This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Don't start that talking
I could talk all night
My mind was sleepwalking
While I'm putting the world to right
Call careers information
Have you got yourself an occupation?
Oliver's army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
There was a Checkpoint Charlie
He didn't crack a smile
But it's no laughing party
When you've been on the murder mile
Only takes one itchy trigger
One more widow, one less white nigger
Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
Hong Kong is up for grabs
London is full of Arabs
We could be in Palestine
Overrun by the Chinese line
With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne
But there's no danger
It's a professional career
Though it could be arranged
With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
If you're out of luck or out of work
We could send you to Johannesburg
Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
I could talk all night
My mind was sleepwalking
While I'm putting the world to right
Call careers information
Have you got yourself an occupation?
Oliver's army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
There was a Checkpoint Charlie
He didn't crack a smile
But it's no laughing party
When you've been on the murder mile
Only takes one itchy trigger
One more widow, one less white nigger
Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
Hong Kong is up for grabs
London is full of Arabs
We could be in Palestine
Overrun by the Chinese line
With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne
But there's no danger
It's a professional career
Though it could be arranged
With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
If you're out of luck or out of work
We could send you to Johannesburg
Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
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Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
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Holiday
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
I Can't Go To Sleep
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
American Town
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
from the booklet of the rhino reissue of armed forces:
"The origin of "Oliver's Army" is easier to explain. I made my first trip to Belfast in 1978 and saw mere boys walking around in battle dress with automatic weapons. They were no longer just on the evening news. These snapshop experiences exploded into visions of mercenaries and imperial armies around the world. The song was based on the premis 'they always get a working class oby to do the killing'. I don't know who said that; maybe it was me, but it seems to be true nontheless. I pretty much had the song sketched out on the plane back to London."
My take is that it's about the way military recruitment people aggressively target disdvantaged youngsters ("the boys form the Mersey, and the Thames, and the Tyne", all struggling areas of England at this time), as a way of providing soldiers and reducing unemployment figures in one fell swoop. Oliver Cromwell created Britain's first organised army, hence the song title. None of this can describew the brilliance of Steve Nieve's keyboard meldoy for the song, which is surely the track's real appeal.
Jackofhearts has the best explanation. As he says, Oliver Cromwell created Britain's first organised army. Specifically it was Britain's first PROFESSIONAL army which links into all the "professional career", "have you got yourself an occupation" stuff. Cromwell was responsible for brutal repression in Ireland, but the song only makes passing reference to the modern day Irish troubles.
By the way - have you noticed the blatant steal from ABBA's Dancing Queen in the keyboard intro?
@paul_f <br /> <br /> I once read an interview w/Elvis where he said they drove across the USA in their tour bus in the late 70's with only five albums. ABBA's Arrival was one,of them and you can hear its influence in many places on Armed Forces.
@paul_f My god where did you get your education from a toy shop? Check your facts before posting please. It is posts like this that devalue the internet, for every one of you there is a million more posting absolute crud online and thereby turning the internet into a world wide web of wollocks and wallies. If you are going to post something that will be online for a very long time at least have the brains to make sure you are right. English soldiers have been organised and paid since medieval times. Two minutes with Google will prove that, but just in case, here is a published website of fact from an English University, they at least probably checked their facts before posting: 60.southampton.ac.uk/englands-medieval-army-revealed/32
Blimey @MMFB2001 (is that your real name by the way?) I've been insulted before but this is the first time it has taken somebody 9 years to get their dig in. Where did you get your manners from? Borstal? <br /> <br /> I based my comment on what I was taught in school (as I'm guessing did Mr McManus who went to school not far from me). I will bow to your superior historical knowledge (I'm assuming it's superior to my Grade B 'O' Level - you certainly "sound" superior), but I think it's probably still a fair comment that the New Model Army was the first British army to resemble the modern army. Although I'm sure you'll disagree.<br /> <br /> But two further points:<br /> <br /> 1) This is songmeanings.net. I'm not expecting anybody to quote me in a reference for an academic paper on the Civil War, so I didn't really feel the need to check all my facts that thoroughly; and<br /> <br /> 2) I got my education from Oxford University actually (in Physics)<br /> <br /> Anyway - lighten up.
The 'murder mile' which Costello refers to is the hard line Republican area of the Falls Road, Springfield Road, Divis Street and area behind Dunville Park in Belfast. We called it the murder mile as long ago as 1973
This song simply put is about Britishpresence around the world, mostly militant. It starts in a British citizen wanting to do good and needing to find a job. "Have you got yourself an occupation" is the British government when they were trying to build up their military force and suggesting young men to go into that field. The chorus, "Olivers Army" is a reference to Oliver Cromwell, but its not specifically talking about the things he did as a person. "And I would rather be anywhere else but here today" signify's the citizen's and Costello's opinion against this militant takeover of the world. In the next verse, they make reference to a place called Checkpoint Charlie on the british wall where there was a lot of military, not british, but military presence. The murder mile can reference to a place in Ireland, OR in upper hackney in London, both fit. "Only takes one itchy trigger" obvious is talking about guns and shootings. "One more widow, one less white nigger", this is talking about their apathetic view towards the military killing, and also using such a strong word, they make reference to unacceptance of different religions and races. In the next verse, basically its talking about different types of groups of people and places. "Hong Kong is up for grabs" is reference to Hong Kong when it was under British rule. Then its talking about other places it could conquer next, such as palestine. Then, "With the boys from the mersey and the thames and the tyne" is just talking about how they could go about conquering places from 3 different major rivers in europe. Then we go back to Britain trying to convince the youth that its a good idea to join the military with "theres no danger, its a professional career." They want to make boys feel grown up. Churchill is the Prime Minister, so of course he is mentioned. Finally, "if you're out of luck, you're out of work we could send you to Johannesburg." is meaning Johannesburg, South Africa, in which the British tried to solidify by sending more and more of their people there, and eventually getting into a war with the people. Theres the long explination.
