Bombs Away
Savuka Lyrics

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It was a day or so ago
I saw him run into the night

And on his face, more than a trace
Of wild fear in the eye
He was haunted by a tragic dream
Of people in death machines
And he did not know which side he was on

And he hated being in between oh

Bombs away, bombs away
Sign of the times, watch where you're going
Bombs away, bombs away
What will you do see you if I free you
Bombs away, bombs away
Into the night feel the fear
Bombs away, bombs away
Do you know your left from your right

He's tired of the lies
He's tired of the truth
They never give him what they say
He's tired of the fight
He's tired of the truce
The blackmail of judgement day
He believes in a magic wave
That rolls on the sea of time
That can touch every single human soul
If they could recognize it when it came, too late

Bombs away, bombs away
Sign of the times, watch where you're going
Bombs away, bombs away
What will you do see you if I free you
Bombs away, bombs away
Into the night feel the fear
Bombs away, bombs away
Don't you know your left from your right

Ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ( We mame, bathini? ngingenzani? )
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ( We mame, bathini? ngingenzani? )
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ( We mame, bathini? ngingenzani? )
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ( We mame, bathini? ngingenzani? )

Watch where you go ( Bombs away )
What will you do ( Bombs away )
Save the freedom ( Bombs away )

Into the night ( Bombs away )
Feel the fear ( Bombs away )
It's so near ( Bombs away )
Look over you're shoulder ( Bombs away )

Turn to the left ( Bombs away )
Turn with a little right ( Bombs away )
At anytime ( Bombs away )
It can appear ( Bombs away )

Say it again ( Bombs away )
Watch where you go ( Bombs away )
What will you do ( Bombs away )
Save the freedom ( Bombs away )

Into the night ( Bombs away )
Feel the fear ( Bombs away )
It's so near ( Bombs away )
Look over you're shoulder ( Bombs away )

Turn to the left ( Bombs away )
Turn to the right ( Bombs away )
At anytime ( Bombs away )
It can appear ( Bombs away )

Say it all again ( Bombs away )
Watch where you go ( Bombs away )

What will you do ( Bombs away )
Save the freedom ( Bombs away )

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Savuka's "Bombs Away" paint a picture of a man struggling with his identity and beliefs in the midst of war and violence. The singer is haunted by a tragic dream and is unsure of which side he is on, feeling trapped in between conflicting ideologies. The recurring phrase "bombs away" can be interpreted as a warning of the destructive consequences of violence and war. The lyrics suggest that the singer is tired of the lies and manipulation from those in power and desires a more humane approach to solving conflicts, one that recognizes the value of every human soul.

The repetition of the phrase "bombs away" throughout the song underscores the urgency of its message. The song reflects the political climate of the 1980s, which was marked by the Cold War and numerous armed conflicts worldwide. It also reflects the social and political upheavals in South Africa, where the band originated. The lyrics are universal, however, and resonate with people around the world who are living in war-torn or politically fraught regions.

Line by Line Meaning

It was a day or so ago
Just a little while back from now

I saw him run into the night
Witnessed him run into the darkness of the night

And on his face, more than a trace of wild fear in the eye
There was a clear expression of intense fear on his face

He was haunted by a tragic dream of people in death machines
He suffered from a distressing nightmare of individuals in killing machines

And he did not know which side he was on
He was unsure of which faction to align with

And he hated being in between oh
He intensely detested being caught in the middle

Bombs away, bombs away, sign of the times, watch where you're going
A warning that bombs are being dropped, be cautious of where you're headed in these trying times

Bombs away, bombs away, what will you do see you if I free you
Bombs are being launched, what action will you take if I set you free?

Bombs away, bombs away, into the night feel the fear
Explosives are being released, feel the terror that comes with the experience

Bombs away, bombs away, do you know your left from your right
Bombs are being detonated, do you even know which way to turn?

He's tired of the lies, he's tired of the truth
He's exhausted from the constant deception and honesty

They never give him what they say
He never receives what has been promised to him

He's tired of the fight, he's tired of the truce, the blackmail of judgement day
He's fed up with the struggle, the ceasefire, the emotional pain of doomsday blackmail

He believes in a magic wave that rolls on the sea of time
He has faith in a mystical current that washes through the currents of time

That can touch every single human soul if they could recognize it when it came, too late
It can impact each human spirit if they could only perceive it when it comes, too close to not mattering anymore

Watch where you go (Bombs away), what will you do (Bombs away), save the freedom (Bombs away)
Be vigilant of your surroundings, what course of action will you take, protect your civil liberties

Look over your shoulder (Bombs away), turn to the left (Bombs away), turn with a little right (Bombs away)
Look behind you in suspicion, pivot to the left, alter direction with a slight turn to the right

At any time (Bombs away), it can appear (Bombs away), say it all again (Bombs away)
It can manifest at any moment, repeat the warning once again

Into the night (Bombs away), feel the fear (Bombs away), it's so near (Bombs away)
The sky darkens with the explosives, dread seeps in, it's all too close

Say it again (Bombs away), watch where you go (Bombs away), what will you do (Bombs away), save the freedom (Bombs away)
The warning is repeated, be aware of your surroundings, consider your plan of action, protect your civil liberties

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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