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Bombs Away Lyrics

The general scratches his belly and thinks
His pay is good but his officers stink
Guerilla girl, hard and sweet
A military man would love to meet

The President looks in the mirror and speaks
His shirts are clean but his country reeks
Unpaid bills
In Afghanistan hills

Bombs away
But we're OK
Bombs away
In old Bombay

The general only wants to teach France to dance
His army life doesn't give him any romance
Guerilla girl, hard and sweet
A military man would love to meet

The general scratches his belly and thinks
His pay is good but his company stinks
Guerilla girl, hard and sweet
A military man would love to meet

Bombs away
But we're OK
Bombs away
In old Bombay

Bombs away
But we're OK
Bombs away
In old Bombay

Bombs away
But we're OK
Bombs away
In old Bombay

{lyrics fade}

Bombs away
But we're OK
Bombs away
In old Bombay
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Cover art for Bombs Away lyrics by Police, The

And finally, don't forget Copeland's pretty anti-war send-up 'Bombs Away', which might just be the best song he's ever penned. Or maybe not. [George Starostin]

This album was recorded months after the Soviets began a war in Afghanistan, so one might see this song as a pop critique of the Soviets in particular, but war "in old Bombay" is another country entirely, so perhaps it's poking fun at old military officers from every country. But it takes on a different scope when you note that the lyricist, Stewart Copeland, was the son of one of the founders of the CIA, and spent his childhood attending schools in Egypt and Lebanon while his father acted as the agent of a powerful country far away. So is he criticizing the Soviets of 1980 with a hint that his own dad needed to lighten up?

Copeland has been pretty forthcoming about these details so we don't need to guess. In fact, his father's work as a U.S. agent in the Middle East was unknown to him while it was taking place. When he learned of it later, it came as a surprise to him, but not a negative one, and he considered trying to make a movie about it. There was never a movie, but there are many thoughts recorded in interviews, with some merely similar themes in this song.

Neutral
Subjective
Neutral
Politics
Family
War
Cover art for Bombs Away lyrics by Police, The

Hell hath no fury like ... hmmm ... a little nothing ... who can't get rid of bombs. No one likes a smart butt ... Actually some do ... Oh, stop ...

Cover art for Bombs Away lyrics by Police, The

paraphrased poetry

You should try to send something to “Love Illustrated.” The flesh is tired. The mind grow dim, becomes tired. The livid electric spark illuminates human wonder The living sighed—the moon kissed the sepulcher And aroused a frenzy Until thought descended to Hell I was climbing up with a thoughtful friend Who from her first years Had sacrificed herself to love Most bitter funereal shudder Before the lunar insensible blaze And still I call you—call you

Cover art for Bombs Away lyrics by Police, The

I think this song highlights how selfish governments can be.

Also the chorus is very catchy ,one of the best songs off ZM.

Cover art for Bombs Away lyrics by Police, The

All about bombing the snot out of other peoples countries and propping up useless leaders in other. Ho hum sounds like nothing has changed!

damn good song though.

Cover art for Bombs Away lyrics by Police, The

A belly scratcher thinks he’s paid well but his officers are either lousy or in need of showers. He eyes a guerilla girl he wouldn’t mind meeting. A President talks to himself in the mirror, admires his clean shirt and doesn’t think of his icky country—and has unpaid bills in Afghanistan. Now a general who wants to teach France to dance, seeks romance and has stinking company wants Ms Hard and Sweet—the guerilla gal.

Bombs away but we’re ok. Never been to Bombay. Guess they were. Bombs away but we’re ok. Bombs away but we’re ok. Bombs away but we’re ok.

Whatever happened to Bombs Away? Was it simply a useless play on words with reference to this song? Thought you were wishing the bombs away… I must not be much of a wisher. Who wakes up and says well honey, I’m off to blow myself and hundreds of strangers up in a plane today? Come on! This is fairy tale crappola!
Is it? Yes! Suggestions? Change the script? Oh—that never works. Okay—forget it. I guess I will just resign myself to the asinine chaos that ensues when some deity will not conduct his Religion 101 class with a bit more integrity! You mean me! I beg your pardon. Oh, shove it. I don’t talk to jerks … This is all so perfectly stupid …