Advancing Army Clip
The Mountain Goats & John Vanderslice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the snowflakes on my lips
so I walked alone
With advancing army clip
It was just an old habit
Across the Balkan low
The fear and sorrow that I held so close
As a church bell ringing out across the snow
From a church you no longer go
The day I packed my bags
For school in Sarajevo
A rocket hit the church
And helicopter gunners sprayed down
On the ground
So I learned to fight
I learned the only things in life
Are brother and mother
And guiding the bullet’s flight
Defending land and avenging your tribal clan
As long as you stand
In the windless snow
The snowflakes on my lips
So I walked alone
With advancing army clip
It was just an old habit
The lyrics of "Advancing Army Clip" by The Mountain Goats & John Vanderslice delve into the experiences and reflections of a person caught up in the midst of war. The opening lines, "In the windless snow, the snowflakes on my lips," paint a vivid picture of the desolate and cold environment. The individual walks alone, carrying a weapon, symbolized by the "advancing army clip." This repetition of the line emphasizes that armed conflict has become an ingrained habit due to their circumstances.
The next stanza transports us to the Balkan region during a time of conflict. The singer carries deep fear and sorrow, but these emotions are now distant and softened, like the sound of a church bell ringing across the snow. The mention of a church that is no longer attended suggests a loss of faith or connection to a higher power, which is a common consequence of the traumas of war.
The song takes a personal turn in the chorus as the singer recounts the day they packed their bags for school in Sarajevo, only to have their journey interrupted by a rocket hitting the church. The vivid imagery of helicopter gunners spraying down on the ground further highlights the violence and chaos that disrupts their life.
The final verse reveals the impact of these experiences on the singer's perspective. They have learned to fight, realizing that the only things that truly matter in life are family connections, specifically the bond between siblings and the maternal connection. The line "Guiding the bullet's flight" suggests a sense of control and agency amidst the chaos of war. Defending one's land and avenging their tribe becomes the focus, as long as they are able to continue standing.
Overall, "Advancing Army Clip" captures the bleakness, emotional distancing, and survival instincts that arise from being immersed in war. It reflects on the impact of conflict on personal beliefs, shifting priorities, and the harrowing experiences that shape an individual.
Line by Line Meaning
In the windless snow
In the quiet and serene snow-covered landscape
the snowflakes on my lips
Feeling the cold snowflakes touching my lips
so I walked alone
I wandered by myself
With advancing army clip
With the sound of marching soldiers getting closer
It was just an old habit
It was a familiar pattern or behavior
Across the Balkan low
In the flatlands of the Balkan region
The fear and sorrow that I held so close
The intense fear and sadness that I kept within me
Was softly and distant
It became less immediate and more remote
As a church bell ringing out across the snow
Similar to the sound of a church bell echoing through the snowy landscape
From a church you no longer go
From a church that you have stopped attending
The day I packed my bags
The day I prepared to leave
For school in Sarajevo
To go to Sarajevo for education
A rocket hit the church
An explosive projectile struck the church
And helicopter gunners sprayed down
Helicopter gunners fired downwards
On the ground
Onto the surface of the earth
So I learned to fight
I acquired the skills to engage in combat
I learned the only things in life
I realized that the most essential aspects of life
Are brother and mother
Are the bond with your siblings and the love of your mother
And guiding the bullet’s flight
And directing the path of the bullet
Defending land and avenging your tribal clan
Protecting your homeland and seeking vengeance for your ethnic group
As long as you stand
As long as you remain determined and resilient
In the windless snow
In the calm and still snow
The snowflakes on my lips
Feeling the cold snowflakes on my lips
So I walked alone
So I continued my solitary journey
With advancing army clip
With the sound of an approaching army's footsteps
It was just an old habit
It was merely a familiar pattern or routine
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: John W Vanderslice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind