Story Behind The Song
"Never could figure out what the dying was truly for"? This is the question this song poses. I still have not quite figured out the real reason GW had us go over to Iraq-the talk about winning a war-any war-well for those who suffer the loss of someone they love from it or were subjected to/involved in a war's atrocities-there is no winning-just lasting scars-what is the dying truly for??It's sad, seems like we are taught not to ask.
Song Description
A ballad-driven primarily by a lonely classical guitar-song that ponders war-when one loses someone they love to war-well-it makes no sense for whatever reason the war was fought-"never could figure out what the dying was truly for".
Song Length |
5:42 |
Genre |
Folk - Americana, Folk - Rock |
Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
Subject |
War |
Similar Artists |
Dire Straits, Bob Dylan |
Language |
English |
| |
Lyrics
THE BOY WITH THE FIFE
He was a boy, just thirteen no more
He carried his fife with the troops into war
He lost his home to raiders from the south
Never could figure out what the dying was all about
Some said it was for taxes, considered to be unfair
Some said the war was for the rich to get their share
Some said the war was for a man's right to be free
All the boy with the fife really knew was that he'd lost his family
CHORUS
He blew that fife through the cannon and the rain
He blew that fife for his family that was slain
He blew that fife to end that bloody war
But he could never figure out what the dying was truly for
No he never could figure out what the dying was truly for
Along with the infantry he marched across the plain
They swept upon the enemy like a giant wave
The bombs and bullets, they whistled everywhere
The boy's fife was a song of hope in the air
REPEAT CHORUS
After the battle, when the smoke had cleared the air
The troops looked everywhere, they searched in despair
For the boy with the fife was nowhere to be found
All they ever did find was a bloody fife upon the ground
REPEAT CHORUS
He never could figure out what the dying was truly for
END