Song picture
Friendly Fire
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This song is about the phenomenon "friendly fire". How it feels in it's original sense and how it can be transferred to the way we sometimes treat each other. When friends suddenly turn into enemies, you don't stand a chance...,
alternative progressive pop rock metal
Artist picture
New band name for my one man band. The ancient form of my first name.
My name is Holger Luth. I was about 15 years old, when I got my first guitar. Actually it belonged to an older friend, but the never played it, so he let me borrow it. I had been taking piano lessons earlier, but I hated it. The most fun I had with the piano, was to create my own little tunes. i was no good at repetitive rehearsing. It has been the same with my guitar playing. Many of my guitar playing friends, spent hours rehearsing technical stuff. I never had the patience for that, I just did what I thought sounded right. My mind was more directed towards songwriting, than towards being the guitar hero, though I did like to play neverending live solos, long enough to make the bass player make puking sounds and the drummer start throwing sticks at me... I played in both small and larger bands with up to 8-9 people, with violins, flutes and lots of other instruments, but I think my best time in a band, was playing in a three piece. It was in the aftermath of Police, British New Wave, the Danish Punk scene, Danish songwriters like C.V. Jorgensen and many more. You had to invent a lot of new "big" chords, in order to create a bigger sound, being the only guitarist ( and lead singer). Later I started listening a lot to bands like U2, The Cure, Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk and most of all Peter Gabriel. Peter is like my guiding star. I have had the luck of seeing him in concert a couple of times in the recent years and even if he has gained a few pounds and is called "Papa Bear" by his bass player, he can still sing better than anyone I know. His voice is directly wired to his heart, it's like every word has its' own set of wings and flies out of his mouth, carrying an important message. Wish I could get anywhere near that! My musical taste has developed over the years and I try out a lot of different genres, out of curiosity and because I get inspired by other musicians, here on SC and by other friends in music. I have 3 sons, that are all engaged in music somehow and they have also inspired me a lot. They have a totally different take on the term "Musician", than I have and I find it inspiring and I am amazed at the multifaceted way they can tackle the tasks of a songwriter, producer and musician. I must admit, that my music sounds a little old fashioned compared to music of today, but what the heck.. I am from 1957, I grew up with Beatles, Stones, Kinks, The Who, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Jefferson Airplane, The Band, Bob Dylan.. need I say more?
Song Info
Genre
Pop Pop Rock
Charts
Peak #226
Peak in subgenre #50
Author
Holger
Rights
Holger
Uploaded
January 20, 2012
Track Files
MP3
MP3 4.6 MB 128 kbps 5:00
Story behind the song
I read about some danish soldiers in Afghanistan, who got caught up in "friendly fire" and when I investigated further on the Internet, it shocked me to find out, that this wasn't a single event. With all the electronic wonders of modern warfare, we still don't know for sure, who we are shooting at. The whole idea of friends behaving like enemies, made me write the lyrics for this song, drawing a parallel to the time I was "stabbed in the back" by a person I trusted. "Friendly fire" is such a bad way of putting it. There is nothing friendly about it...
Lyrics
It's a sad and tragic story When soldiers who long for glory Who dream of something higher They fall to friendly fire A shameful, painful silence Always covers this act of violence Someone should have told them to retire Before they fell to friendly fire And now it's too late. To turn around their fate. They never knew the reason why This is no way to die Your attack had no good reason It was ambush and it was treason Your lust for power and a dark desire Made you shoot with friendly fire I was left for dead, and I lay bleeding But my heart just kept right on beating Somewhere, out there, your soul is still for hire Along - with your friendly fire. It's never too late To turn around your fate Now I have changed my course But you're still stuck in yours I faced the ones that might attack - prepared for enemy fire But then you shot me in the back - Calling it friendly fire Calling it friendly fire Watch out for friendly fire! Watch out for friendly fire!
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Comments 9
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Bob Forbes
Jun 13, 2016
You are singing it like it is Holger - very sad situation when friends become enemies... Great Pop Rock arrangement!!
Falken
Jun 01, 2016
Very good song with awesome vocal's that gives me Peter Gabriel vibe big time! Nice and wide mix. Great work!
Rodrica Rudge
Jun 12, 2015
Its a subject that I often return to..trust and who is/isn't a friend. I think this song illustrates those actions and the feelings that are created perfectly. Brilliant arrangement - the powerful aggressive war-like parts countering the softer more reflective parts - the action/reaction and hurt that is caused. Superb song in every way and expertly applied metaphor.
KAUL
Jun 06, 2015
This one caught my attention right away not only because of the great sounding beat and guitars that form the melody but because the vocals are very well done and the lyrics are superbly written into a story line that fits within this piece of music, not always easy to do but that is what makes song writing such a challenging art. Great song!
Carlo D'Anna
Jun 02, 2015
Wonderful tribute Rock!! An ode to the under appreciated soldier!
Tragic, the seemingly inevitable confusion of warfare. The twist on relationships was a surprise - thought provoking songwriting and the music fits the mood perfectly.
FusionFall Project
Apr 08, 2013
Great double meaning in your lyric, the dark side of trust.. it sure brings it all into sharp focus. nice work!
Drumnjon
Aug 26, 2012
Beautiful.....wow I love this song... Great vocal work Great guitar work Such a GREAT PROduction.... Keep on Rockin... Drumnjon
ALEXIS PATRICK
Jul 20, 2012
Beautiful tone on your guitar ,,,,excellent guitar playing. Your vocals are so beautiful. Interesting lyrics as always. All your songs are greatly produced.