My girlfriend and I have been having a discussion about Oysterband’s cover of the New Order track Love Vigilantes. One set of lyrics is available here. WARNING: site opens a pop-up window. First question, for anyone who has the original New Order album or a definitive set of lyrics: is the final line of the chorus ‘I’ve been so alone you see’ or ‘I’ve been so long at sea’? Most 'net sites seem to go for the former, and it’s my hearing as well, but I could be wrong.
The more central question we’re discussing is this: are we to assume that the telegram received at the end of the song is accurate, and the singer is deceased? Or is the telegram in error, and he’s home safely on leave? I’ve done a few Google searches, but not come up with much other than an off-hand comment in an Amazon review - any information would be appreciated!
I was just wondering the same thing the other night.
I finally decided that it was intentionally left vague and an equal case could be made for either. I suppose “he was dead all along!” makes for a more gripping and angst filled turn of events but, should I ever die abroad during a war, I hope my afterlife doesn’t include a spectral plane trip back to the States with time to mull over my patriotism nor the need to get a ride home. I discount the idea that “I flew through the sky” would mean him flying like an angel, wraith or other incorporal form of the dead since then he wouldn’t be under the impression he was just on leave.
So, if you HAD to pin me on an answer, I’d go for “The telegram was in error” given the few facts we have and my hope for a less mass transit-filled netherworld. But I’d also add that most people would go for “he was dead” because it sounds better.
I always assumed what made it a sad song is that the soldier was alive, but upon arriving home he finds his wife has killed herself (or died from shock) after getting the telegram saying he was dead.
Never occured to me once that the guy was a ghost.
I must confess, it didn’t occur to me either on first (or second or third listening.) I was talking to another friend about it, she mentioned the ‘Loch Lomond’ interpretation and when I listened to it next I found it strangely compelling. But I have to admit that there isn’t a lot to go on one way or the other in the lyrics.
Thank you to everyone who replied - if anyone’s got more information (like, you know, an original member of New Order locked up in their basement), I’m still keen to hear it!