Why is this always attributed to the crusades? Sure, there are biblical references and a reference to Richard the Lionhearted, who slaughtered thousands of innocents in the name of God, but this could also be attributed to many other conflicts past and present, such as the Thirty Years' War or the Allied or Axis side of World War II. The song is a group of people repetitively singing their chorus - we should follow religion, we are right by God's will, we should follow our leaders, because we're the ones that are right. People die, but people always die, and this is a glorious cause to die for. A second voice is sick and tired and complaining about the conflict - less repetitive, indicating a greater disillusionment about the situation. But he is continually drowned out by the primary group, indicating that he is also the less commonly believed speaker.
In the Thirty Years' War, both Protestants and Catholics believed that God was on their side. In the end, a third of Germany at the time (even bigger than it is today) ended up being destroyed, and 8 million people ended up dead, not including disease that wracked the famished warring states. A ridiculous percentage of the able-bodied young men had been killed as well, because they were Godless if they didn't join the fight.
In World War II, the Axis and the Allies used terribly nationalist propaganda to enlist soldiers to fight. Both sides spread lies about the other in order to garner a greater moral support and make that "you're on the right side!" feeling. Even though the Germans carried out the Holocaust, the majority of civilians and soldiers alike were unaware of this except for rumors that they didn't believe their "glorious leader" was possible of.
Why is this always attributed to the crusades? Sure, there are biblical references and a reference to Richard the Lionhearted, who slaughtered thousands of innocents in the name of God, but this could also be attributed to many other conflicts past and present, such as the Thirty Years' War or the Allied or Axis side of World War II. The song is a group of people repetitively singing their chorus - we should follow religion, we are right by God's will, we should follow our leaders, because we're the ones that are right. People die, but people always die, and this is a glorious cause to die for. A second voice is sick and tired and complaining about the conflict - less repetitive, indicating a greater disillusionment about the situation. But he is continually drowned out by the primary group, indicating that he is also the less commonly believed speaker.
In the Thirty Years' War, both Protestants and Catholics believed that God was on their side. In the end, a third of Germany at the time (even bigger than it is today) ended up being destroyed, and 8 million people ended up dead, not including disease that wracked the famished warring states. A ridiculous percentage of the able-bodied young men had been killed as well, because they were Godless if they didn't join the fight.
In World War II, the Axis and the Allies used terribly nationalist propaganda to enlist soldiers to fight. Both sides spread lies about the other in order to garner a greater moral support and make that "you're on the right side!" feeling. Even though the Germans carried out the Holocaust, the majority of civilians and soldiers alike were unaware of this except for rumors that they didn't believe their "glorious leader" was possible of.