General
Dispatch
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There was a decorated General with a heart of gold That likened him to all the stories he told Of past battles won and lost and legends of old A seasoned veteran in his own time On the battlefield he gained respect for fame With many metals of bravery and stripes to his name He grew a beard as soon as he could to cover the scars on his face And always urged his men on But on the eve of great battle with the infantry and dream The old general tossed in his sleep and wrestled with its meaning He awoke from that night to tell what he had seen And walked slowly out of his tent All the men held tall with their chests in the air With the courage in their blood and a fire in their stare And it was a gray morning and they all wondered how they would fair Till the old general told them to go home He said I have seen the others And I have discovered That this fight is not worth fighting And I've have seen their mothers And I will no other To follow me where I'm going So, take your shower, shine your shoes You got no time to lose You are young men, you must be living Take your shower, shine your shoes Well, you got no time to lose You are young men, you must be living Go now, you are forgiven But the men stood fast with their guns on their shoulders Not knowing what to do with the contradicting orders The general said he would do his own duty but he would extend it no further The men could go as they pleased But not a man moved, their eyes gazed straight ahead Till one by one they stepped back and not a word was said And the old general was left with his own words echoing in his head He then prepared to fight He said I have seen the others And I have discovered That this fight is not worth fighting, no And I've have seen their mothers And I will no other To follow me where I'm going So, take your shower, shine your shoes You got no time to lose You are young men, you must be living, yeah Take your shower, shine your shoes Well, you got no time to lose You are young men, you must be living Go now you are forgiven Go now, you are forgiven Go now, you are forgiven Go now, you are forgiven Go Go now, you are forgiven Go now, you are forgiven Go now, you are forgiven Go Go now, you are forgiven Go now, you are forgiven Go now, got to be, got to be, got to be, got to be, got to be, hey (go now you are forgiven)
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Written by: Bradley Joseph Corrigan, Peter Heimbold, Charles Stokes Urmston
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Song Origin and Release"The General" is a song by the indie band Dispatch, released in 1998.
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Album InformationThe track is from Dispatch's second album "Bang Bang" which saw significant success and was central to the band's rise in popularity.
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Genre and StyleThe song falls under the genre of Indie Rock and is known for smooth beats and reflective lyrics. It also has elements of reggae and funk.
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Band CompositionDispatch is a three-man band composed of Brad Corrigan, Pete Francis, and Chad Urmston. All three share duties as lead vocals, giving their songs a unique range.
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Popularity"The General" is probably the most popular song by Dispatch, frequently played on college radio stations.
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Song ThemeThe song captures a conversation between an old, tired general and his soldiers, probing deep into the theme of power, war, and peace.
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PerformanceDespite being an indie band, Dispatch's well-attended live performances of “The General” have often been praised as the highlight of their concerts.
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LyricsThe lyric "Go now, you are forgiven" is widely quoted and appreciated for its profound message.
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Song InfluenceThe General has been covered by many other independent artists, proving its influence in the indie rock community.
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Band Break and ReunionDispatch announced a break-up in 2002, but the band has since reunited. Despite their hiatus, "The General" has remained a fan-favorite over the years.
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PurposeThe song, with its gripping narrative about a general telling his men to leave the battlefield and live their lives, is often understood as an anti-war statement.
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Music VideoThe music video of the "The General" is noted for its simple, low-budget feel which aligns with Dispatch's independent, non-commercial values.
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Citation
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"General Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/13626842/Dispatch/General>.
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