You Want A Battle? (Here's A War)

Album: Venom (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds Bullet For My Valentine addressing bullying. The band's guitarist/vocalist Matt Tuck revealed to Billboard magazine that he experienced a lot of bullying while at school because he "was not a really cool kid. I was into heavy metal music and had long hair."

    Tuck added that he penned the track to reassure fans that bullying, "happens to everybody, and it's not a nice place to be when that happens. It took me a long time to actually pluck up the courage mentally and physically to stand up for myself, so it was kind of momentous moment for me."

    He continued: "I had lost all these battles in my young life, and all of a sudden I was growing into a young man. I was able to stand up for myself and defend myself, and the band actually became something big and special and just like the biggest 'f--k you' to everyone. That's what that song's about, really. It's about going through hard times and coming through the other side."
  • The song's music video was directed and edited by Stuart Birchall, who has also shot clips for Bring Me The Horizon ("Alligator Blood") and Architects ("Alpha Omega").

    The visual shines a light on domestic violence and abuse. "I have always wanted to work with Bullet and I knew after talking with Matt [Tuck] that the style of storytelling I had in mind was very well suited to their own ideas," Birchall said. "The band and label were very respectful of the creative process and allowed me to develop and refine concepts until we had the perfect fit. We were all keen on making a bold, dark statement about abuse that would resonate with a wide audience and complement this with a stylish performance."

Comments: 1

  • Vicko from -home-Cool story!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.