Dear Old Battlefield
The Incredible String Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
seeing his old role replayed
looking in the world like a broken mirror
seeing his old face displayed
they come and go, come and go
why do you advertise goodbye
living a lie will lay you low, what can I tell you, what can I sell you
but the truth will make you high
death is unreal that's the way I feel
there's more to be revealed
lovers and friends meet again and again
on the dear old battlefield
I will see my memory lightly let me go
I know that we will always be but time pass fast and slow
agelong cradlesong almost had me sleeping for good
if not for the plan of the magic man who finally helped me out of the wood.
The lyrics to The Incredible String Band's "Dear Old Battlefield" reflect on the cyclical nature of life, death, and reincarnation. The persona in the song describes himself as a "rusty brother", witnessing his own role being played out again and again in the world. The picture of the world is depicted as a "broken mirror", with the persona's old face being displayed. The verse "they come and go, come and go, why do you advertise goodbye" suggests that goodbyes do not really exist as we keep coming back in different forms. The persona urges that living a lie will lay you low and that only the truth will make you high.
The chorus of the song asserts that death is not real, and that there's more to be revealed. Lovers and friends keep meeting again and again on the battlefield of life, suggesting a cycle of death and rebirth. The persona seems to be at peace with the idea of death, even welcoming it as a release from the cycle of life. The last verse talks about being helped out of the wood by a "magic man", indicating an external force that helped the persona find the way out of the cyclical pattern of life.
Line by Line Meaning
just another rusty brother
This is just another person in the same situation as myself - old and worn out.
seeing his old role replayed
Watching someone else take over my old position.
looking in the world like a broken mirror
Viewing the world as distorted and confusing.
seeing his old face displayed
Being reminded of my own past mistakes and experiences.
they come and go, come and go
People enter and exit our lives constantly.
why do you advertise goodbye
Questioning why people feel the need to announce their departures.
living a lie will lay you low, what can I tell you, what can I sell you
Living dishonestly will only bring you down; I can't offer you any false hope or solutions.
but the truth will make you high
Only facing the truth, no matter how difficult, can truly uplift and free you.
death is unreal that's the way I feel
I don't believe in the permanence of death.
there's more to be revealed
There is still much that I don't understand about life and death.
lovers and friends meet again and again
Those we love and care for will always cross our paths again.
on the dear old battlefield
This reunion happens in the context of the struggles and conflicts of life.
I will see my memory lightly let me go
I will detach from my past experiences and not cling to them.
I know that we will always be but time pass fast and slow
I am aware that relationships and life can be fleeting or prolonged, depending on time's unpredictable nature.
agelong cradlesong almost had me sleeping for good
I was nearly lulled to sleep by the endless cycle of birth, life, and death.
if not for the plan of the magic man who finally helped me out of the wood.
It was only through the guidance of a wise mentor that I was able to avoid getting lost in the throes of life and death, and escape to something better.
Contributed by Alex P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Raymund Longstaff
What a song and album,what imaginations heron and williamson had,the lyrics and melodies are quite beautiful,cannot think of anyone who could match them ,then or now.
Frank M. Giallombardo
one of the best things this duo ever did.
Dave Coe
The ISB were so important to my life in the late 60's early 70's. Their music was new but they seemed to be a sort of incarnation of a historical magical musical tradition . Maybe from Gypsies maybe from Troubadours, maybe just from the folk tradition of the British Isles. Yet inside the lyrics of their songs were ideas from the east; Sufic, Yogic, Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist ideas. It was very likely that the ancient Celts and pre Celtic Britons also believed in a form of reincarnation.
I want to believe that reincarnation exits, but I just cant. My head is immersed so strongly in the materialistic principles of science, that the idea of a soul separate from a body existing after death seems just a fantasy. Even given the possibility that this may occur in a physical/spiritual universe beyond our current comprehension. I also have to say - why would it happen. What needs to be sorted out that cant be sorted out in the years you actually have in this world.
I'm really struggling here, my imagination wants to believe, but my logic tells me no.I have seen many strange material and psychic events over the last 50 years. Yet the doorway into the 'next' world is either hidden or doesn't exist. So the dear old battlefield , may just the be the one we are standing in now, unless anyone knows any different
jesstowns10
Yes, this is the realm of the battlefield in question (but there's more to be revealed.) Here's a section of the Bhagavad Gita which appears to have more than a little to do with the birth of this song:
"There [on the battlefield] Arjuna saw his uncles, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and comrades. Seeing fathers-in-law, all those kinsmen, and other dear ones standing in the ranks of the two armies, Arjuna was overcome with great compassion and sorrowfully said: 'O Krishna, seeing my kinsmen standing with a desire to fight, my limbs fail and my mouth becomes dry. My body quivers and my hairs stand on end....'"
"The Supreme Lord said: ....The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead.…O Arjuna, the Atma that dwells in the body of all (beings) is eternally indestructible. Therefore, you should not mourn for any body. Considering also your duty as a warrior you should not waver. Because there is nothing more auspicious for a warrior than a righteous war.“
Malka Gaël
quel album superbe! Et toujours le même plaisir à l'écouter!
Romulo Pintoandrade
Great song, listening feelling the beauty and wisdom of this lyric.
flossie Flossie
why have you a cover of 5000 spirits instead of liquid acrobats? great song ,heard many times at their concerts in the 70's.Thanks for posting.
derek farrell Music on the Isle Of Wight
Excellent song, excellent band !
Baku Manishi
one of my oldest lovesongs when i was young in the 80s -thanx for this
Ryan Jonestown Massaker
FUCKING GENIUS! LOVE THE INCREDIBLES!