slaves
Despite their sacrifices, the soldiers feel they are expendable and undervalued by those in power
Committed to the earth, the crust
The soldiers who die in battle are buried in the ground, forever entombed in the earth
As the roses fall to dust
The juxtaposition between the fragility of flowers and the unyielding brutality of war highlights the tragedy of wasted lives
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ARTIE SHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind