Oh I've just come from the land of the sun
From a war that must be won
In the name of truth
With our soldiers so brave
Your freedom we will save
With our rifles and grenades
And some help from god

I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see

You just can't believe
The joy I did receive
When I finally got my leave
And I was going home
Oh I flew through the sky
My convictions could not lie
For my country I would die
And I will see it soon

I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see

Do do do do do
Do do do do do
Do do do do do

When I walked through the door
My wife she lay upon the floor
And with tears her eyes were sore
I did not know why
Then I looked into her hand
And then I saw the telegram
Said that I was a brave, brave man
But that I was dead

I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see

I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see

I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see


Lyrics submitted by numb

Love Vigilantes Lyrics as written by Peter Hook Stephen Paul David Morris

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

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Love Vigilantes song meanings
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34 Comments

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  • +11
    General Comment

    He didn't survive. The point of the song is that he realizes he's dead when he gets what he most wants; to see his family.

    swollen uvulaon November 29, 2009   Link
  • +8
    Song Meaning

    I remember when I first heard this song years ago. The words were so clear that I "got" the meaning straight away. Even so...I had to hear it a few more times before my brain could accept the ending.

    Maximus nailed it. This poor soldier died in a war. He realised he was dead only after he saw his wife crying upon his return home.

    I don't think New Order was referring to a war in particular. Soldiers die in all wars. Widows are made in all wars. Children become orphans in all wars.

    In fact, the lyrics throughout the beginning and middle are deliberately generic - and downright cheesy. It's just a bunch of lofty statements and cliché. That is...until the end comes like a punch to the gut.

    There are hints throughout the song at the soldier's death. There's just no way to see them until the awful truth is revealed.

    After that, the song ends with a long instrumental. It's almost like New Order was giving the listener some time to process what happened. I sure needed that time for the "WTF" to wear off.

    Finally...there's the title, "Love Vigilantes". I believe this is a salute to the many soldiers - and the families left behind - who continue their love even with the wall of Death between them.

    Peace.

    Marco

    daftpunkon August 17, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This is one of my fav New Order songs... I always interpreted as he gets home and then realizes he's died in the war. Just like in Sixth Sense...he thought he was alive the entire time, but in reality, he had died. It goes with the sad vibe the music gives off...anyway, that's my cents.

    maximus23on April 30, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    man when i hear the very end of this song, when you realize that he is dead, it honestly tears me up every time. It was as shocking as watching the 6th sense.

    tlarkinon June 06, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I have interpreted this song as he was coming home, he was so happy, and he comes home and as soon as he walks in he sees his wife burst in tears when she sees he is alive "And with tears her eyes were sore I did not know why" Seems like he was said to be dead, but it was a mix up maybe. My possible interpretation

    Augustus15on May 22, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I've known the lyrics for years but still don't know what exactly this song means. I know it is a man returning from a war to be with his wife and kid but what is the point. I heard that this was based on a true story and the soldier found his wife dead. She had killed herseld a la Romeo and Juliet or she had a heart attack from finding out the bad news.

    cactusdaveon June 28, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Maximus has it. No offense, but you guys missed the meaning here. This song has a "tragic ending" when he realizes that he is dead. This song actually can bring tears to your eyes - such beautiful simplicity in this story. Read through it again, notice how the chorus implies at the end that he STILL wants to see his family, even after he already "flew through the sky" to his home...

    I like the comparison to "The 6th Sense". I hadn't thought of that, but good call.

    kkeeneon March 18, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The narrator of the song is, indeed, dead... his speaking posthumously is nothing more than a poetic anti-war device. He was a brave man, but he was dead. Not the war, but his family was really what was important, and it's underlined by his ghost-soldier's realization that he can't see them again. Secular issues and the impact on individual lives are forgotten in the abstract philosophies of war, and New Order does a good job underlining the real impact and loss, not the petty and geopolitical... as pretentious anti-war songs attempt. I give them props.

    erique_merteuilon June 10, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I cannot agree more, erique merteuil. So many 'musicians' try to sell albums with mindless banter about the war. It's beautiful to see a band truly understand the emotions involved in it for families who lose a loved one. That's what's really important, that being life.

    Do people really think an educated family who lose their beloved sibling to a war care about hearing some conspiracy theory thought up in 3-4 minutes?

    Props to New Order.

    ejownz6on August 12, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I can't believe anybody thinks this guy survived.

    The entire chorus is about how lonely he was that he had to get home to see his family. He was so lonely that as a ghost, he single-mindedly wanted to see his family - so much that he got on a plane and "flew across the sky" to his home. Only when he read the telegram did he realize that he was dead and it hit him hard.

    After that, the chorus repeats to reiterate the point: he didn't realize he was dead because all he wanted was to see his family.

    pocketthesauruson September 22, 2009   Link

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