The Varukers are a British hardcore punk band formed in 1979 by vocalist Ra… Read Full Bio ↴The Varukers are a British hardcore punk band formed in 1979 by vocalist Rat. The band originally split in 1988 as the various members went their separate ways. But in 1993, vocalist Rat decided to reform the band. Stylistically, their music resembled the traditional UK82 style exemplified by bands like GBH and The Exploited. Since the band had former members of Discharge, a D-beat sound developed as time went on. The band has gone through many line-up changes over the years with the only constant member being Rat on vocals. They have recently released a retrospective CD on SOS Records.

To this day, they continue to tour rapidly all over the world, even with Rat splitting his time between them and Discharge. They shared a headlining spot with such acts as Broken Bones, The Adicts, Vice Squad and GBH at the ill-fated British Invasion 2k6 concert festival in San Bernardino, California which ended in mass-rioting and alleged police brutality.

They are currently writing new material for a new album to be released in the near future.

Die for Your Government
The Varukers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

They're the ones to declare the war
We're the ones die for the cause
They pull the trigger on the gun
We die they have fun.
Die for your governments convenience.
The government are safe they're underground
Don't care about the bodies lying around
They don't care who they kill

Just as long as they get their thrill.

Die for your governments convenience.

Overall Meaning

The Varukers' song "Die for your government" is a powerful commentary on the corrupt nature of power and the reality of war. The lyrics describe the twisted relationship between those who declare and perpetrate wars, and those who fight and die in them. The first two lines make a clear distinction between the two sides: the government officials who make the decision to go to war, and the soldiers who are sent to fight it. The next two lines highlight the severity of this imbalance in power: while the officials are safe and comfortable, pulling the trigger on a gun becomes a matter of life or death for those carrying out the orders. The phrase "Die for your government's convenience" is a cutting reminder of the insignificance and expendability of a soldier's life in the eyes of those in charge.

The final two lines of the song drive the point home even further. The government officials are depicted as callous and indifferent to the carnage that their decisions create. They are willing to kill without regard for civilian lives or the impact on the soldiers themselves, as long as they can maintain their position of power and continue to reap the benefits of it. The repeated refrain of "Die for your government's convenience" becomes a searing indictment of the systemic injustices that lead to war and the way in which power is wielded by those in charge.

Line by Line Meaning

They're the ones to declare the war
It's the government who decides to initiate wars

We're the ones die for the cause
As the common citizens, we are the ones who suffer the cost of war, which involves death and destruction

They pull the trigger on the gun
The government officials are the ones who initiate and direct the armed forces to engage in violent acts

We die they have fun.
While we have to sacrifice our lives for the cause, the ones in power are enjoying their privileged lives without any significant consequences

Die for your governments convenience.
The government is not concerned with the welfare of their citizens, but only their own interests

The government are safe they're underground
The officials in power are protected and out of harm's way, whereas the ordinary people have to face the dangers of war

Don't care about the bodies lying around
The government is indifferent to the losses of lives and casualties that occur as a result of their actions

They don't care who they kill
The government is not selective about who is targeted and suffers the consequences of their actions

Just as long as they get their thrill.
The ones in power are motivated by achieving their personal gains, regardless of the costs of their actions on others

Die for your governments convenience.
The government is acting solely in their own interest, and we as the citizens have to bear the brunt of their decisions

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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