New Wave Outpost Forum

In a New Order post MarvyMarv proposed an interesting topic that has been consuming me everytime I listen to this song

Did the protagonist of this piece come home as a ghost, killed in combat, or did he come home alive and the letter to his wife one terrible, terrible mistake?

Surely this is an anti-war song so this not about the meaning but rather WHAT THE [xx(] is the STORY ABOUT?

Like I replied to marvymarv, I think he's a ghost not realizing he's dead, adding to the sad irony of his joy to be coming back home.

I just listened to the song (though I've heard it many times) I think he is alive and the letter is a terrible mistake.

NEW ORDER - "Love Vigilantes"

Oh I've just come
From the land of the sun
From a war that must be won
In the name of truth
With our soldiers so brave
your freedom we will save
With our rifles and grenades
And some help from God
I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see

You just can't believe
The joy I did recieve
When I finally got my leave
And I was going home
Oh I flew through the sky
my convictions could not lie
For my country I would die
And I will see it soon
I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see

When I walked through the door
My wife she lay upon the floor
And with tears her eyes were sore
I did not know why
Then I looked into her hand
And I saw the telegram
That said that I was a brave, brave man
But that I was dead
I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see

He didn't ever talk to her though right? Didn't you see "The Sixth Sense"?! [;)]

Blimey, I used to listen to this song a lot back then but I didn't quite realize the story behind it... Now, looking at the full lyrics, I think he came home as a ghost!!! huh?! (btw, I love that old Patrick Swayze's film "Ghost" [:o)])

I'll go with the "Sixth Sense" or "Ghost" Scenario where he arrives home as a 'spirit' who does not yet know he has 'Departed'.[V]
Still can't reconcile the title 'Love Vigilantes' to anything in the lyrics except if one uses a present day contextual reference to our Christo-centric geo-political foreign policy agenda (guess it was pretty much the same then as it is now, ahh... how nothing really changes.) [|)]

Yeah that title's kinda funky, but I guess "vigilante" should not necessarily connote a violent or outlaw inference that it usually does. If it's just someone who is a fervent member of some sort of vigilance organization or group, then he's someone who's just "keeping watch" or "staying awake" as in a vigil. He's fervently looking out for his love - and thus the even more crushing irony.

Kinda like Sting's lyrical twist of the same sort in "Every Breath You Take'
...Every move you make, I'll be watching youuuu...[}:)]

I think it is a dream. Here is why:

I want to see my family
My wife and child waiting for me
I've got to go home
I've been so alone, you see


He is sitting there amid a quiet lull in the battle...maybe sleeping...thinking about his family. He is scared that he will die...not for himself but for the pain his loved ones will go through. He falls asleep or daydreams how it would happen. The last few lyrics are an explanation for this vision.

Of course it could be the terrible mistake scenario. I have read where in England during the First World War this happened...families notified that loved ones were dead when they weren't and vice versa.

But the ghost thing has some traction because maybe he is just dying and in the final moments sees a bit into the future.

If anyone from New Order,connected with them or can document what the song is about (from interviews with band etc.) is viewing this post can you help out.

We don't really need the "right" answer though right? Poetic license and all that? Anyone see the ending of "Before Sunset"? *SPOILER WARNING* Jesse's in Celine's apartment. There's tension because he's late for his plane, Celine's singing that dorky song, and you don't know what he's going to do and then pift, the movie just ends. Some people were pissed - they couldn't belive it ended that way. Others said "Awesome, perfect!" That's life right? You don't know what's going to happen. You may not ever know what the "truth" is. You can fill it in with your imagination or your self-determination.

Well they may have had something in mind right? I mean if they did I would like to know if not then yeah I agree it is ok not to have an answer.


[quote][i]Originally posted by myirwin[/i]
<br>We don't really need the "right" answer though right? Poetic license and all that? Anyone see the ending of "Before Sunset"? *SPOILER WARNING* Jesse's in Celine's apartment. There's tension because he's late for his plane, Celine's singing that dorky song, and you don't know what he's going to do and then pift, the movie just ends. Some people were pissed - they couldn't belive it ended that way. Others said "Awesome, perfect!" That's life right? You don't know what's going to happen. You may not ever know what the "truth" is. You can fill it in with your imagination or your self-determination.
[/quote]

The Oyster Band did a great cover of this song. Maybe we could ask them what they thought?

[quote][i]Originally posted by Nero Lance[/i]

If anyone from New Order,connected with them or can document what the song is about (from interviews with band etc.) is viewing this post can you help out.
[/quote]

Yeah, it would be great to know what the song is about really... now I keep wondering...[:I]

[quote][i]Originally posted by myirwin[/i]
<br>We don't really need the "right" answer though right? Poetic license and all that? Anyone see the ending of "Before Sunset"? *SPOILER WARNING* Jesse's in Celine's apartment. There's tension because he's late for his plane, Celine's singing that dorky song, and you don't know what he's going to do and then pift, the movie just ends. Some people were pissed - they couldn't belive it ended that way. Others said "Awesome, perfect!" That's life right? You don't know what's going to happen. You may not ever know what the "truth" is. You can fill it in with your imagination or your self-determination.
[/quote]

I must be pretty dense, but I always thought Jesse and Celine didn't sleep together in the first film (I guess I'm one of those who has to have the visuals to go along with the story [:p] ), but they said so in their conversation at the park and then in their ride to Celine's place [8D][:X]

On topic: He's a ghost.

[quote][i]Originally posted by Ollie Stench[/i]
<br>The Oyster Band did a great cover of this song. Maybe we could ask them what they thought?
[/quote]
Holy hell, I'd love to hear their version. Do you have a copy to put up on the hub? I bet they take the folksy sound of the song and spin that aspect even moreso.