“I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier”
Song: All These Things That I’ve Done (full lyrics)
Artist: The Killers
Album: Hot Fuss
Year: 2004
Own it on iTunes
check out I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier.
Leave a comment below. Let me know if you have corrections or suggestions.
Do you own this music on vinyl, CD, or download for your iPOD?
Why is this lyric important to you? What lyrics would you add to Lyrical Wisdom?
39 responses so far ↓
Beecher // December 16, 2005 at 12:04 am |
Why do you like the lyrics you pick?…inquiring minds want to know.
Eddie // March 30, 2007 at 3:25 pm |
Hi man! Your site is cool! Visit my sites, please:
Edwin // March 30, 2007 at 3:25 pm |
Hi! Your site is very nice! Would you please also visit my site?
Helen // March 30, 2007 at 3:25 pm |
I am very impressed how you can build webpages! Please visit my site too:
Lillian // March 30, 2007 at 3:25 pm |
Hi there! Just couldn’t resist your guestbook! Please visit my site too:
Johnie // March 30, 2007 at 11:53 pm |
I just want to say thank you for taking the time & effort for put this web page together! Visit my sites, please:
Harry // September 30, 2007 at 5:32 am |
Why are you people so desperate for traffic?
CADDY // November 17, 2007 at 4:36 pm |
I’ve got ham, but i’m not a hamster
FNM // December 3, 2007 at 3:36 pm |
LOL @ hamster…
Melissa // February 2, 2008 at 11:33 am |
I Googled this lyric to make sure that it was right and found your site! I relate to these words because I believe a person’s worth isn’t based on how perfect she is, which I am certainly not. They make me feel better. I have no idea if this was the intended meaning, because I haven’t carefully listened to the rest of the lyrics, but it’s irrelevant. Cool idea for a site!
Dawne // June 10, 2008 at 11:56 am |
I love this song, though it makes me cry every time I hear it.
For me, it’s the lyrics sung for all the child soldiers everywhere – those with no voices. Those who need protection. For me it’s pretty evident throughout the song but comes out often in the refrain:
Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
and of course, the lyrics that you pulled out:
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
We’re all born with souls, but none of us is born a soldier – that is a choice that we often make as adults. For so many children it is the choice given to them – through the barrel of a gun.
And of course, the song closes with a powerful thought:
Over and out, last call for sin
While everyone’s lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I’ve done
All these things that I’ve done
So yeah, when someone gives up their own humanity and forces children to do their fighting they may win the battle. I think the song encourages us to examine the cost of these ‘victories’.
dawne
David // June 17, 2008 at 4:58 am |
I’ve noticed quite an undertone of Christian Dogma attacked in some of their songs, I think the song is trying to say that all these people fighting for whats right, fighting a war to live on in the hearts of men are turning away from the inocence of youth. There are a few references to sin in the song, perhaps the reference to ’soul’ is a double entendre on one hand the idea is IVE GOT SOUL i.e. I’m passionate, but also I’ve got a lot to lose
“Over and in, last call for sin
While everyone’s lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I’ve done”
The idea that they lose themselves, their soul is dirtied by the sin of the murder etc… I dunno
David // June 17, 2008 at 4:59 am |
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
anni // July 28, 2008 at 11:20 am |
THIS SONG TOUCHES HEART
Kraise // August 4, 2008 at 4:54 pm |
I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier.
max // August 8, 2008 at 6:40 am |
Wow
all of you bleeding hearts are taking this song way to personally. lol@ Dawne. It’s good though.
Diane // August 10, 2008 at 2:18 pm |
This is just a great song.I just heard it on the new nike commercial
Dani // August 11, 2008 at 1:34 am |
The first link seems to be wrong->
“Song: All These Things That I’ve Done (full lyrics)”.
I’ve also seen the nike comercial, I like the part when Pistorius appears running
keb2 // August 12, 2008 at 11:11 am |
I Googled the lyrics “I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier” cuz it got stuck on my head. Your page came up. Thanks for putting this site together!
