I fought in a war and I left my friends behind me
To go looking for the enemy, and it wasn't very long
Before I would stand with another boy in front of me
And a corpse that just fell into me, with the bullets flying round

And I reminded myself of the words you said when we were getting on
And I bet you're making shells back home for a steady boy to wear
Round his neck, well it won't hurt to think of you as if you're waiting for
This letter to arrive because I'll be here quite a while

I fought in a war and I left my friends behind me
To go looking for the enemy, and it wasn't very long
Before I found out that the sickness there ahead of me
Went beyond the bedsit infamy of the decade gone before

And I reminded myself of the words you said when we were getting on
And I bet you're making shells back home for a steady man to wear
Round his neck, well it won't hurt to think of you as if you're waiting for
This letter to arrive because I'll be here quite a while

I fought in a war, and I didn't know where it would end
It stretched before me infinitely, I couldn't really think
Of the day beyond now, keep your head down pal
There's trouble plenty in this hour, this day
I can see hope I can see light

And I reminded myself of the looks you gave when we were getting on
And I bet you're making shells back home for a steady man to wear
Round his neck, well it won't hurt to think of you as if you're waiting for
This letter to arrive because I'll be here quite a while


Lyrics submitted by girlboyrevolt

I Fought in a War Lyrics as written by Christopher Geddes Campbe

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group

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I Fought in a War song meanings
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    General Comment

    It's about World War I. A boy is sent off to fight in the trenches, to become a 'man'. Bullets are constantly whizzing about and dead are bodies falling backwards into the trenches as they charge over the top. To keep himself sane/occupied he thinks about a girl he once knew before the war (possibly his sweetheart) and the letters she sends him - she is doing her part for the war too (making ammunition).

    The line 'Keep your head down pal' refers to the the fact that if any part of your body appeared above the trench, you were likely to lose it and the 'sickness' is possibly shell shock.

    Some good lyrics. Good song.

    Deathsdoor99on March 15, 2007   Link

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