Front Line
Stevie Wonder
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I am a veteran of the war I up and joined the army back in nineteen-sixty-four At sixteen, I just had to be a man at any cost I volunteered for Vietnam, where I got my leg shot off I recall a quote form a movie that said "who's more a man Than a man with a reason that's worth dyin' for?" They had me standing on the front line They had me standing on the front line They had me standing on the front line But now I stand at the back of the line when it comes to gettin' ahead They gave me a uniform and a tiny salty pill To stop the big urge I might have for the wrong kind of thrill They put a gun in my hand and said "shoot until he's dead" But it's hard to kill when "please, I'm your friend" echoes through your head Brought up in church taught no man should take another's life But then put in the jungle where life has no price, no They had me standing on the front line They had me standing on the front line They had me standing on the front line But now I stand at the back of the line when it comes to gettin' ahead Back in the world, the paper reads today Another war is in the brewing But what about the lives of yesterday? And the many happy families that have been ruined? My niece is a hooker and my nephew's a junkie, too But they say I have no right to tell them how they should do They laugh and say quit "braggin' 'bout the war you should have never been in" But my mind is so brainwashed I'd probably go back and do it again I walk the neighborhood, parading my purple heart With a fear of agent orange that no one will stop, no They had me standing on the front line They had me standing on the front line They had me standing on the front line But now I stand at the back of the line when it comes to gettin' ahead They had me standing on the front line They had me standing on the front line They had me standing on the front line But now I stand at the back of the line when it comes to gettin' ahead Would you believe I do? They had me standing on the front line They had me standing on the front line They had me standing on the front line But now I stand at the back of the line when it comes to gettin' ahead
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Written by: STEVIE WONDER
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Song Interpretation"Front Line" by Stevie Wonder is an anti-war song. It tells a story about a young soldier who was drafted, experienced the terror of war, and then returned only to face neglect and indifference to his struggles.
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Track's PlacementThe song is the first track of Stevie Wonder's nineteenth studio album, "Original Musiquarium I," which released in 1982.
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Album Unique CharacteristicThe album "Original Musiquarium I" is unique as it comprises mostly of Wonder's greatest hits from 1972 to 1980, with the addition of four new songs, including "Front Line."
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Song StyleThe song heavily incorporates synthesizers, a characteristic element of Stevie Wonder's music during the 1970s and the 1980s.
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Unseen ReleaseDespite being a powerful reflection of the socio-political climate of the time, "Front Line" was never released as a single.
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Critical InsightMany critics have also interpreted "Front Line" as a critique of the U.S government's neglect of veterans, particularly those of the Vietnam War.
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Musical SignatureAs a unique Stevie Wonder's signature, the song is heavily influenced by funk, soul, and R&B genres.
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Social Consciousness"Front Line" proves Stevie Wonder's capacity to combine his musical genius with social consciousness. The lyrics offer a poignant critique of the futility of war and the suffering it causes.
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DurationThe song is the longest on the album, running for over 5 minutes.
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Transition of StoryThe song describes the transition from innocent youth to troubled veteran in intense detail, exploring themes of fear, disillusionment, and abandonment.
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Vocal CharacteristicsWonder's haunting vocals in "Front Line" add more depth to the anti-war message of the song, making it a powerful piece in his discography.
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Citation
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