I think this could definitely be about war (in general, although there seems to be a reference to Iraq here). There are a couple of double-meanings here.
The Guitar Hero motif plays on the notion of being a "hero": in the game and in real life (or being a hero of your country at war). It seems the player wanted to go to war ("you wanted to make it and now that you're in") which could also lend itself to trying to get into the top rankings of the game.
The part that makes me think "Iraq" is the seemingly random inclusion of "nigga!" One of the more prevalent derogatory slurs for Iraqis or people of Middle Eastern descent is "sand nigger." This makes me think that the close proximity of the two words used in the song is no random occurrence.
Unfortunately, the player at war finds out that REAL war in no way compares to war games at home, where they can use cheat codes and at least have some sort of control over their settings. He realizes this and asks how he can turn it off, what the fuck is up with this shit, etc. He's scared for his life, but the narrator assures him he's not going to die--even at the cost of his hands and most of his head. Roadside bombs, anyone?
The dilemma is that if he saves one person, he's a hero. He can't save everyone like in video games, though: there's a million more in line that need to be saved.
The "X marks the box" is an obvious hint at an X-Box, but also implies a landmine ("that goes off at a breath") and even further implicates that playing video games and thereby coming up with this controlled idea of war dug a grave for the player in which he must lie now that he's experienced the real thing.
Additionally, you can pause and reset a game but it's not so simple with war.
I think this could definitely be about war (in general, although there seems to be a reference to Iraq here). There are a couple of double-meanings here.
The Guitar Hero motif plays on the notion of being a "hero": in the game and in real life (or being a hero of your country at war). It seems the player wanted to go to war ("you wanted to make it and now that you're in") which could also lend itself to trying to get into the top rankings of the game.
The part that makes me think "Iraq" is the seemingly random inclusion of "nigga!" One of the more prevalent derogatory slurs for Iraqis or people of Middle Eastern descent is "sand nigger." This makes me think that the close proximity of the two words used in the song is no random occurrence.
Unfortunately, the player at war finds out that REAL war in no way compares to war games at home, where they can use cheat codes and at least have some sort of control over their settings. He realizes this and asks how he can turn it off, what the fuck is up with this shit, etc. He's scared for his life, but the narrator assures him he's not going to die--even at the cost of his hands and most of his head. Roadside bombs, anyone?
The dilemma is that if he saves one person, he's a hero. He can't save everyone like in video games, though: there's a million more in line that need to be saved.
The "X marks the box" is an obvious hint at an X-Box, but also implies a landmine ("that goes off at a breath") and even further implicates that playing video games and thereby coming up with this controlled idea of war dug a grave for the player in which he must lie now that he's experienced the real thing.
Additionally, you can pause and reset a game but it's not so simple with war.