The Good Soldier

General CommentThe 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.

• No Replies Log in to reply

General Commentguys, 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.

2. 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.

3. 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+

• No Replies Log in to reply

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

• No Replies Log in to reply

MemoryWhen 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.

• No Replies Log in to reply

General CommentThis is one of YZ's best. Easily.

• No Replies Log in to reply

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

• No Replies Log in to reply

General CommentJust a little fix:

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

Listen carefully.

Great song.

• No Replies Log in to reply

General CommentI 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.

• No Replies Log in to reply

General CommentI 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.

• No Replies Log in to reply

General Commentguys, 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.

2. 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.

3. 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+

• No Replies Log in to reply