If my man was fighting
Some unholy war
I would be behind him
Straight shook up beside him
With strength he didn't know
It's you I'm fighting for
He can't lose with me in tow
(With me in tow)
I refuse to let him go
(To let him go)
At his side, and drunk on pride
We wait for the blow

We put it in writing
But who you writing for?
Just us on kitchen floor
Justice done
Reciting, my stomach standing still
Like you're reading my will
He still stands in spite of what his scars say
(Still standing tall)
And I'll battle 'til this bitter finale
(Let all them know)
Just me, my dignity, and this guitar case, whoa, whoa

If, if my man is fighting some unholy war
I will stand beside you
And who you dying for?
B, I would have died too
I'd have liked to
If my man was fighting
Some unholy war
If my man was fighting
Some unholy war
If my man was fighting
Some unholy war


Lyrics submitted by ccortopassi

Some Unholy War [Downtempo Version] Lyrics as written by Amy Winehouse

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Some Unholy War song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    I wonder what everyone thinks this song means. Do you think that it is as obvious as being about someone supporting their husband/boyfriend who has to go to the war or does the war stand for something else? Drugs? Addiction?

    a3n2on March 23, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is my favorite song. I dont know whats its about but I identify with the emotion behind it.

    At a concert Amy said: "First song I ever wrote about Blake here,I didnt even know what its about...and I STILL DON'T...its a work in progress,yeah. But listen, I don't get to let out much..."

    Sugarellaon February 11, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think the war that Blake is fighting are his drug addictions, depression etc.

    The first verse to me describes them waiting for the delivery of 'blow' (cocaine), and Amy will be there with Blake, at his side, while he is suffering through his addictions. At that time, Amy wasn't into hard drugs, therefore she is 'drunk', but not only on pride.

    The second verse is where it gets creepy. To me it sounds as though they had a suicide pact. It was revealed during Blake's trial that he had attempted suicide on 5 previous occasions (this was officially stated in court, not just leaked to a tabloid by a 'source'). It seems as though amy pledged in writing to also commit suicide if blake does. This explains the lines 'reciting, my stomach standing still, like you reading my will', and 'I would have died too, I'd have liked to'.

    It's clear to see from photographs that Blake has a history of self-harm, this explains the line 'he still stands, in spite of what his scars say'. The B in the final verse simply stands for Blake.

    Definitely her darkest song, especially when heard as the original, 'down-tempo' version. She has stated in an interview that when her record company first heard this version, they told her it sounded like death, and that it had to be speeded up.

    crolon May 31, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I beleive this is a song coded for a physically abusive relationship in which she is clearly saying she will stand beside him. It appears that both parties engage in harming one another, but of course the man gets the best of her, yet she will stand for him. I would love to know for sure, but that's what I get from Some Unholy War.

    Interestingon March 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    5 lines from the bottom, she sing ''B -, I would have died too etc. I'm certain that the B she is refering to is her now husband Blake. So this is definitely a song she wrote to him.

    smileyon June 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i thought this was about being in love with a man ACTUALLY at war until i heard

    "Just us on kitchen floor..."

    physically abusive relationship, maybe?

    o m f g its letion July 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I took it to mean that she would stand beside Blake through his legal battles, e.g. arrests for drugs, assault, suborning witnesses, and so on. It's pretty common to feel that the authorities have declared war on recreational drug users.

    rumginnyon March 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The song was submitted on March 15, 2007, and the album its from relaesed in October 2006..so unless she's Clairvoyance.

    lines like

    "Straight shook up beside him With strength he didn't know "

    does that mean her's high while she's straight watching over him?

    "At his side and drunk on pride We wait for the blow "

    Is the blow a physical blow..or a drug reffrence?

    "B - I would have died too I'd of liked to"

    and "We put it in writing But who you writing for"

    is that a refrences to some kind of suicide pact?

    whatever the meaning it doesnt sound like a healthy relationship to me. stand by your man meets waiting for the man?

    aa123on May 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    We put it in writing/But who you writing for/Just us on kitchen floor Justice done, ........ I think this is a reference to marriage, and how society deems this as the ultimate in a relationship. She is saying, ok, but what is the meaning of this piece of paper if it is just you and me at the end of the day?

    ritaheyworthon June 01, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think this song is referring to a relationship that they are always fighting. amy means that she loves him so much and would do anything for him that even if he was fighting against amy, she would still be on his side. basically she is trying to say, i love you so much that i wil put you before me and always take your side if that mean hurting myself. any thoughts????

    YOLIon June 27, 2008   Link

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