So later that year the bodies came home
To Dover wrapped in flags and lined up in rows
With no one to see and no one to know
They had to keep morale from getting low
And the voice inside my head just repeated
This is not the way we were told that it was going to be
This is not the way we were told that it was going to be

And we know who'd to blame
And we know who'd to blame
And we know who'd to blame
Did the math it wasn't worth it after all
And we know who's to blame
We did the math it wasn't worth it after all
And we know who's to blame


Lyrics submitted by SomthinCorporat

Later That Year Lyrics as written by

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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Later That Year song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    Obviously a political song. It's a stab at President Bush. Talks about how the army always glorifies the war and how nice they treat you. The, once you get to Iraq...you want to go hom. We know who to blame, Mr. Bush.

    Rock On, M

    Mister Mon September 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sigh, John, I am disappointed you would do a political song. I am a God-fearin, Bush lovin, repub, and yet this may be my favorite track on the EP. Especially since they screwed up costello.

    chago04on September 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    You do realize the costello you heard from the s/t leak was a demo, not a final version..right?

    cato11087on September 17, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is an amazing song. Who cares if it's political, it's relatable, seeing as how half the world hates George W. Bush.

    BuildingMusicon September 24, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I don't understand how anyone could support Bush? Are you even aware of half the behind-the-scenes, criminal shit he does?

    cowboyupinblueon October 19, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think its pretty obvious that this song is about the war in Iraq and what the government has done to try to cover up the realities of that war. it specifically refferences the bush administration's policy of not allowing photographs of the caskets of the dead soldiers to be taken or released to the press or even the families. Although they said it was to protect the families, it doesnt take half a brain to know that if they showed the dead, support for the war would disapear quick. And then the song goes on to talk about how the american people were lied to "this is not the way we were told it was going to be" and the reality of what our president has gotten us into and that maybe when its said and done, the reality of what we're involved with isnt worth the price of life we're paying.

    JustAStupidKidon November 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    rock on john!!fuck bush!!!!!!!!

    dirt_dusted_angelon March 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Not justastupidkid then, I think you've got it spot on. When I first listened to the album, it didn't stand out and then I listened proerly and realised that it's actually a really political song, but it's almost hidden in the melodies and vocals. I think it's good for them to do a political song, it adds to their range.

    quarter_past_threeon March 19, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I actually think this song is about the vietnam war and has nothing to do with Bush. (and just so you know, hating Bush does not make you cool. Oh, and cowboyupinblue, name one "criminal shit" thing that Bush has done behind the scenes...) The 'nam war is famous for being the war that the Americans thought they were going to win but didn't. They were told it was an easy victory and when soldiers kept coming home dead, morale was getting low. There were also a tonne of riots and protests during the war because the people were upset that the war wasn't going the way it was supposed to. Not everythings about Iraq and hating Bush these days.

    ta_selleson October 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    you mean this song isn't about Taking Back Sunday and how the breakup is all Adam Lazzara's fault?

    (sarcasm)

    the US went to war to retaliate the 9/11 attacks (or so we thought), while our casualties were being sent back to Dover Air Force Base in mass numbers and the public was to be kept in the dark because the white house felt focusing on the American dead and wounded would create a negative state of national mourning and turn voters against Bush and the Iraq mission. this is all fact. the photos of the war casualties were not released for public viewing until about a year later, hence the title of the song.

    we were lead into the war under false pretenses. every 6 months "the mission" turns into something else. we went in for bin laden and weapons of mass destruction, yet here we are 5 years later with no weapons of mass destruction and bid laden still at large.

    fareakyon December 05, 2006   Link

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