anonymous 2007-04-16 05:01:28    

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Seriously guys, "I got soul, but I'm not a soldier", means: "even tough I'm not a religious person and I certainly don't follow any religios principles (I'm not a soldier of god, that is), I still have a soul, so please accept me as one of your children ("when there's nowhere else to run, is the room for one more son?"), instead of puting me in the backburner". The kinda gospel theme of the chorus points just to that.

This song's is somewhat of a confession (any catholics around?) from a guy who knows for certain that his way of living is far from what is expected in religious standards, but nevertheless really wants to be a good person. It's like he's saying to god: "hey I know you and I surely disagree on how I'm I supposed to live my life, and I know I've made very bad mistakes, but Í still wanna be a good son, I still wanna make you proud and shine on in "the hearts of man", like your other son has had. We may not share a lot of things, but I still need you sometimes."

Roo 2007-05-27 23:32:25    

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I agree with this song being reference to God. Back of my broken hand, he wants the stigmata sign. This guy is turning to Christ, perhaps going into priesthood and perhaps he feels he should have done it sooner than now. He is singing about himself and to God, reference to coming down is Jesus rising again.

He is saying that he has soul but is against violence. He is not a soldier, he is a soul of Christ, a son of God.

He is begging forgiveness from God.

anonymous 2007-05-28 23:01:01    

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This song is a plea from SATAN! ' When there's no where else to run is there room for one more Son? Of Man, as opposed to Christ. I wanna stand up I wanna let go, I wanna shine on in the heart of Man like Christ! I need direction to perfection, NO,no,no .... This is the Devil at his most jealous. " you gotta help me out... You must ask him in. These changes ain't changing me, (I'm still) the cold hearted boy I used to be. Saying it without saying it. (Sounding like a choir) I got soul but I'm not a soldier... You have a soul to lose but are not a soldier in the army of God. Your gonna bring yourself down... all humans fail in Gods eyes but are forgiven if they ask... Over and In (into the precipes) Last Call for Sin. When everyones Lost (without Christ) The Battle is Won. Read the Freaking Bible this song is about the fact that you are allowing the Devil into your heart and don't even know it. (all these things that he's done)

anonymous 2007-06-26 01:30:56    

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Song is about a troubled person contemplating suicide and basically him calling out for help but overcoming realising how valuable life is so he holds on. This has a religious theme as well. "When there's nowhere else to run Is there room for one more son" means that he wants to kill himself and is asking god if there is room for one more person in heaven. "If you can hold on, hold on" meaning try not to follow through with your thoughts because suicide is wrong and you should set an example to others by being stong "I wanna shine on in the hearts of men".
"I need direction to perfection, no no no no Help me out" are obvious cries for help.

"I got soul" this means he will have soul until his natural death and not through suicide "but I'm not a soldier" means that he is not a soldier which is a metaphor for soldiers that sign up to get killed in battle which is almost the same as suicide. Also it means he is against violence (killing himself) which is what most soldiers are trianed to do.

anonymous 2007-06-27 22:18:54    

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I like the interpretation of the frustrated musician.

The broken hand part makes sense as he is saying he wants some sort of reward (not necessarily financial) for the heart and soul he has put into his work. It probably also relates to the movie the band is (or could be) named after "The Killers" whereby the star's career is ended with a badly broken hand and is an anology derived from the initial meaning in the movie.

I could go through every line to show how each makes sense, but you're smart people, you can do that yourself. I've got soul but I'm not a solider I think refers to the same things alternative artists have been writing about for years. He's got soul (talent, drive, love of music, love of enriching lives etc) but he's not prepared to do the things traditionally asked of upcoming artists, and he's not prepared to give his soul away...but at the same time, he's not a soldier so does not understand why he needs to fight against the establishment to achieve success.

