Gun fire in the street
Where we used to meet
Echoes out a beat and the bass goes
Bomb right over my head
Step over the dead
Remember what you said you know, the part about
Life is just a waking dream
Well, I know what you mean
But that ain't how it seems right here and now
How can this be real
I can barely feel
Anymore

I am trying to see
I am trying to believe
This is not where I should be
I am trying to believe

Blood hardens in the sand
Cold metal in my hand
Hope you understand the way that things are gonna be
There's nowhere left to hide
'Cause God is on our side
I keep telling myself

I am trying to see
I am trying to believe
This is not where I should be
I am trying to believe


Lyrics submitted by onethousandnails, edited by blackcats111, shadowcat9

The Good Soldier Lyrics as written by Trent Reznor

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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The Good Soldier song meanings
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44 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    The verses in this song are so powerful.

    and as for my quick analysis of the song it sounds like the leader (bush) gave the country his propaganda for the war and his reasoning for parapin. However the character doesn't believe it but knows that everything will be easier if he just gives in. But something is stopping him from doing so.

    Nirvana23on April 05, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    guys, once again, great interpretations, but you have too look at it from the "year zero" perspective.

    okay, so i've been playing the ARG [alternate reality game, for more info, go to wikipedia and search Year Zero] and there's a few bits of information from that that makes sense.

    okay, 1. in the ARG, there's a unit, the 105th Airborne Crusaders. they "fought with god on their side" basically think a military unit with no morality because they think that god wants them to kill all the brown people. anyway. i'm thinking its a guy who was disgraced/ejected from the 105th for doubting the propaganda, but he wants to continue fighting, because his doubt is killing him.

    1. there is a guy in the story, he goes by the name "angrysniper"... he used to be a member of the 105th, but he retired, or was discharged for other reasons. he bombs a ball park and shoots several civillians as an act of resistance, but anyway, i'm thinking this might be him, before the terrorist acts. like, earlier in his life.

    2. also, there is a drug mentioned in the ARG, its a red pill is all i know about its ID, it evidently erases the line between killing and having sex. this may be a person't early response to this, and the remorse upon the damage done to him..

    yeah, none of this probably makes sense. and i've written to much. so bah! +TJ+

    EatYourFriends101on April 06, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I absolutely agree with themuz. With NIN, you can't be limited in your thinking, because Trent Reznor's music is so incredibly deep.

    S0mewhatDamagedxon October 13, 2007   Link
  • +1
    Memory

    When I was completely disillusioned with my employer just over two years ago - Year Zero was talking me through it. I realized it was time to move on, get up, get out - find a new job. I might have been the "Good Soldier" for all these years, but my time is up.

    I am trying to see I am trying to believe This is not where I should be I am trying to believe

    See my comments on other Year Zero songs. This album just eerily echoed things I was thinking. Self Destructive thoughts, desire for release and realization of how I had been unhappy in my surroundings for so long.

    stephanie5on July 30, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is one of YZ's best. Easily.

    NirvanAFIon April 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great fuckin' song! The melody is definitely a fresh style for NIN/Trent & it comes off in pure genius.

    Soldier1288on April 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Just a little fix:

    Remember what you said, you know the part about life is just a waking dream*

    Listen carefully.

    Great song.

    Kadokaon April 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think Nirvana23 is close, P3N1X's thoughts just seem way off, personally.

    The second to last verse, in particular, seems to be about how soldiers must make themselves believe that they are in the right, or even doing God's work, to keep from facing the reality of what they do.

    eqisowon April 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I believe that this song is about a soldier beginning to question why he is fighting and what it is all for. The lyrics do say that God is on our side, but the following line should lead you to believe that he is telling himself this to justify the fighting in his own mind because of the fact that he can't have any physical evidence of any real reason as to why. This is an amazing song, but sometimes you have to look deeper into the song, or learn a little more about the band/singer to understand the meaning to some songs.

    Wilcoboyon April 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    guys, once again, great interpretations, but you have too look at it from the "year zero" perspective.

    okay, so i've been playing the ARG [alternate reality game, for more info, go to wikipedia and search Year Zero] and there's a few bits of information from that that makes sense.

    okay, 1. in the ARG, there's a unit, the 105th Airborne Crusaders. they "fought with god on their side" basically think a military unit with no morality because they think that god wants them to kill all the brown people. anyway. i'm thinking its a guy who was disgraced/ejected from the 105th for doubting the propaganda, but he wants to continue fighting, because his doubt is killing him.

    1. there is a guy in the story, he goes by the name "angrysniper"... he used to be a member of the 105th, but he retired, or was discharged for other reasons. he bombs a ball park and shoots several civillians as an act of resistance, but anyway, i'm thinking this might be him, before the terrorist acts. like, earlier in his life.

    2. also, there is a drug mentioned in the ARG, its a red pill is all i know about its ID, it evidently erases the line between killing and having sex. this may be a person't early response to this, and the remorse upon the damage done to him..

    yeah, none of this probably makes sense. and i've written to much. so bah! +TJ+

    EatYourFriends101on April 06, 2007   Link

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