About the song
Kris Kristofferson’s Under the Gun. Now that’s a song that resonates with a certain urgency, doesn’t it? Kristofferson, a man who’s worn many hats – Rhodes Scholar, soldier, singer-songwriter – has always had a keen eye for the human cost beneath the grand narratives of war and societal struggles. Under the Gun, released in 1984, is a prime example of this.
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This isn’t your typical war ballad, glorifying heroism or patriotism. No, Under the Gun paints a bleaker picture. It’s a stark portrait of a world under the gun, literally and metaphorically. The constant threat of violence hangs heavy, fracturing lives, shattering promises, and leaving a trail of broken homes and broken hearts in its wake.
Kristofferson doesn’t shy away from the human cost. We hear it in the opening lines: “Break a man, break a promise/ Break a heart, break a home.” It’s a powerful indictment, a reminder that violence ripples outward, affecting not just the battlefield but the fragile fabric of society itself.
The song then broadens its scope, taking us beyond individual tragedies. We see a “heaven gone to hell under the gun”, a world where violence has corrupted even the promise of a better hereafter. The image of a “child, young and hungry/ Growing wild, on the run” is particularly poignant. This child, born under the gun, represents a generation robbed of innocence and stability. Their future is uncertain, their freedom a distant dream.
Under the Gun isn’t all despair, though. There’s a flicker of hope in the defiance of the soldier on the wall, facing the oncoming storm. But even this defiance is tinged with tragedy, as we know some will inevitably “fall under the gun”.
The song then shifts its focus to the powerful, the “swollen men, blind with power” who manipulate and control through violence. Their lies fuel the flames of conflict, creating a “world under the gun” where the rules are broken and danger lurks around every corner.
But Kristofferson doesn’t let us wallow in hopelessness. The chorus, with its insistent refrain of “No more time, no more chances/ No more wars will be won”, is a call to action. It’s a plea to break the cycle of violence, to recognize the futility of endless war.
The final verse offers a glimmer of hope. In the face of overwhelming odds, Kristofferson urges us to hold onto “the truth like a candle”. This truth, this belief in a better future, must shine “like the sun” to illuminate the path away from violence. It’s a powerful image, a testament to the enduring human spirit that persists even under the gun.
Under the Gun is a complex and powerful song. It’s a lament, a call to action, and ultimately, a testament to the enduring human spirit. It’s a song that stays with you long after the last note has faded, prompting reflection on the human cost of violence and the enduring hope for a better tomorrow.