The Skye Boat Song
Unveiling Illusions: Reflections on Conflict and Reality
Lyrics
Now if you load your rifle right
Encouragement to prepare a rifle properly
And if you fix your bayonet so
Instructions to attach a bayonet
And if you kill that man, my friend
Encouragement to kill an enemy
The one we call the foe
Referring to the enemy
And if you do it often lad
Suggesting repetition of killing
And if you do it right
Emphasis on executing the act correctly
You'll be a hero overnight
Promise of heroism through this act
You'll save your country from her plight
Implying saving the country from danger
Remember God is always right
Reminder about God's support
If you survive to see the sight
If surviving, seeing the consequences of war
A friend now greeting foe
Friendships turned into enmity due to war
No, you won't believe in it anymore
Loss of belief in the righteousness of war
It's an illusion, it's an illusion
War is seen as an illusion
No you won't believe in it anymore
Rejecting belief in the validity of war
It is for children, it is for children
War seen as something not for mature minds
Building daydreams
Creating fanciful hopes or dreams
If I knew then what I know now
Reflection on past decisions and regrets
(I thought I did you know somehow)
Expressing the feeling of past certainty
If I could have the time again
Wishing for a chance to change the past
I'd take the sunshine leave the rain
Desire for better experiences
If only time would trickle slow
Desire for time to pass more slowly
Like rain that melts the fallen snow
Wishing for time to linger longer
If only Lord if only
Expression of longing for a different outcome
If only lord if only
Reiteration of the desire for change
Oh, I don't believe in it anymore
Loss of belief in the concept being discussed
It's an illusion, it's an illusion
Reiteration that war is an illusion
No, I don't believe in it anymore
Continued denial of belief in war's validity
It is for children, it is for children
Stating war is inappropriate for the mature
Building daydreams
Engaging in fanciful aspirations
No, I don't believe in it anymore
Reiteration of disbelief in war's righteousness
It's an illusion, it's an illusion
Stating war is an illusion once more
No, I don't believe in it anymore
Continued disbelief in war's validity
It is for children, it is for children
Emphasizing war is not for mature individuals
Building daydreams
Engaging in imaginative aspirations
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