Void - War Hero

This version of “War Hero,” one of three that Void recorded and one of two that appear on Sessions 1981-83, is from the November 1982 Inner Ear session. Even though the song appears on the Faith/Void split in a version, recorded several months later, that one would have to assume is the most fully formed, I actually consider this the definitive version. Void vocalist John Weiffenbach was notoriously imprecise with his singing, and on the version of “War Hero” that appears on the Faith split, he’s too busy screaming and gurgling to get more than half of the song’s second verse out of his mouth. And that’s a shame, because the lyrics to that verse are some of the most interesting lyrics in Void’s oeuvre.

My friends are all afraid of being drafted
They’re afraid to die, don’t ask me why
They burn their draft cards, make their mommies cry
I wanna go because I wanna die

And then that memorable chorus: “I… want… to… die… IN A WAR!” Hearing these words fully enunciated makes clear the acid sarcasm the members of Void were directing towards a previous youth culture that was at the time only a decade or so in the past. Were they truly being sarcastic, though? Was the song’s humor based in nihilism, or perhaps even a secret feeling of depression, and the pointlessness of life? It’s impossible to really tell, but all of those interpretations are equally viable. Void displayed all of the antisocial, rebellious tendencies one could expect from a hardcore band made up of hyperactive teenagers, and on the surface appeared to be even sloppier than a lot of their peers. However, there was a fierce, independent intelligence lurking beneath the surface in much of their music, and this version of “War Hero” proves that, even if it leaves the true viewpoint that fueled the lyrics somewhat of a mystery. 

1. backtobataan reblogged this from andrewtsks
2. rendit liked this
3. jrichmanesq liked this
4. andrewtsks posted this