While I heard the song most recently on the Nike commercial also that’s airing during the Olympics, I actually associate this song with “Carrier,” the 10 part PBS special that documents life aboard an aircraft carrier. The opening montage is the refrain of “I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier” with shots of the carrier, the boat, the boat cutting through the water, and the sailors on the boat. It’s really a great sequence and the guitar part that goes with it really sets the mood for the entire series, which I highly recommend for REAL reality television.
Anyway, I never knew the entire words to the song, so thanks for posting them. It’s nice to hear there’s a larger message in the song than just the refrain.
I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier « Fwied Wice // August 12, 2008 at 11:36 am |
[...] I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier August 12, 2008 at 2:36 pm | In PBS | So Nike is airing a commerical with this refrain by The Killers. I wouldn’t have known who sang the song but for Google and this blog post. Lyrical Wisdom I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier [...]
Claire // August 13, 2008 at 1:54 pm |
What’s the meaning of soldier HERE?
=S
rhonda kincaid // August 13, 2008 at 3:49 pm |
hey i was looking for the artist who sings this song and came upon your page. i love the idea of it and i just thought i’d let you know im endorsing you on my blog. have a good day and keep up with the sweet posts!
rhonda kincaid // August 13, 2008 at 3:54 pm |
ps i was also looking for other artists who sang this song. the version i got stuck in my head was sang by a woman..so i know it wasnt the killers. if you know of any it would be really cool if you let me know.
Cheryl // August 15, 2008 at 2:19 pm |
I’ve had this stuck in my head for almost 2 months now…………….its an awesome song
Now I finally know what it is and where it came from.
Kala // August 20, 2008 at 1:33 am |
Thanks for posting this! Beautiful song! I just like everything about it – the melody, lyrics, energy, crowd, everything!!!
=)
CAMI // August 22, 2008 at 10:00 am |
THIS SONG IS USED BY NIKE FOR THE OLYMPICS GAMES PUBLICITY
just perfect.
it makes me cry everytime..
Sumit // September 9, 2008 at 6:22 am |
I think this song is also a play on old southern spirituals. There are a lot of hymns based in bible versus about being a soldier for god.
Mallix // January 25, 2009 at 7:52 pm |
Have u ever tryed with vampire weekend and their oxford comma, it has a lot of strange frases!
George-O // February 1, 2009 at 5:43 am |
What a line… only ‘are we human or ar we dancer?’ comes close to topping this. The Killers are great at making you think!
josh // March 10, 2009 at 3:45 pm |
haha. i like the smiley face in the corner
rachelle // August 3, 2009 at 5:47 am |
i agree with dawne. i may also agree with a couple others, but i have to run, so i only scanned them.
oh, and David (right after Dawne) you make a good point as well, but about the Christian undertones: DUH. the lead singer (Brandon Flowers) is a Proud Mormon.
Internalize Oneness.
darren // August 28, 2009 at 1:46 pm |
alot of you are takin this too seriously, it doesnt matter what the lyrics means, its just a great song, no one ever questions lyrics and their meanings
Kashyap // September 7, 2009 at 9:29 pm |
You’ve a really good concept running on ur site. Can I also contribute? Do tell me ur email.
suze // September 22, 2009 at 5:15 am |
I love The Killers and I love this song. It has great lyrics and the song itself is really good.
gemma // September 28, 2009 at 2:55 am |
i really like this song it is amazing
as a army cadet my self i think that it is wrong that childer are put in danger at war
i think this song has real soul
gemma x
yomamma // September 28, 2009 at 7:26 am |
this song iz so good
Chloe and Logan // October 26, 2009 at 12:32 pm |
This this rubbish he cant sing
logan // October 26, 2009 at 12:34 pm |
i can remember this song now:)
jls are better!!!!!!!!!
Edy // October 29, 2009 at 7:23 am |
The cool thing about this and many of The Killers’ lyrics is that it’s just vague enough to have a meaning for everyone.
This one is by far one of my favorites. I feel like the song itself is a student/mentor dialogue saying “Take me on, help me succeed, help me become a man, I can do it!”, and the song really gets me motivated.
As far as this line goes, I think it’s saying that I’ve got purpose, my life has meaning, but I’m not going to force it on anyone– I’m going to live my life fulfilled.