Dad
Richard Thompson Lyrics


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Out in the desert there's a soldier lying dead
Vultures pecking the eyes out of his head
Another day that could have been me there instead
Nobody loves me here
Nobody loves me here

Dad's gonna kill me
Dad's gonna kill me

You hit the booby trap and you're in pieces
With every bullet your risk increases
Old ali baba, he's a different species
Nobody loves me here
Nobody loves me here

Dad's gonna kill me
Dad's gonna kill me

I'm dead meat in my humv frankenstein
I hit the road block, somehow I never hit the mine
The dice rolled and I got lucky this time

And dad's gonna kill me
And dad's gonna kill me

I've got a wife, a kid, another on the way
I might get home if I can live through today
Before I came out here I never used to pray
Nobody loves me here
Nobody loves me here

Dad's gonna kill me

Woo, dad's in a bad mood, dad's got the blues
It's someone else's mess that I didn't choose
At least we're winning on the Fox evening news
Nobody loves me here
Nobody loves me here

Dad's gonna kill me
Dad's gonna kill me

Dawn patrol went out and didn't come back
Hug the wire and pray like I told you, Mac
Or they'll be shovelling bits of you into a sack

And dad's gonna kill me
And dad's gonna kill me

Who's that stranger walking in my dreams?
Whose that stranger cast a shadow 'cross my heart?
Who's that stranger, I dare speak his name?
Must be old death a-walking
Must be old death a-walking

Dad's gonna kill me

Seven muzzle monkeys standing in a row
Standing, waiting for the sandbox to blow
Sitting targets in the wild west show

Nobody loves me here
Nobody loves me here

Dad's gonna kill me
Dad's gonna kill me

Another angel got his wings this week
Charbroiled with his own willie pete
Nobody's dying if you speak double-speak

And dad's gonna kill me




And dad's gonna kill me
And dad's gonna kill me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Richard Thompson's song "Dad" paint a bleak picture of a soldier's experience in the desert. The opening lines describe a dead soldier being picked apart by vultures, a blunt reminder of the danger and violence that surrounds the singer. Throughout the song, the singer takes on the persona of a soldier facing constant peril, with booby traps, bullets, and roadblocks all posing a threat to his safety. The singer is acutely aware of the risks he's taking and the ways in which he could easily become another casualty of war.


The refrain "Dad's gonna kill me" adds an interesting layer to the song. It's not clear whether the singer is speaking literally or figuratively, but either way, the phrase implies a sense of guilt or shame. Perhaps the soldier feels he's let down his father or his family by joining the military and putting himself in danger. The song touches on broader themes of the human cost of war and the emotional toll it takes on those who fight it.


Overall, "Dad" is a powerful and haunting song that captures the sense of fear and isolation that soldiers can feel in combat, as well as the way that war can affect a person's relationships and sense of self-worth.


Line by Line Meaning

Out in the desert there's a soldier lying dead
A dead soldier is left to rot in the desert


Vultures pecking the eyes out of his head
The soldier's corpse is being eaten by vultures


Another day that could have been me there instead
The singer is reminded of how close he was to death


Nobody loves me here
The soldier feels unloved and abandoned


Dad's gonna kill me
The soldier is afraid of his father's reaction to his situation


You hit the booby trap and you're in pieces
The soldier has suffered injuries from a booby trap


With every bullet your risk increases
The soldier is at greater risk of getting shot with every bullet fired


Old ali baba, he's a different species
The enemy is seen as a completely different species


I'm dead meat in my humv frankenstein
The soldier feels he is in danger in his military vehicle


I hit the road block, somehow I never hit the mine
The soldier made it past a dangerous road block unscathed


The dice rolled and I got lucky this time
The soldier feels lucky to be alive


I've got a wife, a kid, another on the way
The soldier has a family waiting for him back home


I might get home if I can live through today
The soldier is unsure if he will survive the day


Before I came out here I never used to pray
The soldier has started praying since being deployed


Woo, dad's in a bad mood, dad's got the blues
The soldier is in trouble with his father and is worried about his mood


It's someone else's mess that I didn't choose
The soldier feels he is caught up in someone else's war


At least we're winning on the Fox evening news
The soldier is being told they are winning the war


Dawn patrol went out and didn't come back
A patrol has gone missing


Hug the wire and pray like I told you, Mac
The soldier is instructing someone to stay safe


Or they'll be shovelling bits of you into a sack
If they don't stay safe, they will be killed


Who's that stranger walking in my dreams?
The soldier is having nightmares about unknown people


Whose that stranger cast a shadow 'cross my heart?
The nightmares are weighing on the soldier's heart


Who's that stranger, I dare speak his name?
The soldier is afraid to acknowledge the stranger in his dreams


Seven muzzle monkeys standing in a row
Seven soldiers are standing in a row


Standing, waiting for the sandbox to blow
The soldiers are waiting for a dangerous event to occur


Sitting targets in the wild west show
The soldiers feel like they are in a dangerous, lawless environment


Another angel got his wings this week
Another soldier has died recently


Charbroiled with his own willie pete
The deceased soldier was killed with his own weapon


Nobody's dying if you speak double-speak
The truth about the war is being hidden from the public




