Upon release, "The Lebanon" reached #11 on the UK Official Chats and #64 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
The Lebanon
The Human League Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before the soldiers came
The life was cheap on bread and wine
And sharing meant no shame
She is awakened by the screams
Of rockets flying from nearby
And scared she clings onto her dreams
To beat the fear that she might die
And who will have won
When the soldiers have gone
From the Lebanon
The Lebanon
Before he leaves the camp he stops
He scans the world outside
And where there used to be some shops
Is where the snipers sometimes hide
He left his home the week before
He thought he'd be like the police
But now he finds he is at war
"Weren't we supposed to keep the peace"
And who will have won
When the soldiers have gone
From the Lebanon
The Lebanon
The Lebanon
From the Lebanon
I must be dreaming
It can't be true
I must be dreaming
It can't be true
And who will have won
When the soldiers have gone?
From the Lebanon
The Lebanon
The Lebanon
From the Lebanon
The Human League’s 1984 song, The Lebanon, is a poignant and politically charged track that offers an insight into the Human League’s views and feelings towards the politics and devastation of war. The song is a commentary on the Lebanon War, which began in 1982 and the Human League used their music to question the motives and actions of soldiers, governments and various groups involved in the conflict.
The opening lyrics of the song, “She dreams of nineteen sixty-nine, before the soldiers came, the life was cheap on bread and wine, and sharing meant no shame,” portrays a dream-like set up a shadow of better times at a simpler, peaceful period that contrasted with the bombings, rockets, and military presence in the region. Women and children have been impacted the most, and the children have known nothing else but war. The song speaks about the effects of the Lebanon War on young adults like the singer who left home the week before and found himself at war, asking, “Weren't we supposed to keep the peace?”
Overall, the song concludes by posing a thought-provoking question, “And who will have won when the soldiers have gone?” The Human League asks a significant question of the consequences, aftermath and potential impacts of these troop interventions, questioning whether the larger objective of war is served well by either the military or the innocent civilians caught in the middle.
Line by Line Meaning
She dreams of nineteen sixty-nine
She longs for the peaceful times of 1969
Before the soldiers came
Before the soldiers arrived and brought war
The life was cheap on bread and wine
The simple life was inexpensive and fulfilling
And sharing meant no shame
Sharing with others was welcomed and not shameful
She is awakened by the screams
She is disturbed by the noise of rockets and screams of terror
Of rockets flying from nearby
Rockets are flying in the vicinity
And scared she clings onto her dreams
She holds onto her dreams as a source of comfort during this scary time
To beat the fear that she might die
To overcome her fear of dying
And who will have won
Who will come out victorious in this war?
When the soldiers have gone
When the soldiers leave the country
From the Lebanon
From Lebanon
Before he leaves the camp he stops
Before he departs, he pauses
He scans the world outside
He looks out at the world outside of the camp
And where there used to be some shops
Where shops used to be located
Is where the snipers sometimes hide
Is where snipers are known to conceal themselves
He left his home the week before
He recently departed from his home
He thought he'd be like the police
He expected his role to be like that of a police officer
But now he finds he is at war
He has come to realize that he is in the middle of war
"Weren't we supposed to keep the peace"
"Aren't we meant to maintain peace?"
I must be dreaming
I am hoping this is a dream
It can't be true
This situation can't be real
And who will have won
Who will emerge victorious once the war is over?
When the soldiers have gone?
When the soldiers leave?
From the Lebanon
From Lebanon
The Lebanon
Lebanon
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AlejandroMS67
Absolutely brilliant song, and sadly, today it remains as relevant as ever:
[Verse 1]
She dreams of 1969
Before the soldiers came
The life was cheap on bread and wine
And sharing meant no shame
She is awakened by the screams
Of rockets flying from nearby
And scared, she clings onto her dreams
To beat the fear that she might die
[Chorus]
And who will have won
When the soldiers have gone?
From the Lebanon
The Lebanon
[Verse 2]
Before he leaves the camp he stops
He scans the world outside
And where there used to be some shops
Is where the snipers sometimes hide
He left his home the week before
He thought he'd be like the police
But now he finds he is at war
Weren't we supposed to keep the peace
[Chorus]
And who will have won
When the soldiers have gone?
From the Lebanon, the Lebanon
The Lebanon, from the Lebanon
[Bridge]
I must be dreaming
It can't be true
I must be dreaming
It can't be true
[Chorus]
And who will have won
When the soldiers have gone?
From the Lebanon, the Lebanon
The Lebanon, from the Lebanon
@speedyeg-guitars-playlists4800
She dreams of nineteen sixty-nine
Before the soldiers came
The life was cheap on bread and wine
And sharing meant no shame
She is awakened by the screams
Of rockets flying from nearby
And scared she clings onto her dreams
To beat the fear that she might die
And who will have won
When the soldiers have gone?
From the Lebanon
The Lebanon
Before he leaves the camp he stops
He scans the world outside
And where there used to be some shops
Is where the snipers sometimes hide
He left his home the week before
He thought he'd be like the police
But now he finds he is at war
Weren't we supposed to keep the peace?
And who will have won
When the soldiers have gone?
From the Lebanon
The Lebanon
The Lebanon
From the Lebanon
I must be dreaming
It can't be true
I must be dreaming
It can't be true
And who will have won
When the soldiers have gone?
From the Lebanon
The Lebanon
The Lebanon
From the Lebanon
@kafeshop
The Lebanon
The Human League
She dreams of nineteen sixty-nine
Before the soldiers came
The life was cheap on bread and wine
And sharing meant no shame
She is awakened by the screams
Of rockets flying from nearby
And scared she clings onto her dreams
To beat the fear that she might die
And who will have won
When the soldiers have gone?
From the Lebanon
The Lebanon
Before he leaves the camp he stops
He scans the world outside
And where there used to be some shops
Is where the snipers sometimes hide
He left his home the week before
He thought he'd be like the police
But now he finds he is at war
Weren't we supposed to keep the peace?
And who will…
@chriscarrol9373
Funny how this song never loses the ability to be up to date thru the ages. Even today it's still up to date and relevant.
@matthewvasquez9278
I recently saw Human League at Darker Waves, this song was very edgy back then and it's still is
@joelg34
Probably more relevant today than ever. Tremendous band.
@martinsepulveda59
¡Una canción valiente será nueva siempre!
@keith-leecastle6700
Never thought I’d say this about The Human League but the guitars are astounding on this tune.
@garibaldi54
Reminds me more of U2 or simple minds.
@achidejpitipongsoontorn2156
@@garibaldi54cannot agree more
@nanettefine8320
I have heard of this great band for years. This is the first time I read the lyrics to this song.. I am half Lebanese and never got to go there because of the terrible wars etc. Thank you so much for recognizing the Lebanese.😢😊
@andylambrini5460
Phil is part Lebanese I think. It impacted their career in the US as didnt fit the narrative. Peace 🕊
@darrenwilliams4811
Be well friend