Song Stories: Declan Mckenna: British Bombs

Declan McKenna, celebrated for his insightful lyrics and ability to blend social commentary with infectious melodies, has once again captured the attention of listeners with his track 'British Bombs'. Released as a stand alone single before his second album, 'Zeros', the song tackles heavy themes of British imperialism, war, and political complacency. With its distinctive sound and powerful message, 'British Bombs' stands out as one of McKenna’s most daring and provocative pieces to date.

But the song isn’t merely an anti-war anthem. It serves as a pointed critique of Britain itself. For centuries, Britain has been involved in conflicts, both directly and indirectly. The legacy of British imperialism continues to shape the world today, often in troubling ways. McKenna challenges the narrative, addressing Britain’s military interventions and highlighting the hypocrisy that often surrounds them. He points out how the government, under the guise of diplomacy and national interest, is willing to perpetuate violence.

A key focus of the song is Britain’s role in the Middle East, specifically the direct military actions taken by the country. McKenna underscores how British governments, and the people within them, have justified these bombings and deployments as necessary actions.

Lyrically, the track exposes the uncomfortable truths behind these decisions, calling out the hypocrisy of those in power. Lines like "My baby brother has already got a gas mask" and "Get real, kid, your country’s been at war since birth now" force the listener to confront the stark realities of Britain’s ongoing involvement in global conflicts, reaping the benefits of money and votes, all while ignoring the suffering caused by these actions.

The song’s lyrics go on to criticize the political machinery that drives these wars:

“It's a good old fashioned landslide
Killing with your hands tied
In the homemade rope
Set sail babe, we read it in the mail - no hope now
It's a total fucking whitewash
For the people that we might squash
Ammo from home soil
Set sail for wherever the fuck got oil this time
And if it's not a fucking war crime
It's a total waste of your time
It's getting so much worse”

McKenna’s ire is aimed squarely at the powers that perpetuate these conflicts. The song critiques the ongoing involvement of Britain in wars, pointing out that while troops may no longer be on the frontlines, bombs and missiles continue to be launched, perpetuating a different kind of warfare.

At a time when the world is on a knife’s edge, McKenna felt compelled to write a song denouncing all forms of warfare. As he told NME, “I just wanted to write a song that made it quite clear that I think war is wrong in almost any aspect of the world.”

The song also explores the motivations behind Britain’s involvement in conflicts, touching on how politicians often use war to secure votes or gain access to natural resources like oil. McKenna subtly references the 2003 invasion of Iraq with the line, “And if it's not a fucking war crime, it’s a total waste of your time.”

In terms of McKenna’s discography, 'British Bombs' stands out as his most politically charged and lyrically dark work to date. Yet, its music remains upbeat, creating an interesting contrast with the heavy subject matter. As McKenna explained, this blend of bittersweet emotions is what makes music resonate: “What makes a lot of music so good is the combination of the bittersweet alongside something that makes you scream your lungs out when you’re at those gigs.”

He continued, "It’s like the bittersweet feeling that you get from listening to ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger,’ where there’s a bit of joy and a bit of sadness to everything. I think it’s important to engage people, not least myself in the project, and I wanted to approach something that’s quite a classic British tradition, the British punk tune, but in a way that felt modern and relevant to me.”

The song is raw, rebellious, and politically charged. It’s hard to believe McKenna was just 20 when he wrote it. Despite his youth, McKenna is uniquely positioned to comment on Britain’s involvement in global conflicts, having lived through it his entire life. His line, "Get real, kid, your country’s been at war since birth now," is as self-reflective as it is poignant  a comment on both his generation and himself.

'British Bombs' proved that Declan McKenna was no flash-in-the-pan indie artist. He had something real to say. This wasn’t just a song for show; McKenna gave all proceeds from the track to charity, further demonstrating his commitment to the cause.

Thank you for reading,
Jack