☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics tell the story of a young man who decides to become a soldier, despite his mother's opposition.
- The mother pleads with her son not to join the soldiers, as he is risking his happiness and may never return.
- Despite his mother's warnings, the young man spends a passionate night with his lover before going off to war.
- The young man soon realizes that war shows no mercy and writes a final letter to his future son.
- The song lyrics express a mother's fear of losing her loved ones to war and address the themes of love, sacrifice, and the tragedy of war.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "My Son, Don't Go with the Soldiers" by
Nana Mouskouri tell the story of a young man who decides to become a soldier despite his mother's opposition. The young man is proud of his country and wants to follow his brothers who are already at war. However, his mother is worried about him, as two of her sons have already died in the war.
The mother pleads with her son not to go with the soldiers, as he is risking his happiness and may never return. She has already lost so much and fears that he may also lose his life. She reminds her son of the importance of cherishing life and not betraying love.
Despite his mother's warnings, the young man spends a passionate night with his lover. The next morning, he realizes that he must leave his lover to go to war. She cries and begs him to stay, knowing that their relationship will end when he leaves.
The young man goes with the soldiers anyway, believing it is his duty. However, he soon realizes that war shows no mercy to young and old alike. The darkness of war leaves no room for courage and heroism. He writes a final letter to his future son, warning him not to make the same mistake he did.
The lyrics of the song express a mother's fear of losing her loved ones to war. It addresses the themes of love, sacrifice, and the tragedy of war. The mother's plea not to go with the soldiers symbolizes the desire for peace and the protection of family.