Frequent releases during the mid-60s included many cover versions of popular songs, as well as a few group-penned hits and many songs written especially for them by professional songwriters.
The Hollies were formed in 1962 in Lancashire, England. By 1965,the group had been established as one of Britain's pre-eminent singles bands. As part of the British Invasion, they enjoyed huge chart success in many countries in the mid-Sixties, releasing a string of classic harmony-pop hits including Bus Stop I'm Alive, a UK No. 1, I Can't Let Go, Stop Stop Stop, Carrie Anne, On A Carousel, Look Through Any Window, and Jennifer Eccles.
In 1972, the hit Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress reached #2 in the US. Their last mega hit was He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, hitting #1 in the UK in 1988 (albeit 19 years after its first release).
The band are noted for their longevity, with their 2006 tour chalking up 45 years. Despite numerous changes in line-up, Tony Hicks & Bobby Elliott have been with the band almost from its inception.
Lead singer Allan Clarke left The Hollies in 1971, though he rejoined the band at later times. He was eventually replaced by Carl Wayne, ex lead singer of The Move, who passed away in 2004. Wayne was replaced by Peter Howarth. The 2007 line up is, Ian Parker on keyboards, Ray Stiles (Ex Mud, remember 'Tiger Feet') on bass guitar and Alan Coates on guitar and vocals by Steve Lauri.
Original bass player Eric Haydock died in January 2018.
The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2010.
Allan Clarke (vocals, 1962-71, 1973-99), Graham Nash (guitar, vocals, 1962-68, 1983), Eric Haydock (bass, 1962-66), Vick Farrell (guitar, 1962), Don Rathbone (drums, 1962-63), Tony Hicks (guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric sitar, vocals, 1963-present), Bobby Elliott (drums, percussion, 1963-present), Bernie Calvert (bass, 1966-81), Terry Sylvester (guitar, vocals, 1969-81), Mikael Rickfors (vocals, 1971-73), Denis Haines (bass, 1981-86), Alan Coates (guitar, 1981-2004), Ray Stiles (bass, vocals, 1986-present), Ian Parker (keyboards, vocals, 1991-present), Carl Wayne (vocals, 2000-04), Peter Howarth (vocals, acoustic guitar, 2004-present), Steve Lauri (guitar, vocals, 2004-present)
Soldiers Dilemma
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why do I have to go to war
I don't believe in the government's greed
I find the whole thing a bore
Well if you think that it's right
To fight well then fight
Well please don`t ask me to join in
How did it begin
Well please don`t ask me to fight your war
I ain't tired of living
I like to keep it in one piece
I don't like the odds you're giving
You ain't having me on a lease
I like to eat three meals a day
In my own lazy way
And you can't keep
That you're giving away for free
Even after I've protested
Seems I don`t have any choice
You put a gun in my hand now
You say I'm fighting for peace
Well it's just a lie
So why should I die
For something in which I don`t believe
Well it's so hard
When you're shooting at me
Well all I can do is reply
The Hollies's song Soldiers Dilemma is a powerful anti-war protest song that questions the very premise of going to war. The song is about a protagonist who is being pressured to join the military, but they question the legitimacy of the government's actions and find the whole idea of war boring. They simply can't understand why someone would ask another person to fight for something they don't believe in.
The first verse asks a question that any soldier might ask before going to war: "Why do I have to go to war?" The singer doesn't believe in the government's greed and is not willing to join the fighting. The chorus, "Well if you think that it's right to fight well then fight, well please don't ask me to join in," expresses the singer's reluctance to engage in violence. They believe that the trouble that they are in has been caused by others, and, therefore, they cannot be held responsible for it.
The second verse highlights how the singer values life and isn't prepared to risk it for a cause they don't believe in. The singer is happy with their peaceful, lazy life and is not ready to risk it for someone else's beliefs. The bridge reflects the frustration of the singer, who feels that despite their protests, they have no choice in the matter. They are handed a weapon and asked to take someone else's life in the name of "peace," which they believe is a lie.
Line by Line Meaning
Please answer my question
The singer requests for an explanation for why he has to go to war.
Why do I have to go to war
The singer questions the reason behind being mandated to engage in warfare.
I don't believe in the government's greed
The singer is skeptical of the underlying motives of the government behind the war.
I find the whole thing a bore
The singer finds the prospect of going to war uninteresting and monotonous.
Well if you think that it's right
The singer addresses someone who thinks that participating in war is justifiable.
To fight well then fight
The singer suggests that if someone feels strongly about the cause, they should go ahead and fight without involving him.
Well please don`t ask me to join in
The singer refuses to be coerced into being a part of the war effort.
The trouble were in
The singer acknowledges that there is unrest, but does not feel compelled to take up arms to try and solve it.
How did it begin
The singer is curious about the origins of the conflict.
Well please don`t ask me to fight your war
The singer reiterates his stance on being forced to participate in the war.
I ain't tired of living
The singer asserts his value for his life and desires to continue living.
I like to keep it in one piece
The singer wants to maintain his physical integrity and wellbeing throughout the course of the war.
I don't like the odds you're giving
The singer is not satisfied with the probability of survival put forth by those insisting on his participation.
You ain't having me on a lease
The singer refuses to be rented out to do someone else's bidding.
I like to eat three meals a day
The singer makes reference to his daily needs and basic physiological requirements.
In my own lazy way
The singer denotes that he would like to satisfy his requirements in his own time and manner.
And you can't keep
The singer highlights that those compelling him to join the war effort have nothing on him in terms of his personal requirements and desires.
That you're giving away for free
The singer seems to insinuate that the war supporters are giving so much of themselves without asking for payment.
Even after I've protested
The singer states that he has contested the war before but to no avail.
Seems I don`t have any choice
The singer feels like he is being backed into a corner and has had no say in the matter.
You put a gun in my hand now
The singer accuses those forcing him to engage in warfare of arming him.
You say I'm fighting for peace
The singer faults the notion that war is the only way to attain peace.
Well it's just a lie
The singer dismisses the idea of fighting war for the sake of peace as a deceptive lie.
So why should I die
The singer questions why he should be willing to risk his life for a cause he does not believe in.
For something in which I don`t believe
The singer reiterates that he lacks faith in the cause for which he is being compelled to fight.
Well it's so hard
The singer acknowledges the difficulty and danger that comes along with being in a warzone.
When you're shooting at me
The singer expresses the danger he is subjected to when in the crosshairs of enemy fire.
Well all I can do is reply
The singer has nothing else to do but make his stance irrefutably clear regardless of the danger he is in.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Carrie Anne
A nice and catchy song by The Hollies.
Philip Kassabian
on Bus Stop
Yet another great Hollies song.
Philip Kassabian
on Stop Stop Stop
One of the best bands from the 60's no doubt.