"Warboys" was written by Rodgers as a protest song against war. It was give… Read Full Bio ↴"Warboys" was written by Rodgers as a protest song against war. It was given the subtitle "A Prayer for Peace" to make it clear as to what the intention of the song was. It was debuted as one of two new songs by Rodgers on his 2007 tour of Britain, although it was unclear whether this new song had been written for the then upcoming Queen + Paul Rodgers album. It first appeared on Rodgers' solo live album and DVD Live in Glasgow, and was later performed solely by Rodgers on acoustic guitar on a radio show after listeners called in to request something to be played from the new album. It was officially revealed as an album track in August 2008. It features Paul Rodgers playing acoustic guitar, and also samples many rifle noises. Roger Taylor also sings additional vocals on this track along with Rodgers' lead.

Warboys
Queen + Paul Rodgers Lyrics

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They were born with the knowledge of the struggle to survive
They were raised learning only ways to stay alive
Their language is the language of the bullets and the gun
If you see them coming, babe you'd better run

Here come the warboys
Here come the warboys

Well they look so pretty as they march and drill
It's such a pity that they're dressed to kill
See them marching two by two
When it all comes down, they know exactly what to do

Here come the war, war, warboys
Warboys, children and their toys
Warboys, make a lot of noise
Warboys, when the lightning explodes
I pray for your soul...

Well they look so fierce, gonna tear out your heart
When they get near, gonna see what they got
Hold on to your soul, friend of mine
I'll see you in hell, some other time

Here come the warboys, warboys

Mmm...
Warboys, warboys

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Warboys" by Queen + Paul Rodgers describe a group of soldiers who have grown up in a world of violence and war. These men are a product of their environment, having been raised with a focus on survival and self-preservation. Their language is that of guns and bullets, indicating that their world is one of conflict and aggression.

The chorus of the song warns of their impending arrival, with the repetition of "Here come the warboys." The verses describe their appearance and demeanor, as they march and drill with precision and look fierce enough to rip out a person's heart.

The line "It's such a pity that they're dressed to kill" speaks to the tragedy of war and the way it turns young men into killing machines. The final section of the song turns more somber, with the singer praying for the souls of those who may fall victim to this violent group.

Overall, "Warboys" is a commentary on the destructive nature of war and the tragic toll it takes on those who participate in it.

Line by Line Meaning

They were born with the knowledge of the struggle to survive
These warboys were born into a world full of chaos and danger where every day could be their last.

They were raised learning only ways to stay alive
The only way these warboys were taught to live was by doing whatever it takes to survive, even if it means killing others.

Their language is the language of the bullets and the gun
The only way these warboys know how to communicate is through the use of weapons and violence.

If you see them coming, babe you'd better run
If you happen to come across these warboys, it's best to flee for your life as they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

Well they look so pretty as they march and drill
These warboys may seem attractive and presentable on the outside, but they are still ruthless killers on the inside.

It's such a pity that they're dressed to kill
It's unfortunate that these warboys have been raised with the sole intention of taking the lives of others.

See them marching two by two
These warboys move in groups and are highly organized, making them even more difficult to defeat.

When it all comes down, they know exactly what to do
In any situation, no matter how chaotic, these warboys are highly trained and will always know how to react accordingly.

Here come the war, war, warboys
These warboys are always ready for battle, and will stop at nothing to take down their enemies.

Warboys, children and their toys
These warboys treat their weapons as though they are children's toys, and do not hesitate to use them for destruction.

Warboys, make a lot of noise
These warboys are not discreet in their methods and will often perform loud, explosive acts to intimidate their enemies.

Warboys, when the lightning explodes
These warboys revel in chaos and destruction, and thrive in high-pressure situations where things can quickly escalate.

I pray for your soul...
The singer feels a deep sense of concern and worry for the safety and wellbeing of anyone who crosses paths with these warboys.

Well they look so fierce, gonna tear out your heart
These warboys may appear intimidating and vicious, and will stop at nothing to bring their enemies to their knees.

When they get near, gonna see what they got
These warboys are always eager to engage in battle and assert their dominance over their opponents.

Hold on to your soul, friend of mine
The artist offers a warning to anyone who may befriend these warboys, as associating with them could come at a great cost.

I'll see you in hell, some other time
The artist is resigned to the fact that if they continue to associate with these warboys, it will likely lead them both to their ultimate doom.

Contributed by Muhammad B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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