I'll take you down to that bright city mile
There to powder your sweet face and paint on a smile
That will show all of the pleasures and none of the pain
When you join my explosion and play with my games, hell

Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away

No unconditional surrender, no armistice day
Each night I'll die in my contentment and the lie, hide in your grave
While you bring me water and I'll give you wine
Let me dance in your tea cup and you shall swim in mine

Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away

Open your windows and I'll walk through your doors
Let me live in your country, let me sleep by your shores

Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days


Lyrics submitted by knate15

Warchild Lyrics as written by Ian Anderson

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

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Warchild song meanings
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    Song Meaning

    There is a great interpretation of this song on the Cup of Wonder website.

    I agree with it mostly. However, in the lyrics, I mostly hear the voice of war talking to the people who are about to be conquered or killed.

    I think the language the voice is using is basically talking about rape:

    -show all of the pleasures and none of the pain. -join my explosion and play with my games. -dance in your tea-cup and you shall swim in mine. -Open your windows and I'll walk through your doors. -Let me live in your country --- let me sleep by your shores.

    I think it's all very sexually connotated.

    Lastly, no one, not even Cup of Wonder make the obvious connection of the water to wine Jesus connection. I think this has something to say about crusades and such, forcing Christianity on to conquered nations.

    puzzudon October 23, 2009   Link

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