Very good.
It's nothing to with the 17th century Lord Protector of England. Oliver's Army refers to persons exempted from conscription by the schedule of Reserved Occupations 1938, who were named after Oliver Lytteton, wartime President of the Board of Trade as "Oliver's Army". The rest of the song refers to conscription post-1945 when such occupations were no longer exempt. The public unjustly regarded people so classified with suspicion, as they were physically present during 1939-1945.
@opivy7898 Not sure really what to make of your post, but I quote : "Checkpoint Charlie on the british wall " - Perhaps that was a mistake, but there is no such thing as the British Wall. Honestly if you are going to post something as a statement of fact rather than "In my humble opinion" then you should get your facts right.
'Have yoe got yourself an occupation?'
In typical Elivs style, a double-meaning, referring to occupied territories abroad from the UK.
Just wanted to note that 'one more white nigger' is a clear reference to Ireland - white nigger was a derogatory term for the Irish in the 19th Century.
The general meaning of the song is the death of the British Empire and the foolishness of trying to run the world by force.
opivy7898 had generally the right idea - needs a bit of Britain's military involvements post WW2 - "we could be in Palestine" - Britain was involved in a conflict in Palestine in 1947/1948, between Israelis and Arabs. "Overrun by the Chinese line" refers to the Korean war, when China intervened on behalf of North Korea - the Gloster regiment was "overrun" at the battle of Imjin River. The Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne... well, Liverpool is on the Mersey, London on the Thames, Newcastle on the Tyne. These cities were all big industrial cities, so with the decline of British industry post warits easy to see how these would be fertile grounds for army recruitment. "Checkpoint Charlie" was on the Berlin wall - It was of key importance during the Berlin Airlift (late 40s/early 50s? not sure of specific date). Though the "Johannesburg" reference could apply to the Boer war, I thought it could just as easily apply to places such as Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) that border on South Africa, and which had their independence struggles in the 1960s and 1970s, in which a great many mercenaries from European countries were involved (hence the out of work... so having to become a mercenary or something). Then again, Churchill was involved in British military history in both the Boer and First World wars, as well as the Second World War, so it could be a reference to the Boer War. Just my interpretation... hope that helps. Oh - and "White Nigger" refers to the Irish... they used to be treated in Britain almost as badly as black people were treated in the U.S.
Sorry warmerdays, but:
Oliver's Army is not a general slang term. Cromwell's New Model Army was Britain's first professional army - soldiery as a profession being the key theme of the song.
White nigger is a term of abuse used for Catholics in Northern Ireland. Not sure it goes back centuries as suggested by another poster, but certainly used in the late 60s/early 70s when the Catholics of Northern Ireland modelled their civil rights movement on America's black civil rights movement.
Some good interpretations of the song, and some slightly erroneous due to less knowledge of British/ Irish history.
Firstly, the title. The term "Oliver's Army" is a reference to the history of British occupation of Ireland, starting with Cromwell. Cromwell's New Model Army was also the first professional army and drew soldiers from the working class.
The song is about British imperialism, and the British army recruiting working class young men to occupy foreign territories.
The first verse is about recruitment to the Army - young men in big cities were often advised by careers/ unemployment offices to join the army as a way out of unemployment. As someone else pointed out, the line 'Have you got yourself an occupation' could equally apply to potential recruits to the British army, and to the citizens of lands they occupied.
The second verse references the fact that young men were thrown into the front line, and were often scared and jumpy. As a result, they were prone to 'itchy triggers'. As other posters point out, Checkpoint Charlie was a famous crossing point of the Berlin Wall: In this case, however, I would assume that Costello uses the term to refer to a soldier manning a checkpoint. The phrase 'white nigger' is an extremely racist term for the Irish. The connotations are clear.
The last verse then expands the song to talk about the history of (British) imperialism, rather than simply Ireland. It includes references to Hong Kong, the British Mandate for Palestine, South Africa, and Korea. It also reinforces the message of unemployed men from working class cities (Newcastle, Liverpool and London) being advised to join the army. The reference to Churchill is because, as much as he's primarily remembered as a great war time leader, he also held some pretty unsavoury views. He was known to be an advocate of British imperialism and saw other races as 'uncivilized.' He was responsible, among other things, for the dispatch of British soldiers to put down the Mau Mau rebellion.