The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Guernica is in fact made of stone backwards.
Watch me at war really up
You wanna hurt me stop the row
We both are stitched up now
We're hard with fear hard speak up
You wanna hurt me stop the row
We both are stitched up now
We're whores sit down
We're whores that's us
He wanted us he swore and all we've got
You wanna hurt me stop the row
We both are stitched up now
We're hard with fear hard speak up
You wanna hurt me stop the row
We both are stitched up now
We're whores sit down
We're whores that's us
Simple lives yeah we don't have
We pack up in truth it seems this
Peacemakers has arms that hold fear
See gargoyles can you see the wonder?
Yes I fear the carbine
What does never wrong mean?
That's right
Every one of us he swore so hurry up
You wanna hurt me stop the row
We both are stitched up now
We're hard with fear hard speak up
You wanna hurt me stop the row
Both of us are stitched up now
We're whores sit down
We're whores
That must mean sinful eyes that maim of fear
It's the look that stings I fear boy
Being distrusting I trust no one
They've been back down for nothing
It was never shared it's ours
We will know those names who follow
Watch me at war really up
You wanna hurt me stop the row
We both are stitched up now
We're hard with fear hard speak up
You wanna hurt me stop the row
We both are stitched up now
We're whores sit down
We're whores that's us
He wanted us he swore and all we've got
You wanna hurt me stop the row
We both are stitched up now
We're hard with fear hard speak up
You wanna hurt me stop the row
We both are stitched up now
We're whores sit down
We're whores that's us
Simple lives yeah we don't have
We pack up in truth it seems this
Peacemakers has arms that hold fear
See gargoyles can you see the wonder?
Yes I fear the carbine
What does never wrong mean?
That's right
Every one of us he swore so hurry up
You wanna hurt me stop the row
We both are stitched up now
We're hard with fear hard speak up
You wanna hurt me stop the row
Both of us are stitched up now
We're whores sit down
We're whores
That must mean sinful eyes that maim of fear
It's the look that stings I fear boy
Being distrusting I trust no one
They've been back down for nothing
It was never shared it's ours
We will know those names who follow
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Guernica is a Spanish town bombed in their civil war by German? planes (in the 1930s). Picasso did a great painting called Guernica that doesn't look a lot like it.
Considering Squire's interest in art, the title is logical. With most of their backwards tracks the lyrics were an interpretaton of what the original words sounded like backwards, Guernica being Made of Stone backwards. That makes for lyrics that are even more ambigious than is usual for the ever cryptic Roses (take a look at Don't Stop for example). The title I guess serves only to set a mood that fits the darkness of the lyrics, and an interpretation beyond that is up to the listener.
Not 100% convinced, but could this to be do with the infighting and repression the Republicans suffered with around said time? Barcelona May Days et al. Stalinists vs Anarchists etc, with this song lamenting both being destined to defeat by such actions, that no one strand holds the definitive belief, that they swore to the same army and they're both equally whores in the current system, so for god's sake unite!