James Blunt: No Bravery Meaning

Song Released: 2006

No Bravery Lyrics

There are children standing here,
Arms outstretched into the sky,
Tears drying on their face.
He has been here.
Brothers lie in shallow graves.
Fathers lost without a trace.
A nation blind to their disgrace,
Since he's been here.

And I...

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   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anony

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   Feb 1st 2008 !⃝

   No no no. james blunt was in the british army and saw horrific things.
   In 1999, he served as an armoured reconnaissance officer in the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo. Initially assigned to reconnaissance of the Macedonia-Kosovo border, Blunt and his unit worked ahead of the front lines directing forces and targeting Serb positions for the NATO bombing campaign. He led the first squadron of troops to enter Priština, and was the first British officer to enter the Kosovan capital. His unit was given the assignment of securing the Priština airport in advance of the 30,000-strong peacekeeping force; the Russian army had moved in and taken control of the airport before his unit's arrival. As the first officer on the scene, Blunt shared a part in the difficult task of addressing the potentially violent international incident.[5] There were less intense moments during Blunt's Kosovo assignment, however. Blunt had brought along his guitar, strapped to the outside of his tank and, at some places, the peacekeepers would share a meal with hospitable locals, and Blunt would perform. It was while on duty there that he wrote the song "No Bravery".[6]

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   #2 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   May 17th 2018 !⃝

   HE in the song no bravery is a personification of Evil, Death, Satan, etc.
   
   It should be noted that Blunts lyrics do not condemn the people but instead condemn the activity and state of mind that would see War as necessary and acceptable behavior.
   
   Blunt says that HE has caused death, hate, rape, anger, fear, and sadness.
   
   War is a horrible event. All of humanity need to acknowledge that it is evil and avoid it if at all possible.

3. 3TOP RATED

   #3 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Dec 23rd 2006 !⃝

   This song uses "he has been here" as a metaphor for war. Many times people try to portray war as a heroic endevour. But what I interpret from this song is that war isn't about bravery, it's about the sadness and destruction that it leaves in its wake. "A generation drenched in hate." "Tracer lighting up the sky/It's another family's turn to die." He shows war for what it really is and the innocent people who it really hurts, which is why he keeps emphasizing the children.
4. anonymous

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   Mar 10th 2020 !⃝

   ‘A nation blind to their disgrace’, not exactly rocket science where he’s placing the blame here is it?
5. anonymous

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   May 20th 2018 !⃝

   Many think God has forgotten those in wartime tragedies but I don't read 'no bravery' as something that should ever be attributed to our men and women of service. They are the epitome of bravery. Perhaps James did see no bravery through his own eyes but when I watch James' video, Through our soldiers tears I see nothing but bravery.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
6. anonymous

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   Feb 8th 2018 !⃝

   "He has been here" (God has been here) all what happened, God has been here...witnessing innocent people getting killed...referring "No Bravery" to God that killing people is no bravery....only sadness in victims' eyes.

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7. anonymous

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   Jan 28th 2018 !⃝

   Simple: It refers to God, in what ever form we humans beleive because our religions are fool hardy philosopies that are warped to justify hate, Evil and destruction. Compassion and evidence is truth not faith. For faith alone justifies evil in absence of compassion and evidence. Stand up. Throw off your chains people of the world become a beacon of Compassion and look at evidence to guide your steps. If you will``... the greatest plot that the devil ever concieved is religion...`` Look at the evidence.

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8. anonymous

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   Jun 8th 2017 !⃝

   I think "he" as in "he has been there" is any/all evil. Could be Serbs or Russian's or NATO. Anyone who is paid to kill for some government. And "I see no braver in you eyes, only sadness" describes a soldier who once in war decides they may be reconsidering their profession but is resigned to fulfill their commitment. But I do believe he describes it as only someone who has seen it first hand can.
9. anonymous

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   Mar 3rd 2015 !⃝

   That he is lovely.
10. anonymous

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    Oct 13th 2014 !⃝

    I believe he is talking about WWII and how he said 'arms stretched out in the sky' meaning the Nazi salute to Hitler who is He and he talks about the Holocaust. He also says, "But no one asks the question why" which says all the Allied forces are scared of the Nazi's

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
11. robomaster20

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    Aug 6th 2014 !⃝

    I think this song is simply about Blunt's perception of the war and how he see's the horros and atrocities committed by the Serbian Soldier's. This is where the "He" reference comes in it is a simply way of saying the Serbian Soilders and the "No Bravery" may mean that the Serbians can beat and rape innocent civilians but they couldn't and wouldn't do much if anything against the UN force so they ran without bravery. Say what you want buy this is my blunt interpretation... no pun intended.
12. anonymous

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    Jan 2nd 2012 !⃝

    I think it's possible 'he' is referring to God or some greater being. I am not implying he blames God for these tragic events but he has taken the souls.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
13. anonymous

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    Dec 7th 2010 !⃝

    In my opinion, "He was here" is the war that had catastrophic consequences for the soldiers such destruction and death of thousands. Furthermore "There are children standing here, Arms outstretched into the sky" for the ignorant people who have nothing to do with the war, the ordinary people who just want to stop the war, and that is what they pray. "Wives and daughters cut and raped. A generation drenched in hate, says. He has been here." Means that the women and children may have been raped by soldiers and beaten, and testify that this happened only because of the war. Said James Blunt is sad and angry about the war and have caused this. He also wants the soldiers, whom he knows that they want to fight no more and do better with their families, and raise them with the song to lay down for military service.
14. anonymous

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    Sep 9th 2009 !⃝

    "He" is death. In war everyone is touched by death. I've served in three conflicts (war to some, fun to others) and my first thought was that he saw "no bravery" in his own eyes, "only sadness" after seeing so much devastation wrought after simple radio calls designating targets for artillary or airstrikes. For myself, there became no more patriotism... I became nothing better than a mercenary, just hanging on until I had served my full 20 years. My story isn't exactly admirable but I still believe my efforts were for more good than bad no matter what my motivation was. I suppose I sound pretty self-absorbed about right now. James Blunt is a very important artist and I think his life-experiences and suffering allows him to describe emotions so beautifully. He isn't one of the brave internet protesters who keep signs in their cars for all the popular causes that their silly peers might march against until they leave in time to catch the game on TV.
15. anonymous

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    Sep 6th 2009 !⃝

    When James says ("HE"),James simply refers to the Serbian soldiers. The meaning of the word "HE" used in the lyrics is not as Metaphoric as one might think. "HE" could also mean death. But death was simply brought by the Serbian soldiers. So however way you interpret the meaning "HE", it comes down to the soldiers. These soldiers brought EVIL, they were the DEVIL or DEATH. The soldiers also explain the last part of the lyrics: "Old men kneel to accept their fate.Wives and daughters cut and raped.
    A generation drenched in hate.
    Says, HE has been here". We can see in this case that "HE" is actually a person. Serbian soldiers in this case. You can link the soldiers concretely to "HE". Because they can rape and kill. James is being very concrete with the lyrics without mentioning any names.
16. anonymous

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    May 7th 2009 !⃝

    "He (DEATH) has been here."
17. anonymous

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    Nov 20th 2007 !⃝

    I think that he is telling it how it is, There is no bravery, Only fear, destruction and wasted lives, and for what reasons? Any hoo that's my take!

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
18. allison

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    Nov 28th 2006 !⃝

    I think when james sings about 'he has been here' I interpret it as war has been here its sounds like the use of a metaphor

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