blues
S.B.O.T.H.I Lyrics
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Where I saw a baby in a pram.
The next minute it wasn't there,
I was getting paid too much to care.
Now I fought hard for my Purple Heart.
I can stop you if you start.
Going out now on the loose.
Well I just got back from Vietnam.
I got addicted to napalm.
My teeth have rotted, they're just not there.
I was getting paid too much to care.
Well I just got back from Vietnam.
I got blown to bits by a bomb.
My minds gone it's just not there.
I was getting paid too much to care.
Well I just got back from Vietnam.
Although I'm really only half a man.
My wife's left, divorce coming through.
I got no money what can I do ?
The song "Blues in 2-3" by S.B.O.T.H.I is a powerful commentary on the effects of the Vietnam war on soldiers who have returned from the conflict. The lyrics are a series of verses which seem at first glance to be unconnected, but which gradually build up to create a haunting narrative of the trauma and dislocation experienced by those who have been through the horrors of war.
The song begins with the singer returning from Vietnam and witnessing the disappearance of a baby in a pram. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is full of references to the trauma and destruction of the war. The singer has been awarded a Purple Heart for his service, but is also struggling with addiction, dental problems, and the loss of his wife and financial security.
The repeated refrain of "I was getting paid too much to care" is a powerful indictment of the way in which soldiers are often forced to suppress their emotions and their own feelings of moral outrage in order to simply survive and make a living. The song is ultimately a lament for the broken lives and shattered dreams of those who were caught up in the Vietnam war and who have struggled to find their place in the world ever since.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I just got back from Vietnam, Where I saw a baby in a pram.
After returning from Vietnam, the singer witnessed the innocence of a child in a stroller.
The next minute it wasn't there, I was getting paid too much to care.
In the chaos of war, the child disappeared, but the singer's financial compensation numbed his concern.
Now I fought hard for my Purple Heart. I can stop you if you start.
The singer earned a Purple Heart medal for his bravery but also warns that he can be violent if provoked.
Going out now on the loose. Gotta get rid of these Vietname Blues.
The artist is trying to shake off the mental scars of war by going out and being free, but he is struggling.
Well I just got back from Vietnam. I got addicted to napalm.
The artist is now addicted to the destructive weapon he used in Vietnam.
My teeth have rotted, they're just not there. I was getting paid too much to care.
The singer's teeth have decayed due to a lack of proper care while he was prioritizing his paychecks from the war.
Well I just got back from Vietnam. I got blown to bits by a bomb.
The singer suffered severe physical and mental damage due to being caught in an explosion during the war.
My minds gone it's just not there. I was getting paid too much to care.
The trauma of the war has caused the artist to lose his sanity, which he ignored while he was receiving high pay.
Well I just got back from Vietnam. Although I'm really only half a man.
The artist feels ashamed and incomplete as a person due to his physical and mental wounds from the war.
My wife's left, divorce coming through. I got no money what can I do ?
The artist's marriage has fallen apart due to the effects of the war, leaving him with no financial support and feeling helpless.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW PAUL WILLIAMS, COLIN DEREK ABRAHALL, COLIN ROBERT BLYTH, ROSS ANDREW LOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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