I need some help analyzing a song

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twitchee2

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2004
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For my US history class, I need to analyze the song, Then Unknown Soldier by The Doors. the assignment is the analyze the song and figure out what social issue its relating to. Now being the Math/science person I am, I cant analyze anything if my life depends upon it.

Here is what I think the song is about. I think it is about childrens life and laboring. I really do not know. here are the lyrics. Can some please help me out here. This is a partner project, and my partney bailed on me and I want to earn a good grade on this (dont you love when that happens). Here are the lyrics to the song. Thanks for all the help.

Wait until the war is over
And we're both a little older
The unknown soldier
Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Unborn living, living, dead
Bullet strikes the helmet's head
And it's all over
For the unknown soldier
It's all over
For the unknown soldier
Hut
Hut
Hut ho hee up
Hut
Hut
Hut ho hee up
Hut
Hut
Hut ho hee up
Comp'nee
Halt
Preeee-zent!
Arms!
Make a grave for the unknown soldier
Nestled in your hollow shoulder
The unknown soldier
Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Bullet strikes the helmet's head
And, it's all over
The war is over
It's all over
The war is over
Well, all over, baby
All over, baby
Oh, over, yeah
All over, baby
Wooooo, hah-hah
All over
All over, baby
Oh, woa-yeah
All over
All over
Heeeeyyyy
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
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Rather than give you the answer, consider the timeframe when the song was written. What was going on in the world. What could Morrison be referring to?
BTW, I suspect you're on the right direction, just a bit off the path...
 
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twitchee2

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2004
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Well i found that it has something to do with the vietnam war and i think its that there were so many lost for no reason at all. but what socail reform does it relate to from the 1960's
 
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twitchee2

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2004
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So it about people dieing for no reason in a war they shouldnt be there. now i need to figure out what reform.
 
Iron Woode

Iron Woode

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Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: twitchee2
So it about people dieing for no reason in a war they shouldnt be there. now i need to figure out what reform.
Click to expand...
2 things to keep in mind about Morrison's lyrics:

1. He was probably stoned or drunk (or both) at the time of writing them.

2. it was the late 60's and part of the hippie/youth movement and anti-Vietnam War.

Besides, his lyrics usually have double meanings.

Basically this song is about the war desensitizing people in society and that soldiers are victims of our corrupt society.

Actually that definition apllies to just about every anti-Vietnam song.
 
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twitchee2

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2004
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What are the lines:

"Breakfast where the news is read
televison children fed"

refrering too?
 
Iron Woode

Iron Woode

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Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: twitchee2
What are the lines:

"Breakfast where the news is read
televison children fed"

refrering too?
Click to expand...
simple facts of life.

Listen to the song and it will become apparent.

People read the paper at breakfast and children are exposed to news and other images (good or bad) on the TV.

 
T

twitchee2

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2004
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I need to find out what social iussue the song adresses. Thats just the war isnt it.
 
P

PHiuR

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
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keep the vietnam war and people protesting in your head.

smoke some weed.

think about the meaning of the song.
 
W

WildHorse

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2003
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Quick musings, may trigger your own better thoughts:

Wait until the war is over
And we're both a little older

--I've read that Prez Nixon claimed a secret plan to end the Vietnam War.
That was pandering to antiwar sentiments, mostly of the young voters.
Stop war now! End the war! look at photos of the Vietnam War era & you may see college student demonstrators holding signs like that.
What I read is, Nixon's secret plan turned out to be: to increase the bombings (not a war-ending pull-out). I.E.; a lie.
So "older" = "wiser" (cliche). In other words, we're wise to his lie.
Also, although Nixon promised a quick end, actually it'll be a long time (we'll be older).


The unknown soldier

---tombs at Arlington National Cemetery hold unknown soldiers from various wars.
There's an idea of old-style traditional honor involved here, at a soldier having dutifully served the country, although unknown.

Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed

---Decries loss of genuine alive interpersonal connectedness, replaced by synthetic mass-market conformity of spoon-fed controlled news/propaganda & mindless dumbed-down TV.
That's a form of violence to the sensitivity and potential of children, (innocence).

Unborn living, living, dead

---Unborn=unawakened to higher consciousness
or maybe: fetus, life, death

Bullet strikes the helmet's head
And it's all over
For the unknown soldier
It's all over
For the unknown soldier

---Death claims the soldier in Viet Nam.

Hut
Hut
Hut ho hee up
Hut
Hut
Hut ho hee up
Hut
Hut
Hut ho hee up
Comp'nee
Halt
Preeee-zent!
Arms!

---represents people who believe in the militarized-industrial society. All together now, a uniform society in lock step.
Those were the very people whom the peace-movement young people struggled against.

Make a grave for the unknown soldier
Nestled in your hollow shoulder
The unknown soldier

---the brutish military mindset puts on a fake show of sympathy, just playing to the national news audience.
Also, the individual person (soldier) isn't important, but is unknown.

P.S. I saw the guy perform live a few times. I got real tall very young, and could pass for much older than I was, & get into concerts without question.
 
judasmachine

judasmachine

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2002
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[sigh] you really need to listen to the song and rereread the lyrics. i think you were already given the answer in this thread. people sitting at home watching the war on the tv and going on about thier lives without much more than lip service paid to it.
 
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