Killed In Action
The Gang Lyrics


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Le spie uccidono i presidenti
Nei letti delle loro amanti
Quando i fucili si inceppano
Nelle trincee lungo la frontiera
I trafficanti di armi
Nascondono un asso nella manica
Nei giorni di coprifuoco
E fanno buoni affari
Nelle basi militari d'Europa
I bombardieri sognano
Giorni di gloria
Ma se guardi tra i volti pallidi
Degli eroi di guerra
Troverai un lamento
Di mitragliatrice
Mercenari sopra
I manuali di tortura
Giurano fedeltĆ 
Al miglior offerente
Non ci sarĆ  un letto canceroso
Per un "morto in combattimento"
Ma solo tatuaggi al napalm
Sul petto dei reduci
Intanto si affilano i giorni
E si inghiotte paura




Ma nella boscaglia
Si accendono nuovi fuochi

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Gang's song "Killed in Action" address the various forms of violence that occur during wars and conflicts around the world. The first lines of the song, "Spies kill presidents in the beds of their lovers," create a sense of intrigue and danger, highlighting the covert nature of political violence. The second verse speaks to the perils of war itself, with guns jamming in trenches and arms dealers exploiting curfews for profit. The third verse focuses on the emotional toll of warfare, with the once-glorious bombers now dreaming of happier times and the soldiers reduced to a "machine gun wail."


Throughout the song, the lyrics take a critical stance toward the military-industrial complex that fuels conflicts around the world. The reference to mercenaries swearing allegiance to the highest bidder highlights the profit motive that underlies much of modern warfare. The lyrics also touch on the human cost of war, with the promise of a "cancerous bed" for those who die in combat contrasting sharply with the brutal reality of being a surviving veteran with PTSD, represented by the chilling image of the "napalm tattoos" on their chests. The final lines of the song, "Meanwhile, the days are sharpened, and fear is swallowed / But in the brushwood, new fires are lit," suggest that while the horrors of war may seem never-ending, there is always hope for change and renewal.


Line by Line Meaning

Le spie uccidono i presidenti
Secret agents assassinate world leaders


Nei letti delle loro amanti
In the beds of their lovers


Quando i fucili si inceppano
When the guns jam


Nelle trincee lungo la frontiera
In the trenches along the border


I trafficanti di armi
Arms dealers


Nascondono un asso nella manica
Hide an ace up their sleeve


Nei giorni di coprifuoco
During curfew days


E fanno buoni affari
And make good deals


Nelle basi militari d'Europa
In European military bases


I bombardieri sognano
Bomber pilots dream


Giorni di gloria
Days of glory


Ma se guardi tra i volti pallidi
But if you look among the pale faces


Degli eroi di guerra
Of war heroes


Troverai un lamento
You will find a lament


Di mitragliatrice
Of machine guns


Mercenari sopra
Above mercenaries


I manuali di tortura
Torture manuals


Giurano fedeltĆ 
They swear allegiance


Al miglior offerente
To the highest bidder


Non ci sarĆ  un letto canceroso
There won't be a cancerous bed


Per un "morto in combattimento"
For a "death in combat"


Ma solo tatuaggi al napalm
But only napalm tattoos


Sul petto dei reduci
On the chest of survivors


Intanto si affilano i giorni
Meanwhile, days get sharper


E si inghiotte paura
And fear is swallowed


Ma nella boscaglia
But in the bush


Si accendono nuovi fuochi
New fires are kindled




Contributed by Chloe S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Uncle Drew

Anyone who thinks the old man fell for no reason in a hail of gunshots is a fool and clearly has no idea what it means to be in that situation

Unite Divide

Probably heart attack

Uncle Drew

@TeddyJam800 true we all know he wasn't shot he just took measures to try to secure himself

TeddyJam800

@Uncle Drew brotha wat are you talking about I only said the elder wasnā€™t shot thatā€™s all champ

Uncle Drew

@TeddyJam800 So you think he was supposed to stand there while ppl shooting ND not take cover

20 More Replies...

3rdEye

Good thing they turned on their blinker. They wouldnā€™t want to break the law.

Black Air Force

shooters with great driving skills cant forgot the blinker killa!

Chili dOG

ā˜ ļø

Baby Active TVšŸ“ŗ

At least he didnā€™t get a ticket those traffic tickets be expensive

Baby Active TVšŸ“ŗ

Bro chill

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