Another important line is "Don't you put me on the back-burner". Similar (but more inventive and from a different persepective) to Spiderbait's line in Buy me a Pony - "But don't you try to pass us by, 'cos we own you until we're through"

Lastly, "Nowhere else to run" referring to there is limited scope or pathways to success in the industry etc. As I said, this theory applies to virtually every line if you want it to, but I think it makes sense. The ironic part is they put these lyrics into such an amazing song that allowed them to keep their integrity and their soul (possibly their best song and got to be one of the best songs of our generation) and would have been a hit no matter which path they went down as it's an absolute cracker.

twinkle_toes 2007-07-14 23:30:53    

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This is about a guy who has a bad past but wants to change. There's no Andy & Natalie and all that crap, seriously can not like listen to a song?

anonymous 2007-08-14 04:06:29    

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I think the song is basically about life, and how he wants to change and become a better person. "I got soul but I'm not a soldier".. I think this means that whilst he has soul, feelings, is an emotional person etc, he isn't a soldier, he can't just go push on through life, deflecting hurt and pain as if he is wearing a bulletproof vest.

Basically it seems as if he's crying out for guidance, as if his life is lacking something, and he just needs SOMEONE to help. Perhaps he is feeling rather guilty hence the title of the song, "all these things I've done", and really desperately wants to change for the better. He's tryed so many things but nothings really working - "these changes ain't changing me, the cold-hearted boy I used to be".

Great song!

anonymous 2007-11-18 00:48:33    

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I've heard this from someone who actually knew Brandon Flowers and asked him about the meaning of the song. He said that it was about how he is a member of the Mormon church and how he has a struggle between wanting to do what is right and wanting to fit in with the rest of the world (his wanting to smoke and drink and such). If you're a Mormon it makes sense if you listen to it more. "I've got soul but I'm not a soldier." "I want to shine on in the hearts of men." "When there's no where else to run is there room for one more son." i.e. Son of God. "You're gonna bring yourself down." i.e. a plead with other members of the Church to help him out. Anyway, I could go on but you get the idea.

anonymous 2008-02-29 16:33:25    

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The song is about atonement for past misdeeds and the need to mature and become a better person. However the people who Flowers needs atonement from aren't willing to give it or believe he has the capacity for change.

If you watch the US version of the video, you see each of the various scantily clad women holding up numbers. This is because the scenes are out of sequence. The numbers represent the proper order of the scenes. The video starts with the last scene as Flowers gets attacked from behind and knocked into a puddle. The woman who threw the boomerang is the same woman that slaps him in the face from Scene 1. In Scene 1, Flowers is obviously returning home after a night on the town. Fresh lipstick from another woman still on his face. Hence the reason for the slap. Next he takes a shower and slips in the tub. In Scene 2, you see all the band members falling from the sky into a trailer park, clad in cowboy outfits (looks like somewhere in Las Vegas). This is obviously a dream sequence, because Flowers is lying unconscious in the tub from the previous scene. For most of the video, they are outlaws running from the people they've wronged. The women eventually catch up with the band in the end and exact their justice with boomerangs. The women can represent ex-girlfriends, wives or even an entire family. Whatever they are, they haven't forgiven them. Having given up on Flowers, the woman walks away. End of video.

anonymous 2008-04-07 05:18:16    

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For me anyway, this song is about trying to find a meaning to life through a creator, a song about maturity from innocence and finding out why we are here. When there is nowhere left to run means that nothing else can fufill him, not drugs, women, all the amenities of life on earth can make him feel right again, and he needs to find something more.

anonymous 2008-05-27 10:49:54    

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The song starts at the end a bit may I add like he's dying (that's why he's saying hold on e.g. To life) and he's telling someone his story...
Someone who used to be a cheater, partier and drinker realising all this isn't making them happy so they decide to change. He then tells the story of how he wants to change and gets help from someone who at first ignores him but then helps. He wants to help other people too but although hye wants to change and help people he can't because he doesn't think he's strong enough- 'I got soul but I'm not a soldier' (which may I add are amazing lyrics I love this one line!)
The song maybe ends back at the beginning with his death after maybe one party too many and he reflects on everything he's ever done and he's struggling to hold on.