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Richard John Thompson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

pyra75

Na pustyni leży martwy żołnierz
Sępy wydziobują oczy z jego oczodołów
Kolejny dzień w którym mogłem tam być zamiast niego

Nikt mnie tu nie kocha
Nikt mnie tu nie kocha

Bagdad mnie zabije
Bagdad mnie zabije

Trafisz na minę i już jesteś w kawałkach
Z każdą kulą zwiększa się ryzyko
Stary Ali Baba jest odmieńcem
Nikt mnie tu nie kocha
Nikt mnie tu nie kocha

Bagdad mnie zabije
Bagdad mnie zabije

Jestem nieżywym kawałkiem mięsa w Hammerze Frankestainie
Trafiłem na blokadę drogową, Bóg wie, że jeszcze nigdy nie trafiłem na minę
Kości zostały rzucone, tym razem mam szczęście

Bagdad mnie zabije
Bagdad mnie zabije

Mam żonę, mam dziecko i innych na drodze
Może wrócę do domu jeśli dziś przeżyję
Zanim tu przyjechałem nigdy wcześniej się nie modliłem
Nikt mnie tu nie kocha
Nikt mnie tu nie kocha

Bagdad mnie zabije

Ojciec jest w złym humorze, Ojciec czuje bluesa
To jest czyiś bałagan, którego ja nie wybrałem
Wreszcie na końcu i tak wygrywamy w Wiadomościach (Fox Evening News)
Nikt mnie tu nie kocha

Bagdad mnie zabije
Bagdad mnie zabije

Poranny patrol wyszedł i nie wrócił
Przytul się do drutu i módl, tak jak Ci mówiłem Mac
Albo zostaniesz prochem wsadzonym łopatą do wora

Bagdad mnie zabije

Kto jest tym nieznajomym w moich snach
Kto jest tym nieznajomym cieniem przecinającym moje serce
Kto jest tym nieznajomym, którego ośmielę się wymówić imię

To musi być ta stara chodząca śmierć
To musi być ta stara chodząca śmierć

Bagdad mnie zabije

Siedem małp w kagańcach stoi w rzędzie
Czekają na wysłanie na śmierć
Siedzące cele w show na dzikim zachodzie

Nikt mnie tu nie kocha

Bagdad mnie zabije

W tym tygodniu skrzydła wdział inny anioł
Przypalanie Willie Pete`m (Białym Fosforem)
Nikt nie umrze jeśli powiesz dwa razy

Bagdad mnie zabije



genericwaz

Afuera en el desierto hay un soldado que yacía muerto
Buitres picotean los ojos de la cabeza
Otro día que podría haber sido yo allí
Nadie me quiere aquí
Nadie me quiere aquí

Papá me va a matar
Papá me va a matar

Le pegó a la trampa y estás en pedazos
Con cada bala que aumenta su riesgo
El Viejo Ali Baba, que es una especie diferente
Nadie me quiere aquí
Nadie me quiere aquí

Papá me va a matar
Papá me va a matar

Soy hombre muerto en mi Humvee Frankenstein
Me golpeó la barricada, Dios sabe que nunca la mina
Los dados rodaron y me dio suerte esta vez

Papá me va a matar
Papá me va a matar

Tengo una mujer, un niño, otro en camino
Podría lograr mi casa si vivir mas alla de hoy
Antes de venir aquí nunca hubiera orado
Nadie me quiere aquí
Nadie me quiere aquí

Papá me va a matar

Papá de mal humor, papá tiene la murria
Es lío de otra persona que yo no elegí
Por lo menos estamos ganando en las noticias Fox
Nadie me quiere aquí

Papá me va a matar
Papá me va a matar

Patrulla del amanecer salió y no regresó
Abraza el alambre y orar como yo ti dije, Mac
O van a estar paleando trozos de ti en un saco

Papá me va a matar

Y quién es ese desconocido caminando en mis sueños
Y ese que una sombra proyecta sobre mi corazón
Y quién es ese, que ni se atreve a decir su nombre
Viejo Muerte debe ser en camino
Viejo Muerte debe ser en camino

Papá me va a matar

Siete muzzle monkeys estando de pie en una fila
De pie esperando hasta que el recinto de seguridad estallar
Sentado objetivos en la demostración del oeste salvaje

Nadie me quiere aquí

Papá me va a matar

Otro ángel consiguió sus alas esta semana
Calcinado con su propio granada de humo
Nadie se muere si habla doble discurso

Papá me va a matar



All comments from YouTube:

OuterThought

This song played in my head when i failed my biology class

Anonymous_legion

+TonTon this was my insentive to pass my gcse science :)

Senior Bandido

hahahaha lol

Gabriel Lemes

lol hahaha

TENeyeCMe W

lmao

Lettuce Bunnies

I had the "murder" playing in my had while Biology exam :|

26 More Replies...

Dennis Stanczak

Richard first released this on his 2007 disc 'Sweet Warrior'. He is one of my favorite singer/songwriter/guitarists and has been actively recording since the late 60's!

Dylan Skinner

Great episode, Sons of Anarchy is still the best tv show of all time

Mizantrop

Dylan Skinner loooooool

Rob Macdonald

The Sopranos, broadwalk empire and sons of anarchy I could watch over and over

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