Fender was a teenager when he began performing in pubs throughout North Shields, England. He was spotted in a pub by Ben Howard's manager, Owain Davies, who then got him to support for Willy Mason.
Fender has gone on to release 2 studio albums (Hypersonic Missiles, 2019) (Seventeen Going Under, 2021) and play on the main stages of Festivals such as Reading & Leeds, TRSNMT and Glastonbury.
Hypersonic Missiles
Sam Fender Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Golden Arches illuminate the business park
I eat myself to death, feed the corporate machine
I watch the movies, recite every line and scene
God bless America and all of its allies
I'm not the first to live with wool over my eyes
I am so blissfully unaware of everything
The tensions of the world are rising higher
We're probably due another war with all this ire
I'm not smart enough to change a thing
I have no answers, only questions, don't you ask a thing
All the silver tongued suits and cartoons that rule my world
Are saying it's a high time for hypersonic missiles
When the bombs drop darlin' can you say that you've lived your life
Oh, this is a high time for hypersonic missiles
Cities lie like tumors all across the world
A cancer eating mankind hidden in our blindside
They say I'm a nihilist
'Cause I can't see any decent rhyme or reason
For the life of you and me
But I believe in what I'm feeling
And I'm firing for you
This world is gonna end
But 'til then, I'll give you everything I have
I'll give you everything I have
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh (come on)
All the silver tongued suits and cartoons that rule my world
Are saying it's a high time for hypersonic missiles
When the bombs drop darlin' can you say that you've lived your life
Oh, this is a high time for hypersonic missiles
They all do the same, only their names change honey
You can join their club if you're born in to money
It's a high time for hypersonic missiles
You know this is a high time for hypersonic missiles
You know this is a high time for hypersonic missiles
Oh, this is a high time for hypersonic missiles
In Sam Fender's song Hypersonic Missiles, the lyrics are an introspective look into the singer's own privileged life as they become cognizant of the various geopolitical issues happening across the world. The first stanza reflects how the singer indulges in food, movies, and consumerism while they are oblivious to the world. The recurring phrase "God bless America and all of its allies" hints that the singer lives in a Western country and benefits from it while ignoring the sufferings of others. The second stanza highlights the rising tension in the world, setting the stage for a potential war. The stark contrast between the singer's ignorance and the world's problems adds to the tone of disillusionment and anxiety. The final stanza is a declaration of love and the willingness to give everything to their lover, who acts as a beacon of hope in the uncertain world.
The song's lyrics were inspired by Sam Fender's own anxiety surrounding the world's current events.
Fender worked on the song during a stay in a cottage in the Scottish Highlands.
Hypersonic Missiles was released as the lead single of his debut studio album of the same name.
The song has been praised for its political commentary on the modern world.
Hypersonic Missiles was a commercial success, charting in several countries including the UK and Ireland
The song was used in a trailer for the popular video game Cyberpunk 2077.
Fender drew inspiration from the lyrical style of Michael Stipe, the lead singer of R.E.M., in crafting the song's chorus.
The song's music video features footage of protests and rallies from around the world, including the Women's March, March for Our Lives, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Hypersonic Missiles was included on Barack Obama's 2019 summer playlist.
The song earned Fender the BRIT Critics' Choice Award in 2019.
Chords: G, C, Em, D.
Line by Line Meaning
Dutch kids huff balloons in the parking lot
I observe trivial, meaningless activities happening around me.
The Golden Arches illuminate the business park
I see corporate symbols everywhere and the world around me is consumed by capitalism and consumerism.
I eat myself to death, feed the corporate machine
I am unconsciously supporting capitalism by consuming products and services that are provided to me by corporations that value profits over my well-being.
I watch the movies, recite every line and scene
I am distracted by popular culture and don't pay attention to the real issues happening in the world.
God bless America and all of its allies
I blindly support my country and its allies without questioning their actions and policies.
I'm not the first to live with wool over my eyes
I am aware that many people before me have chosen to ignore the problems of the world and live in blissful ignorance.
I am so blissfully unaware of everything
I am ignorant of the conflicts and issues happening globally and don't realize how they affect others.
Kids in Gaza are bombed and I'm just out of it
I remain oblivious to the tragedies happening in areas of conflict and war.
The tensions of the world are rising higher
The problems and conflicts in the world are becoming increasingly serious and dangerous.
We're probably due another war with all this ire
The growing tensions in the world may lead to another war.
I'm not smart enough to change a thing
I don't have the necessary knowledge or skills to solve the problems of the world.
I have no answers, only questions, don't you ask a thing
I don't have any solutions to the problems of the world and don't want to be asked about them.
All the silver tongued suits and cartoons that rule my world
The politicians and media personalities who control and influence my world are manipulative and deceptive in their communication.
Are saying it's a high time for hypersonic missiles
Those in power are advocating for the development and deployment of hypersonic missiles, which could lead to increased global conflict.
When the bombs drop darlin' can you say that you've lived your life
If a war breaks out and bombs are dropped, will you be able to say that you have truly lived your life?
Cities lie like tumors all across the world
The urbanization and development of cities is spreading like a disease and causing harm to the planet and its inhabitants.
A cancer eating mankind hidden in our blindside
The problems and issues facing humanity are often ignored or obscured from public view.
They say I'm a nihilist
Others criticize me for having a negative or nihilistic view of the world.
'Cause I can't see any decent rhyme or reason
I don't see any clear or logical explanation for the problems and conflicts facing humanity.
For the life of you and me
I don't understand why humanity continues to engage in harmful behaviors and practices that threaten our existence.
But I believe in what I'm feeling
Despite my negative outlook, I still believe in my own emotions and feelings.
And I'm firing for you
I am fighting for something greater than myself and trying to make a positive impact in the world.
This world is gonna end, But 'til then, I'll give you everything I have
I acknowledge that the world is facing serious threats and could end, but I will continue to do my best and make a positive impact while I can.
They all do the same, only their names change honey
The powerful and influential people in the world are all the same, regardless of their names, and have similar motives and goals.
You can join their club if you're born in to money
Only those who are born wealthy have access to the influential and powerful people who control the world.
It's a high time for hypersonic missiles
The current state of the world makes it seem like a good time for the development and deployment of hypersonic missiles.
You know this is a high time for hypersonic missiles
The state of the world currently supports the development and usage of hypersonic missiles.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Sam Fender
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Claudia LR
One of my favourite songs. Makes you think about how oblivious we are to most of the things around that don't directly affect us.
Mirka Fortuna
Things around us do affect us directly, we are just busy with silly other things to realise that!
TRUMP IS KING
What like the left wing adgenda of this song?
taijutsu475
@TRUMP IS KING Yikes, that name says it all...
taijutsu475
@TRUMP IS KING nice meme
TRUMP IS KING
@taijutsu475 ok....adolf ackobar corbyn.
Daniel Holland
Sam Fender.... Definitely the artist of this generation, the more you listen to his tracks the more you understand... This one's couldn't be more on topic right now
wholechains 62
To true
Liz Burton
I'm back here because of recent events too. This was one of my lockdown anthems, and especially the music video hits very different now.
Hurrly 90
@amanda burleson i see you havent listened to the opening verse of the song. It is very well written song that you seem to be completely missing the nuance and blatant in your face lyrics in respone to what you just said.