UB40：Meaning of Present Arms Songmeaning

"Present Arms" is a song by UB40, released in 1981. The song criticizes the recruitment process and glorification of war by urging young individuals to join the military. The lyrics highlight the lack of job opportunities and monetary rewards, suggesting that the military offers an option for these individuals. The song describes how joining the military can make someone a hero in the eyes of their mother and society. They become a source of pride and admiration, painted as someone brave and fearless in their military uniform. The lyrics also allude to the idea of desensitization and dehumanization that can occur in the military, as soldiers are trained to ignore the suffering and pain of war. The line "The khaki ranks of flesh and steel" refers to the soldiers wearing khaki uniforms, symbolizing their collective identity. The lyrics emphasize the contrast between the human aspect (flesh) and the cold machinery of war (steel). It suggests that soldiers are transformed into instruments of killing, learning to detach themselves from the horrors they might witness. Overall, "Present Arms" serves as a commentary on the social and economic circumstances that lead individuals to join the military, as well as the potential consequences and psychological toll of war. It criticizes the glorification of war and questions the motivations behind recruitment.