A brief summary of Paul's work over the past decades as listed on Wikipedia… Read Full Bio ↴A brief summary of Paul's work over the past decades as listed on Wikipedia:

Paul Carrack (born April 22, 1951 in Sheffield, England) is an English keyboardist, singer and songwriter. Carrack has had multiple careers which have overlapped over the last three-plus decades. He has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, and Mike + The Mechanics, been a session and touring musician for several others, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well. His distinctive voice shows up on some of his affiliated bands' best-known hits.

Battlefield
Paul Carrack Lyrics

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I live on a battlefield
Surrounding by the ruins of a love we built
And them destroyed between us
The smoke has cleared
As I stumble through the rubble
I'm dazed, seeing double
And I'm truly mystified

My new home is a shell-hole filled
With tears and muddy water
And bits of broken heart
All around, there is desolation
Scenes of devastation
Of a love been torn apart

I live on a battlefield
Though one where not one
Single drop of blood has spilled
Is no less horryfying
Sweet memories
Of a bygone situation
Lie shattered, torn and battered
And scattered all around

My new home is a shell-hole filled
With tears and muddy water
And bits of broken heart
All around, there is desolation
Scenes of devastation
Of a love been torn apart

Everything that can, has gone wrong
It's gonna take spine to carry on
Like a drownin' woman coming up for air
I'm looking for another survivor
I can't see one anywhere

My new home is a shell-hole filled
With tears and muddy water
And bits of broken heart
All around, there is desolation
Scenes of devastation
Of a love been torn apart

I live on a battlefield, hey
I live on a battlefield, hey
Can't go on, baby
Tears and muddy water
Scattered all around me, babe

I live on a battlefield
I live on a battlefield

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Battlefield" by Paul Carrack paint a picture of a broken relationship, using war metaphors to describe the aftermath of a love that was built and then destroyed. The song's opening lines set the stage for the rest of the piece, as Carrack sings "I live on a battlefield, surrounded by the ruins of a love we built and then destroyed between us." The imagery of a battlefield, with its destruction and chaos, is used to show the emotional aftermath of a heartbreak. The singer is lost and confused, stumbling through the rubble of what was once a relationship but now lies in ruins.

The chorus of the song repeats the line "My new home is a shell-hole filled with tears and muddy water and bits of broken heart." The use of the word "home" here is notable, as it implies that the singer has become accustomed to this environment and has resigned himself to living in this aftermath. The image of tears and muddy water, which is repeated multiple times throughout the piece, is a powerful one that suggests both emotional turmoil and a sense of stagnation. The bits of broken heart serve as a visual reminder of what was lost and how it was shattered.

Towards the end of the song, Carrack sings "Everything that can, has gone wrong. It's gonna take spine to carry on." These lines suggest a sense of hopelessness and the feeling that things have reached their lowest point. However, the sentiment of "carry on" implies that the singer is determined to move forward despite the pain and devastation. The final repetition of "I live on a battlefield" drives home the idea that the loss and heartbreak are still very present and will continue to linger.

Overall, "Battlefield" is a poignant and powerful song that uses impactful imagery to describe the aftermath of a broken relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

I live on a battlefield
My current situation is like living on a warzone due to the emotional turmoil and damage caused by the collapse of a relationship.

Surrounding by the ruins of a love we built
My surroundings are now filled with the remnants and evidence of a relationship that once was strong but is now in ruins.

And them destroyed between us
The love we once shared and built together has been destroyed due to our actions and decisions.

The smoke has cleared
The chaos and aftermath of the destruction has now settled down and things are clearer, but not necessarily better.

As I stumble through the rubble
I am walking through the debris and remains, trying to make sense of the chaos and destruction around me.

I'm dazed, seeing double
I am in a state of confusion, feeling as if I am seeing everything twice or from multiple perspectives.

And I'm truly mystified
I am completely baffled and confused about how things fell apart and how to move forward from this situation.

My new home is a shell-hole filled
My current place of residence and emotional state is like a hole left by a bombshell, filled with emotional chaos and damage.

With tears and muddy water
My emotional state is filled with tears and confusion, making it hard to see clearly and move forward.

And bits of broken heart
My heart is broken into many pieces, scattered and mixed in with the other debris from the relationship's explosion.

All around, there is desolation
The emotional landscape around me is bleak, barren, and devoid of the love and happiness that once was.

Scenes of devastation
There are numerous indications and remnants of the destruction and chaos that occurred in the relationship.

Of a love been torn apart
The emotional destruction and damage resulted in the collapse and destruction of the once strong and happy love that existed.

Everything that can, has gone wrong
The situation is now at its worst and all possible things that could have gone wrong have indeed gone wrong.

It's gonna take spine to carry on
I will need to show strength and courage to overcome the situation and to move on from the emotional damage.

Like a drowning woman coming up for air
I am struggling to keep my head above water and keep breathing through the storm of emotions and sadness that surrounds me.

I'm looking for another survivor
I am searching for someone who has experienced similar emotional pain and can relate to my situation, to help me navigate and overcome it.

I can't see one anywhere
I have been unsuccessful in finding someone who can empathize with my situation and provide the support I need.

Can't go on, baby
The current state of emotional chaos and destruction is becoming increasingly difficult to bear and move forward from.

Tears and muddy water
My emotional state is still filled with tears, confusion, and sadness that seems to cloud my judgement and make it hard to see clearly.

Scattered all around me, babe
The remnants and debris from the emotional trauma and pain are still apparent and present in my life, making it hard to forget and move on.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NICK LOWE, PAUL CARRACK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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