Light up ya lighter by spearhead and Michael franti |
LyricsIt never makes no sense
It never makes no sense Fire, fire, fire, light up ya lighter, fire, fire, fire Armageddon is a deadly day Armageddon is a deadly way They comin for you everyday While senators on holiday The army recruiters in the parking lot Hustling kids there jugglin pot Listen, young man, listen to my plan Gonna make you money, gonna make you a man Bom bom here's what you get: an M-16 and a kevlar vest You might come home with one less leg but this thing will surely keep a bullet out your chest So, come on, come on, sign up, come on This one's nothing like Vietnam Except for the bullets, except for the bombs, except for the youth that's gone So we keep it on 'til ya comin' home Higher and higher Fire, fire, fire, light up ya lighter, fire, fire, fire So we keep it on 'til ya comin' home Higher and higher Fire, fire, fire, light up ya lighter, fire, fire, fire Tell me, President, tell me if you will How many people does a smart bomb kill? How many of 'em do you think we got? The general says we never miss a shot And we never ever ever keep a body count We killin so efficiently, we can't keep count In the Afghan hills, the rebels still fightin Opium fields keep providin The best heroin that money can buy and Nobody knows where Osama been hidin The press confrences keep on lyin Like we don't know Analysis |
So we keep it on 'til ya comin' home
Higher and higher Fire, fire, fire, light up ya lighter, fire, fire, fire Some say engine, engine number nine Machine guns on a New York transit line The war for oil is a war for the beast The war on terror is a war on peace Tellin you they're gonna protect you and Tellin you that they support the troops And don't let them fool you with their milk and honey No, they only want your money One step forward and two steps back One step forward and two steps back Why do veterans get no respect PTSD and a broken back Take a look at where your money's gone Take a look at what they spend it on No excuses, no illusions Light up ya lighter, bring it home So we keep it on 'til ya comin' home Higher and higher Fire, fire, fire, light up ya lighter, fire, fire, fire So we keep it on 'til ya comin' home Higher and higher Fire, fire, fire, light up ya lighter, fire, fire, fire So we keep it on 'til ya comin' home Higher and higher Fire, fire, fire, light up ya lighter, fire, fire, fire So we keep it on 'til ya comin' home Higher and higher Fire, fire, fire, light up ya lighter, fire, fire, fire Fire, fire, fire, yeah, you know, so light up ya lighter Fire, fire, fire, fire, no, light up ya lighter |
The song “Light Up Ya Lighter” by Michael Franti and Spearhead gives a reprimanding view on the Iraq war through a catchy reggae-rock tune. A few lyrics that stand out to me are: “You might come home with one less leg,” “The war for oil is a war for the beast, the war on terror is a war on peace,” “Why do veterans get no respect, PTSD and a broken back.” This song is starkly anti-war, because it criticizes the motives and actions of the United States during the war. The line, “This one's nothing like Vietnam, except for the bullets, except for the bombs, except for the youth that's gone” mocks how similar this war is to the infamous Vietnam conflict. The song is critical of the Internationalism foreign policy because it reprimands the U.S. for wasting money (“Take a look at where your money's gone”) and questions the whole idea of fighting in the first place. The song addresses the war’s impact on society and the cost of war. The song references tricking young soldiers into combat and disrespecting veterans. It also shows the determination of the American people to get the soldiers back home, saying “So we keep it (pressure) on 'til ya comin' home.” I agree with the message of the song, because I think it accurately shows the confusion, tragedy and futility of the war.