Under Fire
Pork Pie Tribe Lyrics


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People running in the street
Concrete burning under feet
The sky is blue, the sun is hot
Another gun, another shot
A bloody hand, a bloody face
God please save this bloody place
Bodies laying here and there
Does the world really care?
Does it really care?
Does it care?

Listen to the people, ouch, ouch, ouch
Listen to the fist, punch, punch, punch
Listen to the foot, kick, kick, kick
Listen to the feet, run, run, run
Listen to the people, ouch, ouch, ouch
Listen to the stick, crack, crack, crack
Listen to the gun, bang, bang, bang
Listen to the people, help, help, help, help
help, help, help, help, help, help, help

The flying dove it sees no joy
Only a burning, broken toy
A mother clutches baby tight
While men shoot bullets through the night
Missiles flying in the air
A sorrow look, a stone cold stare
As clear blue waves crash on the sand
Blood crawls fast across the land
Fast across the land
Across the land.

Ouch, punch, kick, run
Ouch, crack, band, help
Ouch, punch, kick, run

Help, help, help, help, help, help, help!

There's no endemic war at hand
For war is war, there is no plan
And in the end a roll of dice
Which human souls will pay the price
His story says that time will heal
But meanwhile evil claws will steal
The lifeblood of the human race
The innocent look on a child's face




Look on a child's face
A child's face.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pork Pie Tribe's song "Under Fire" describe the devastating effects of war on innocent civilians. The opening verses paint a vivid picture of chaos in the streets, with people running amidst burning concrete, and the sound of gunfire echoing in the distance. The imagery of bloody hands and faces coupled with the plea to God for salvation underscores the desperation felt by those caught in the crossfire. Yet, the chorus poses a rhetorical question - "does the world really care?" - as if to highlight the fact that people in power may be indifferent to the suffering of those who are far removed from their line of vision.


As the song progresses, the verses continue to describe the horror of war, with missiles flying in the air and the constant threat of death. The image of a mother clutching her baby in fear is particularly poignant, as it underscores the sheer vulnerability of those caught in the middle. The use of the flying dove as a symbol of peace, and the line "only a burning, broken toy" suggest that hope and innocence have been irrevocably destroyed.


The repeated refrain of "ouch, punch, kick, run" followed by "help, help, help" underscores the physical and emotional trauma of war, and the desperate need for assistance. The song ends on a somber note, with the reminder that war exacts an unbearable cost, with innocent children often bearing the brunt of the violence.


Line by Line Meaning

People running in the street
Amid the chaos and destruction, the people run for their lives, trying to escape the violence and the danger.


Concrete burning under feet
Every step taken hurries them away from the burning concrete that is the ground, leaving behind an inferno that only highlights the horrors of the conflict.


The sky is blue, the sun is hot
The hot sun beats down, the only light in a world of darkness that still shines, while the sky looks on, untouched and unmoved by the horrors being committed.


Another gun, another shot
The violence is never-ending, with every shot ringing out only leading to another.


A bloody hand, a bloody face
Amidst the violence and confusion, the violence has left its mark on those who run, with nowhere to hide, reduced to bloody messes.


God please save this bloody place
The singer pleads with God to end the violence and bloodshed that stains this place.


Bodies laying here and there
Wherever one looks, bodies are strewn about, victims of the conflict that ravages this place.


Does the world really care?
The artist questions if the outside world even knows or cares about the suffering and violence being committed here.


Listen to the people, ouch, ouch, ouch
The cries of pain and anguish emitted by the people, who have no voice, are heard by the artist.


Listen to the fist, punch, punch, punch
The sounds of violence do not go unheard, as fists rain down, striking both the people and the artist.


Listen to the foot, kick, kick, kick
The unmistakable sound of boots striking flesh is heard, as the singer tries to run away.


Listen to the feet, run, run, run
The people try to run as fast as they can, their footsteps echoing throughout the warzone.


Listen to the stick, crack, crack, crack
The sound of wooden sticks coming into contact with bodies fill the air.


Listen to the gun, bang, bang, bang
The unmistakable sound of gunfire resounds, the echoes bouncing off of buildings and through the streets.


Listen to the people, help, help, help, help help, help, help
The desperate cries for help go unheard, as the conflict wages on with no end in sight.


The flying dove it sees no joy
Even the symbol of peace, the dove, is unable to escape the horrors of the warzone, watching everything from the sky above.


Only a burning, broken toy
The peaceful dove watched as the conflict destroys the world around it, leaving behind only broken and burning wreckage.


A mother clutches baby tight
Even amidst the violence and chaos, a mother tries to protect her child, clinging on to her baby for dear life.


While men shoot bullets through the night
The men continue to shoot, their actions only causing more destruction and more death.


Missiles flying in the air
The sky is filled with the sounds of missiles flying, their devastating power smiting everything in their way.


A sorrow look, a stone cold stare
Everywhere one turns, the only things to be seen are looks of pure sorrow and expressions of anger caused by the conflict.


As clear blue waves crash on the sand
The only thing that remains unchanged is the tide, with the serene waves continuing to crash against the shoreline regardless of the violence and destruction.


Blood crawls fast across the land
Nevertheless, despite the peaceful shoreline, the blood of the dead from the conflict continues to spread and move across the land.


Fast across the land, across the land.
The only thing faster than the flow of the blood is the continued spread of the warzone, which rapidly claims more and more territory.


There's no endemic war at hand
The warzone is testament to the fact that there can be no such thing as endemic war - the only result of this level of conflict can only be destruction and death.


For war is war, there is no plan
The singer acknowledges the inevitability of war, that despite the destruction, there is no greater plan to be found.


And in the end a roll of dice
The only agency in the face of war is chance, as the future of this place rests on a roll of the dice.


Which human souls will pay the price
Regardless of what happens, however, the price will always be paid for by the innocent.


His story says that time will heal
Despite the violence and death, history has shown to the artist that with time, the wounds of destruction can eventually heal.


But meanwhile evil claws will steal
Even as time passes, however, evil is never content to simply wait, continually stealing away the innocent and perpetuating the conflict.


The lifeblood of the human race
By stealing innocent lives, the singer acknowledges that the conflict is not just the destruction of the land, but also of the lifeblood of humanity.


The innocent look on a child's face
The pain and horror of the conflict is no more visible than on the innocent face of a child who has had to grow up too fast because of the warzone.


Look on a child's face
The child's face is a testament to the continued pain and suffering caused by the continued conflict, as people continue to remain trapped in a world of destruction.




Contributed by Nicholas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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