| fun. – Some Nights Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Some nights is first and foremost an anti-war song. It is written from the perspective of a young soldier, presumably in Iraq. This is clear from the references to 'dying dried up in the desert sun', as well as "10 years of this". This is supported by the phrase "This is it boys, this is war!" as well as the very military sound of the drum beat (clearly borrowed from Simon and Garfunkel's Cecilia, although fun have not acknowledged this influence). The soldier feels very disillusioned, and wonders "what do I stand for" multiple times throughout the song. He gazes at the sky, and sees only stars, having lost his faith in the heavens, and some power larger than himself due to all that he has seen. The martyr in his bed is a religious reference, presumably to some young girl sacrificing herself to make some money by prostituting. The soldier is aware of using sex as an escape from his disillusionment with the war. He also has left a girl at home who appears to have cheated on him once, as he wonders if she has 'forgotten him again', meaning has cheated on him again. He thinks of her often, as suggested by seeing her "ghost" at night, but realizes it's better if they don't have contact while he is away. The young soldier misses his mom and dad, but "had to go", meaning he felt compelled to join the military for some reason not explained in the song. But he realizes now that it was a mistake because the fight doesn't seem to have a meaningful purpose and is even "bored" by the whole experience. He thinks of his sister, not just because he feels bad about her situation in an abusive relationship, but refers to it as a metaphor that sometimes amazing blessings come from the most terrible of nights--that perhaps there will some day be good coming from the war he is involved in. The reference he makes to "the other night....you wouldn't believe the dream I had about you and me" is a subtle (and brilliant) reference to the song made famous by Simon and Garfunkel called "Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream", which is an anti-war song written in 1950. It is a dream about peace for all mankind, which is what this young soldier in "Some Nights" is ultimately hoping, even praying for. In the end then, the song reflects both disillusionment and hope. |
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