Poppy
The Beautiful South Lyrics

I fought hard in the Second World War
People often boast about their accomplishments in war, but it doesn't necessarily mean they did something impressive. The reference to Beadle's About implies that maybe the person didn't even fight in the war or did very little.

You hear them shout
People often like to shout and brag about their accomplishments, whether they're true or not.

No good bragging about the Afrika Korps, it was Beadle's About
The Afrika Korps was a German military unit during World War II. This line suggests that someone bragging about their service in the Afrika Korps is just trying to impress people or lying, and that it's likely that they didn't actually fight in the war.

They dressed you up and took you off to World War One
During World War One, soldiers were often conscripted into the war effort and sent off to fight whether they wanted to or not.

Armed you and surrounded you with wire
Soldiers were given weapons and equipment and were often surrounded by barbed wire to protect them from enemy attacks.

Sat in stinking mud you sung your stupid songs
Soldiers often had to endure miserable conditions in the trenches, including sitting in mud and water, and singing songs was a way to pass the time and keep morale up.

And waited till they told you when to fire
Soldiers didn't have control over when they could fire their weapons, that decision was often made by their commanding officer.

Cause the rulers always laugh
The leaders of countries often don't have to fight in wars themselves and can sit back and watch the destruction from afar, which can sometimes lead to them making decisions based on their own amusement rather than what's best for their people.

At a video bloodbath
The leaders of countries often see the wars they start as if they were watching a video game, rather than realizing the real-life consequences of their actions.

Nothing makes them laugh
Leaders find amusement in wars and violence, which is often at the expense of innocent people's lives and well-being.

From the First World War to the Yom-Kippur, it was Beadle's About
The reference to Beadle's About suggests that people are often dishonest about their involvement in wars, and may tell tall tales about things they've done or seen.

The bayonets slice, the rockets roar, and he jumps out
This line describes the chaos and horror of battle, with soldiers attacking each other with bayonets and rockets, and soldiers constantly having to jump out of the way to avoid being killed.

Fond memories of the bloody bridge you failed to hold
Soldiers may have memories of battles they fought and places they went, but they may not always be good memories, especially if they were unsuccessful in their mission.

Many of your buddies killed or maimed
War is not just about fighting, but also about loss and the toll it takes on the soldiers and their families. Soldiers often lost friends and family members during the war.

You would've shot at rabbits if that's what you'd been told
Soldiers were often blindly obedient to their superiors and would do whatever they were told, even if it made no sense or seemed pointless.

Till the General said 'I'm sorry you've been framed'
Sometimes soldiers were wrongly accused of crimes or mistakes they didn't commit, and they were often made to take the blame for things they had no control over.

Keep those entries coming
This line suggests that there is a desire for more videos of violence and war, and that people are entertained by watching them.

Leave those cameras running
The use of cameras to capture images and video of war and violence is often seen as a way to keep people informed about what's happening, but it can also be used for propaganda or entertainment purposes.

Keep those entrails coming
Entrails are a gruesome reminder of the human cost of war, and this line suggests that people are willing to overlook the horror of war to be entertained.

Leave those soldiers gunning
The use of guns and other weapons in war is often seen as a necessary evil, but this line suggests that it's also seen as entertainment.

Because you're sure to get a laugh with a video bloodbath
This line reinforces the idea that people find entertainment in violence and bloodshed, and that there's a market for videos of war and violence.

Here's a wacky video we got last week
The use of the word 'wacky' to describe a video of violence and war highlights the twisted mentality of those who find amusement in such things.

A bomb catches Arthur unawares
This line describes the literal explosion that takes place in the video, but it also highlights the unpredictability and senselessness of war.

He's lost both his arms and he can't see or speak
This line reinforces the idea that war has real, devastating consequences for the soldiers who fight in it, and that the people who find entertainment in these videos are callous and insensitive.

But thank you for the memory you shared
The sarcastic tone of this line suggests that the person saying it is not grateful for the video of violence and is mocking those who find it amusing.