"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 song Warboys by Queen Paul Rodgers tells the story of a group of individuals who were born into a world of struggle, where the only way to survive was to learn how to fight. Their language is that of the gunshots and bullets, and if anyone sees them coming, they had better be prepared to run. The opening verse of the song paints a bleak picture of a world where violence and aggression are the only means of survival, and the only way to make it through is to become a part of this world of destruction.

The chorus of the song highlights the dangerous and destructive nature of these warboys, who march in drills and dress themselves up to kill. They make a lot of noise, and when the lightning explodes, there is very little hope left for anyone caught in their path. The second verse of the song shows the ferocity and intensity of these individuals, who look fierce and determined to tear out the hearts of their enemies. The singer warns their friend to hold on to their soul, for they will see them in hell some other time.

Overall, the song Warboys is a commentary on the destructive nature of war and violence, and how the cycle of violence can continue to spiral out of control, leaving nothing but destruction and despair in its wake.

Line by Line Meaning

They were born with the knowledge of the struggle to survive
These warboys were born into a world of hardship and adversity, where the fight to survive is constant.

They were raised learning only ways to stay alive
The warboys were brought up to understand that only the strongest and most skilled will survive in their world.

Their language is the language of the bullets and the gun
The warboys communicate with each other through the force of their weapons, as that is the language they know best.

If you see them coming, babe you'd better run
If you happen to cross paths with these warboys, it's best to run for your life as they are dangerous and not to be underestimated.

Well they look so pretty as they march and drill
Although their intentions are sinister, the warboys carry out their duties with precision and discipline, making their actions look almost beautiful.

It's such a pity that they're dressed to kill
It's unfortunate that these warboys are adorned in such deadly attire, but it's a clear sign of the brutal world they exist in.

See them marching two by two
The warboys move in sync, almost like a dance, as they head to their mission with the same goal in mind.

When it all comes down, they know exactly what to do
When things get chaotic and dangerous, the warboys remain calm and focused as they know what needs to be done to achieve their objectives.

Warboys, children and their toys
The warboys see their weapons as toys, indicating their dangerous and carefree attitude towards violence.

Warboys, make a lot of noise
The warboys are not discreet in their actions, as they revel in making loud noises during their attacks.

Warboys, when the lightning explodes
The warboys thrive in explosive situations when violence is at its peak, and they have the upper hand.

I pray for your soul...
The singer acknowledges the terrible fate that awaits those who cross the paths of the warboys, and hopes that they will find peace in the hereafter.

Well they look so fierce, gonna tear out your heart
The warboys are fierce, and their violent intentions could be deadly. Their goal is not just to kill, but to strike fear in those who oppose them.

When they get near, gonna see what they got
The warboys believe in their abilities, and they will proudly show off their skills and weapons when they come face to face with their enemies.

Hold on to your soul, friend of mine
The singer warns their friend to hold onto their essence and remain strong in the face of the danger that the warboys pose.

I'll see you in hell, some other time
The singer acknowledges that it's possible that they and their friend may not survive the encounter with the warboys, envisioning an afterlife where they will meet again.

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

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