Love Vigilantes interpretation

I've always liked this song, both lyrically and melodically. In fact I like Bernard's melodica playing too. :)

I was wondering what is your interpretation of the meaning behind the song.

Is the part about saving the world with rifles and grenades and some help from God a tongue-in-cheek commentary about war?

"With our soldiers so brave your freedom we will save With our rifles and grenades And some help from God"

And should the rest of the song be interpreted in a straightforward manner, as an actual heartfelt account of missing one's family and genuine shock of the wife seeing her husband after she thought he was killed in battle?

Thanks.

I always thought that the protangonist died in the song. He only sees her as a ghost or a dead man.

After hearing Viet Nam I think I know what influence the song.

It's yet another parable about gay sex, apparently. :p

Wow you guys are not easy.

Chris, can you point me to one of those interviews?

Play this song backwards, and it gives instructions on where to find it on the Retro boxset.

It's just things that rhymed after Barney had been listening to Vietnam. Don't read too much into his lyrics.

Well, in the spirit of over analysing these things...

I reckon it's the spirit of the dead soldier coming back and overseeing his distraught wife. That would explain "when I walked through the door", rather than in the door. Perhaps.

The songs sounds king of "sweeter" if it a posthumas narrator.

Andy.

Originally posted by El Rey de los Payasos why are so many of you trying to find some deeper meaning in the songs...just fooking enjoy them...as I said somewhere else...I really don't know what Barney is trying to say (if he's trying to say anything) on Raise The Pressure, but fooking hell if the songs don't hit home on a personal note...take what you want from the songs...interpret them to mean what you want, and just love them for the greatness that they are...

well said.

i remember Neil Hannon saying that New Orders lyrics were so fantastically pointless and i think he's right. i don't give a shit about the meaning, the melody is god and if the words sound ok that'll do for me

Personally I like "Elegia" - top lyrics on that one: "My name's Justin ... and my name's Ben".

Don't think we could get much of a discussion from those...

lots of discussion on various threads about lyrics and what they mean..

imo most of them are throwaway, and in years ahead its the music that will be remembered.

It seems to me that it is a simple anti-war song. They did play it in Oz when all that speculation about Gulf War 2 was still going on.