Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined local band Automatic Dlamini as a vocalist, guitarist and saxophonist. The band's frontman, John Parish, became her long-term collaborator. In 1991, she formed an eponymous trio called PJ Harvey and subsequently began her career as PJ Harvey. The trio released two studio albums called Dry (1992) and Rid of Me (1993) before disbanding, after which Harvey continued as a solo artist. Since 1995, she has released a further nine studio albums with collaborations from various musicians including Parish, former bandmate Rob Ellis, Mick Harvey and Eric Drew Feldman, and has also worked extensively with record producer Flood.
Among the accolades Harvey has received are both the 2001 and 2011 Mercury Prize for Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) and Let England Shake (2011), respectively, making her the only artist to have been awarded the prize twice. She has also garnered eight Brit Award nominations, seven Grammy Award nominations and two further Mercury Prize nominations. Rolling Stone awarded her three accolades: 1992's Best New Artist and Best Singer Songwriter, and 1995's Artist of the Year. Rolling Stone also listed Rid of Me, To Bring You My Love and Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea on its list of their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2011, she was awarded for Outstanding Contribution To Music at the NME Awards. In the 2013 Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to music.
The Ministry of Defence
PJ Harvey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stairs and walls are all that's left
Mortar holes let through the air
Kids do the same thing everywhere
They've sprayed graffiti in Arabic
And balanced sticks in human shit
This is the Ministry Of Remains (this is the ministry of defence)
Fizzy drinks cans and magazines (Fizzy drinks cans and magazines)
Broken glass, a white jawbone
Syringes, razors, a plastic spoon
Human hair, a kitchen knife
And a ghost of a girl who runs and hides
Scratched in the wall in biro pen
This is how the world will end
There's the bus depot to the right (there's the bus depot to the right)
Levelled like a building site (levelled like a building site)
Those are the children's cries from the dark
These are the words written under the arch
Scratched in the wall in biro pen
This is how the world will end
The Ministry of Defence by PJ Harvey talks about the destruction and aftermath of war. The lyrics describe a setting of despair, with only stairs and walls remaining after the bombing. The mortar holes let through air, which is a metaphorical reference to the destructive power of war. The song observes that children are the same everywhere, evidenced by the graffiti written in Arabic, and the sticks balanced in human excrement. This image paints a vivid picture of the humanity that often gets lost in the destruction of war.
The Ministry of Remains is a reference to the aftermath of the violence, with only remnants remaining. The items scattered around include fizzy drink cans, magazines, broken glass, a white jawbone, syringes, razors, a plastic spoon, human hair, a kitchen knife and the ghost of a girl who runs and hides. The image of the girl shows the trauma that survives long after the battles end.
The lyrics of the song suggest that life continues, but in a world forever changed. In the end, the song depicts the horror of war, and the effects it has on the world. It is a poignant reminder of how war destroys not only buildings but also, most tragically, lives.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the Ministry Of Defence
The singer is describing the place that they're in as some sort of military building or site.
Stairs and walls are all that's left
The building is in a state of disrepair with only stairs and walls still standing.
Mortar holes let through the air
The building has been damaged and holes have been left in the walls, letting air in.
Kids do the same thing everywhere
Children are the same no matter where they are and they will always find ways to explore and cause mischief.
They've sprayed graffiti in Arabic
Vandals have sprayed Arabic text onto the walls of the defense building.
And balanced sticks in human shit
The children have put sticks in feces and left them around the building, indicating a lack of respect for the space.
This is the Ministry Of Remains (this is the ministry of defence)
The singer is making a play on words, implying that this defense building is now a remains or ruins of its former self.
Fizzy drinks cans and magazines
The area contains remnants of human behavior like empty soda cans and magazines left lying around.
Broken glass, a white jawbone
The artist sees a broken piece of glass and a white jawbone, adding to the eerie atmosphere in the building.
Syringes, razors, a plastic spoon
Drug paraphernalia is visible within the defense building, indicating unsavory activity has occurred.
Human hair, a kitchen knife
Further evidence of human activity is found with human hair and a kitchen knife.
And a ghost of a girl who runs and hides
The artist sees an apparition of a young girl, which adds to the spooky and unsettling vibe.
Scratched in the wall in biro pen
Someone has etched a message onto the wall using a ballpoint pen.
This is how the world will end
The message on the wall is ominous and suggests that this is how the world will eventually come to an end.
There's the bus depot to the right (there's the bus depot to the right)
The singer sees a bus depot in the distance to the right of the defense building.
Levelled like a building site (levelled like a building site)
The bus depot has been leveled or flattened like a construction site.
Those are the children's cries from the dark
The artist hears distant screams and wails coming from the darkness afar.
These are the words written under the arch
There are even more ominous writings under the arch of the defense building.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: POLLY JEAN HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@teclasicbaldi
This is the Ministry Of Defence
Stairs and walls are all that's left
Mortar holes let through the air
Kids do the same thing everywhere
They've sprayed graffiti in Arabic
And balanced sticks in human shit
This is the Ministry Of Remains (this is the Ministry of Defence)
Fizzy drinks cans and magazines (fizzy drinks cans and magazines)
Broken glass, a white jawbone
Syringes, razors, a plastic spoon
Human hair, a kitchen knife
And a ghost of a girl who runs and hides
Scratched in the wall in biro pen
This is how the world will end
There's the bus depot to the right (there's the bus depot to the right)
Levelled like a building site (levelled like a building site)
Those are the children's cries from the dark
These are the words written under the arch
Scratched in the wall in biro pen
This is how the world will end
@cementheed
Saw her live on this tour - it was astonishing! One the best performances I've ever seen, by any artist.
@teclasicbaldi
This is the Ministry Of Defence
Stairs and walls are all that's left
Mortar holes let through the air
Kids do the same thing everywhere
They've sprayed graffiti in Arabic
And balanced sticks in human shit
This is the Ministry Of Remains (this is the Ministry of Defence)
Fizzy drinks cans and magazines (fizzy drinks cans and magazines)
Broken glass, a white jawbone
Syringes, razors, a plastic spoon
Human hair, a kitchen knife
And a ghost of a girl who runs and hides
Scratched in the wall in biro pen
This is how the world will end
There's the bus depot to the right (there's the bus depot to the right)
Levelled like a building site (levelled like a building site)
Those are the children's cries from the dark
These are the words written under the arch
Scratched in the wall in biro pen
This is how the world will end
@wilfredsterling2124
Love PJ Harvey, she packs punches with such intriguing charm!!
@toniosntcrz
Her voice is amazing
@mjail
Underrated song
@user-lh3ln4nj1n
обалденная девочка
@tomeklewandowski4397
Cudowne.
@tonocaster
Amazing
@jenandjuice99
2021 and still here we are
@mariatontini6656
❤️❤️❤️