Commonwealth Boys
Commonwealth Boys: A Rebellion in Verse
Lyrics
Don't ever call me a man
Rejecting the label of "man" and asserting the right to define oneself.
I'll decide for myself to tell you what I am
Emphasizing personal autonomy in determining one's identity.
Don't want to be called a boy know more
Rejecting the label "boy" due to its association with participation in wars.
Cause boys fill the trenches in imperialist war
Highlighting the negative impact of boys filling trenches in imperialist wars.
Don't ever call me a queen
Rejecting being called a queen and rejecting Victorian values.
Victorian values just ain't the scene
Disassociating from the values of the Victorian era.
Don't want to be held responsible for you
Avoiding responsibility for others and refusing blame for future and historical events.
To blame you for the future and the history too
Rejecting responsibility for future and historical events.
We are the Commonwealth boys
Identifying as part of the Commonwealth, acknowledging diverse origins (South Africa, Jamaica).
South African village and Jamaican toys
Referring to the cultural diversity within the Commonwealth.
Born to create but trained to destroy
Expressing the conflict between creativity and destructive training.
And I am a Commonwealth boy
Affirming identity as a Commonwealth boy.
Don't ask if I'm a respectable force
Rejecting the notion of being a respectable force.
I'm a ineffectual, intellectual of course
Emphasizing intellectual ineffectuality.
You would not up stand a really pretentious fool
Warning against standing by a pretentious fool.
I became aware in the care of a waitresses' school
Reflecting awareness gained in unconventional education (waitresses' school).
Don't even call me a friend of the post
Rejecting the label of a friend of the post (possibly referring to a post-war era).
The fox holes have fallen and the cemeteries closed
Noting the closure of foxholes and cemeteries, possibly referencing past conflicts.
And I've been slaving down on charity farm
Describing a period of hard work on a charity farm.
Livin' like a socialist with blood on my arm
Living with a socialist perspective and a reference to personal struggle (blood on arm).
We are the Commonwealth youths
Identifying with Commonwealth youths, seeking employment.
From Thunder and Turnside were looking for jobs
Referring to specific locations (Thunder and Turnside) in the Commonwealth.
Born to create but doomed to destroy
Expressing the paradox of being born to create but destined to destroy.
I am a Commonwealth boy
Reiterating identity as a Commonwealth boy.
Yeah, don't ever call me a man
Repeating the rejection of being called a man and asserting the right to self-define.
I'll decide for myself what I am
Emphasizing personal agency in determining one's identity.
Don't want to be a boy know more
Repeating the rejection of the label "boy" due to its association with war.
Cause boys fill the trenches in imperialist war
Reiterating the negative impact of boys in imperialist wars.
Don't ever call me a queen
Rejecting the label of a queen and Victorian values once again.
Victorian values just ain't my scene
Reiterating the rejection of Victorian values.
Don't want to be responsible for you
Avoiding responsibility for others and blaming them for future and historical events.
We blame you for the future and the history too
Repeating the rejection of responsibility for future and historical events.
Don't ever call me a man
Reiterating the rejection of being called a man and asserting control over one's life.
I'll decide when my life ends
Asserting the right to decide when one's life ends.
I'm a boy, I'm a boy, don't you tell the fairies
Affirming the identity as a boy and rejecting external judgments, possibly referencing societal expectations.
I'm a boy, I'm a boy but my mother would not admit it
Repeating the assertion of being a boy despite parental denial.
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