No Bravery Blunt Meaning

This Seminar will provide information about the pop-rock song, ‘No Bravery’ written by James Blunt. I will explain the personal relevance of this song to the performer, the importance of the lyrics and also identify analytical devices and terms located inside the song’s lyrics.

Captain James Hillier Blount (know as James Blunt) was a Tank commander attached to the British Army in the Kosovo war. His personal experience during this time lead him to compose this song "No Bravery". Post war James built a reputation for composing and performing ballads and love songs, making this song unusual and unexpected by his fans, leading them to learn of his background and appreciate the lyrics even more. James was born on the 22nd January 1974 beginning his career as a singer-songwriter in 2003. "No Bravery" was written and recorded in 2004 and became a number one hit across the world, the combination of meaningful

I chose this lyricist because he was able to express a tragic situation from a first person view so the listener felt urged to act or question the war regardless of their political position. The lyrics are a personal reflection of his experience, creating empathy in the listener for the true cost of war, the human cost. This is particularly relevant when you read the lines; “Houses burnt beyond repair; The smell of death is in the air”.

‘No Bravery’ can be interpreted in many ways and I see that as the true success of the lyrics, to be an effective poem I believe it must move you. ‘He has been here’ could mean many things, I interpret it to be (he = death) speaking of death as if it is a person or a character, not something that simply happens. “Its another family’s turn to die” refers to the generational cost of war, whole families wiped out as if they had not existed, who is seeing this, who is going to care what is happening. The true cost of war is