Yazoo were formed in early 1982 by former Depeche Mode songwriter Vince Clarke (synthesizers) and English singer Alison Moyet (vocals) and signed to Mute Records in the United Kingdom.
Their debut single "Only You" was released on 15 March 1982 and rose to number 2 on the UK charts. They also released two studio albums: Upstairs at Eric's in 1982 and You and Me Both in 1983.
Shortly after the release of the second album, Moyet and Clarke decided to break up. Moyet pursued a solo career while Clarke first founded (the short lived) The Assembly followed by the successful Erasure.
Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet briefly reunited in 2008 and toured Europe and the United States as Yazoo for the first time in twenty-five years. Also in 2008, their record company issued a 4-disc box set called In Your Room; containing remastered editions of both of their original albums, a disc of b-sides and remixes (imaginitively titled B-Sides and Remixes) and a DVD containing promotional videos, interviews etc.
Official website is at: www.yazooinfo.com
Unmarked
Yazoo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said the father to the son
See the world around you boy
And learn to use a gun
Think you're something special
Well, we'll make you just the same
There's nothing wrong in dying
After all, it's just a game
Just a game.
Read the morning paper
There's a picture of a cross
"we were proud in them days"
By the way, I think you lost
Trust me when I tell you boy
That god is on our side
Even Jesus cheers us on
Against the other side
Against the other side.
He who shouts the loudest
Is the one who's in control
We who never listen
Are the ones who pay the toll
Tell us that it's time at last
To make a final stand
I'm glad 'cause all I wanted
Was to kill another man
Just to kill another man.
In the song "Unmarked," Yazoo paints a picture of the unfortunate reality of war, portraying the pressure individuals face when it comes to fighting for their country. The lyrics begin with a father's advice to his son, asking him to join the army and learn to use a gun. The father believes that dying for your country is just a game and that it's nothing to be afraid of. He persuades his son to be like everyone else and join the army.
In the second verse, the lyrics take a more pessimistic turn as the singer catches a glimpse of a newspaper with a picture of a cross. The singer deduces that the country they support has lost and that they no longer have the right to be proud of their accomplishments in the past. The singer then remarks that God is on their side, which is a common belief for many individuals during times of war, making an allusion to Jesus cheering "us" on against the "other side."
In the final verse, the singer reflects that those who shout the loudest are always the ones who can control the situation. The people who do not listen to others always end up paying the price or the toll of war. The singer is happy that it is now time to make a stand and, even more so, to kill another man. The song reveals the harsh reality of war, the pressure, and the brainwashing that individuals go through when trying to become part of something bigger, such as a country.
Line by Line Meaning
Go and join the army
The father encourages the son to enlist in the military.
Said the father to the son
The father is giving advice to his son.
See the world around you boy
The father thinks that being in the army will give his son a chance to travel and experience new things.
And learn to use a gun
The father sees learning to use a gun as a valuable skill his son can acquire.
Think you're something special
The father feels the son has an overinflated ego.
Well, we'll make you just the same
The father hopes that military training will humble his son.
There's nothing wrong in dying
The father is trying to comfort his son by implying that dying in battle is an honorable death.
After all, it's just a game
The father is minimizing the seriousness of war by comparing it to a game.
Read the morning paper
The artist is encouraging someone to read the news.
There's a picture of a cross
The news article referenced in the previous line includes a picture of a cross.
"we were proud in them days"
The singer is quoting someone else's nostalgic comment about the past.
By the way, I think you lost
The artist is pointing out that the past is gone, and the present is not ideal.
Trust me when I tell you boy
The singer is urging someone to have faith in what they're saying.
That god is on our side
The singer believes that their side has divine support.
Even Jesus cheers us on
The singer feels that Jesus is rooting for them.
Against the other side
The artist's group is in opposition to another group.
He who shouts the loudest
The person who is the most vocal tends to have the most power.
Is the one who's in control
The person who is the loudest gets to make the decisions.
We who never listen
The singer's group tends to not listen to reason.
Are the ones who pay the toll
Not listening leads to unpleasant consequences.
Tell us that it's time at last
Someone else is giving the artist's group a call to action.
To make a final stand
It's time for the artist's group to take a final, definitive action.
I'm glad 'cause all I wanted
The singer has been waiting for this moment.
Was to kill another man
The artist's ultimate goal is to take another person's life.
Just to kill another man.
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the singer's desire for violence.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VINCE CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind