Survivor Guilt

Album: Endgame (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by the film adaptation of Joseph Heller's novel, Catch-22 and features dialogue from one of the movie's central scenes, where Art Garfunkel's character argues with an Italian solider about America's military importance. Frontman Tim McIlrath explained to Spin magazine: "Garfunkel says to him, 'How can Italy be powerful when they were occupied by Nazi Germany?' and the soldier just sort of laughs at his stupidity and tells him, 'Well, we're still here — where are those people who occupied us? They lost.' It's this interesting anti-war statement and you can just see it blowing the soldier's mind."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.