Near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln
PJ Harvey Lyrics


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All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln
All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln
All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln
All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln

At the refreshments stand
A boy throws out his hands
As if to feed the starlings
But really he throws nothing
It's just to watch them jump
See the people coming
They're moving over the grass
To squeeze in two plastic chairs

All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln
All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln
All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln
All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln

Three notes, a bugle call
A black man in overalls
Arrives to empty the trash
Hauls it to a metal hatch
A doorway opens up
To the underworld
The boy throws empty hands
And the starlings jump

All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln
All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln




All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln
All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln

Overall Meaning

PJ Harvey's song "Near the Memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln" seems to be a commentary on the nature of remembrance and memorialization. The repetition of the titular phrase throughout the song emphasizes the idea that these two memorials are placed close to each other, suggesting that there is some sort of relationship between them. However, the lyrics themselves paint a picture of mundane activities happening in and around these memorials - a boy throwing his hands to watch the starlings jump, people moving over the grass to sit in plastic chairs, a black man emptying the trash. The bugle call that interrupts this scene momentarily adds a more serious note, but it is quickly overshadowed by the mundane activities that continue even as the man hauls the trash away.


The juxtaposition between these activities and the memorials themselves speaks to a commentary on the nature of remembrance. Does the placement of the memorials actually serve to commemorate the sacrifices of those who lost their lives in Vietnam and the legacy of Lincoln? Or do they simply serve as background noise to the everyday activities of visitors to the park? The boy throwing his hands to watch the starlings, and the people coming to sit in plastic chairs, seem to suggest that the memorials have simply become part of the landscape, rather than something actively remembered or revered.


Line by Line Meaning

All near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln
The scene being described takes place near the memorials for Vietnam and Lincoln.


At the refreshments stand
The location where the boy and the people are is at a refreshments stand.


A boy throws out his hands
The boy makes a gesture with his hands.


As if to feed the starlings
The boy's gesture could be interpreted as an attempt to feed the starlings nearby.


But really he throws nothing
The boy is not actually throwing any food or objects, he is just making a hand motion.


It's just to watch them jump
The boy's true intention is to watch the starlings jump in response to his hand gesture.


See the people coming
Other people are coming to the area near the memorials.


They're moving over the grass
The people are walking over the grassy area nearby.


To squeeze in two plastic chairs
The people are trying to fit into two available plastic chairs.


Three notes, a bugle call
A bugle call consisting of three notes is heard in the background.


A black man in overalls
A man wearing overalls and who is black arrives on the scene.


Arrives to empty the trash
The man's task is to empty the trash in the area.


Hauls it to a metal hatch
The man takes the trash to a metal hatch.


A doorway opens up
A door in the hatch opens up.


To the underworld
The open door reveals a space underground, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the unknown.


The boy throws empty hands
The boy continues to make his hand motion, but without throwing anything.


And the starlings jump
The starlings respond to the boy's gesture and jump in the air.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: POLLY JEAN HARVEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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