If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next by Manic Street Preachers

Album: This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours (1998)

Charted: 1

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This is about the Spanish civil war, and the idealism of people from around the world who volunteered to join the International Brigade Franco's fascist army, hence the line, "So if I can shoot rabbits, then I can shoot fascists."
This was the first #1 hit for Manic Street Preachers. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Gilliann - Dublin, Ireland, for above 2
The title of the song comes from a republican propaganda poster of that time. On it, under a formation of Nationalist bombers, a killed child can be seen. The slogan of the poster is "If you tolerate this your children will be next."
The Clash's "Spanish Bombs" is about the same topic. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Martin - Rostock, Germany, for above 2
Asked what his favorite Manics lyric is in a 2013 Twitter interview, bassist and lyricist Nicky Wire replied that it is this song's, "So if I can shoot rabbits then I can shoot fascists."

Comments: 10

Doctor Ruth Truth from NewcastleNo it wasnt about ‘them coming here’ or race you silly sausage Forrest! (below). The manics were lefty antifascists, fact. Mind you dont get brainwashed by the elites media! They decided to keep us divided (nobody else) X
Forrest from LondonThis song is actually about the Islamic wave to west. If you listen to it again with that in mind it becomes obvious.
Paul Harris from Liverpool, UkThis is the longest titled record to reach No1
John from LondonPerfect song about the current Marxist-inspired SJW's pulling down statues, burning down police stations, killing people and pushing back race-relations to a point where people no longer care anymore. If you tolerate this, then your children will be next...indeed.
Kamran from London, United KingdomYes the title is taken from a poster of a child suffering in the foreground under a sky of nationalist bombers and underneath it reads 'if you tolerate this then your children will be next'. Other insperations for the song are from the book by George Orwell 'Hommage to Catalonia' which is about Orwells first hand accounts of the war, The line 'Ive walked La Ramblas but not with real intent' is directly linked to this book
Steve from Cardiff, Wales"if i can shoot rabbits then i can shoot fascists" is a quote from a welsh farmer who went to fight franco.
Alan from Cork, IrelandThe title of this song does indeed relate to the Spanish Civil War, but to the best of my knowledge more specifically to the Communist leader Dolores Ibarruri or "La Pasionaria", who appealed to the French government to come to the aid of the Spanish Republic against Franco and Fascism during the Civil War . This they failed to do and a short time later France was under the occupation of Nazi Germany, thus the title of the song.
-Alan, Cork, currently living in Spain.
Dave from Cardiff, WalesMore recent anti-terror campaign posters have also drawn inspiration from this - in 2001 posters were strewn all over the area near to Wales' National Assembly buildings in Cardiff concerning the war on Iraq, with the caption: "If you tolerate this, your children will be next... And if your children tolerate this, there's NO TELLING WHO'LL BE NEXT!"
Paul from Derry, IrelandThe title comes from recruiting posters used by the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. They showed images of carnage caused by Francos's Nationalists with the strapline "If you tolerate this your children will be next."
Rhett from Melbourne, Australiaa brilliant song this....

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