Bullets In A Briefcase

[Moonlight_Graham]

Matt teased this song on Instagram a while ago (I think since been removed) and then posted the lyrics for us on The Bored.  I just read through the lyrics again and my best guess is that this song is about the recent refugee crisis in the middle-east/Europe.  Consider the first verse:

 

"Little fish, boat's too full, down you go
Breathing in salt and fuel, tiny gulps
Statistically it's commonplace
You're not alone
So end like this instead of shot back at home"

 

This seems to refer to the death of Alan Kurdi, the young Syrian boy found drowned on a beach after his family tried to flee to Greece & whose picture we all remember:
 

In the early hours of 2 September 2015, Kurdi and his family boarded a small plastic or rubber inflatable boat^, which capsized about five minutes after leaving Bodrum in Turkey. Sixteen people were in the boat, which was designed for a maximum of eight people. They were trying to reach the Greek island of Kos.

 

Then the 2nd verse:

 

"Little man, Northern France, winter's cold
800 hours, 4,000 miles, feet alone
no one I know would even dare it
Let alone for a shanty town
Bleeding out in the shadows"

 

Seems to refer to the child refugees from places like Afghanistan & Iraq who traveled across continents to terrible shanty camps in northern French towns like Calais & Dunkirk (ironically). More info:

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/toddlers-babies-northern-france-sleeping-rough-calais-migrants-europe-eu-borders-a7824816.html

 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/europes-child-refugee-crisis

[Outtahere]

Yes he confirmed that's what it's about, I believe it's in the thread where he posted the lyrics.

[juanpe]

Matt teased this song on Instagram a while ago (I think since been removed) and then posted the lyrics for us on The Bored.  I just read through the lyrics again and my best guess is that this song is about the recent refugee crisis in the middle-east/Europe.  Consider the first verse:

 

"Little fish, boat's too full, down you go

Breathing in salt and fuel, tiny gulps

Statistically it's commonplace

You're not alone

So end like this instead of shot back at home"

 

This seems to refer to the death of Alan Kurdi, the young Syrian boy found drowned on a beach after his family tried to flee to Greece & whose picture we all remember:

 

 

Then the 2nd verse:

 

"Little man, Northern France, winter's cold

800 hours, 4,000 miles, feet alone

no one I know would even dare it

Let alone for a shanty town

Bleeding out in the shadows"

 

Seems to refer to the child refugees from places like Afghanistan & Iraq who traveled across continents to terrible shanty camps in northern French towns like Calais & Dunkirk (ironically). More info:

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/toddlers-babies-northern-france-sleeping-rough-calais-migrants-europe-eu-borders-a7824816.html

 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/europes-child-refugee-crisis

A tribute (and I appreciate it coming from him) to all those people who are sadly dying in the Mediterranean sea and in Europe... A European Union who are shamefully unable to find a solution to this humanitarian crisis  :(

[gweeps]

"The world is a strange place,

quiet like bullets in a briefcase.

Why do I feel like I'm in the wrong place?

Quiet, like bullets in a briefcase."

Edited October 18, 2017 by gweeps

[gweeps]

Bullets in a Briefcase is my current favourite song on the album. The organ reminds me of something from Last of the Ghetto Astronauts/Underdogs actually.

[russic]

Nearly cheered when the organ kicked in. 

[juanpe]

I was able to just listen to this song on Spotify... it is my favorite one (so far). Love it, just love it!

Edited October 20, 2017 by juanpe

[Chellelyru]

Nearly cheered when the organ kicked in.

Yes! Edited October 20, 2017 by Chellelyru

[Outtahere]

As I said in the other thread, this is one of the best pieces of music Matt's ever written and sang... it's simply stunning. I'm speechless... especially given it's inspiration. 

[emmit643]

I love it so much. I've listened to it a million times already. It's on a loop. I could listen to it for the rest of my life.

 

and I just keep imagining the moment when I get to hear it live. I'm so excited about it. Oh my god. So beautiful.

[andydanger85]

First and foremost, I am going to agree with the majority and continue the affection for this song. It is the emotional centre of the records.

When the guitars come in, they remind me of Sigur Ros in the Agaetis Byrjun/ ( ) era. Specifically, the bowed guitar in the song Untitled #4 (Njosnavelin). Anyone else hear that?

[patrickjnixon]

First and foremost, I am going to agree with the majority and continue the affection for this song. It is the emotional centre of the records.

 

When the guitars come in, they remind me of Sigur Ros in the Agaetis Byrjun/ ( ) era. Specifically, the bowed guitar in the song Untitled #4 (Njosnavelin). Anyone else hear that?

I know exactly what you mean.  It does sound like Sigur Ros.  

 

I can't stop listening to this song!

[Williammunny11]

This might be my favorite Matt Good vocal ever (a spot that was previously held by While We Were Hunting Rabbits).

[juanpe]

The more I listen to this song, the more I love it... 

[Devil On Rollerskates]

Great insight into the meaning. This song is amazing and seems destined for a spot on my top 10 list of favourite MG songs. I have a list of 6 in the Favourite MG Song thread, and this looks like it will be number 7. Picking the other 3 will be hard lol.