License To Kill

Waterboys · Other Songs - Waterboys

Man thinks 'cause he rules the earth he can do with it as he please

And if things don't change soon, he will.

'Cause man has invented his doom,

The first step was touching the moon.



Now, there's a woman on my block,

She just sits there as the night gets still.

She says who will take away his license to kill?



Now, they take him and they teach him and they groom him for life

And they set him on a path where he's bound to get ill,

And they bury him with stars,

Sell his body like they do used cars.



But there's a woman on my block,

She just sits there facin' the hill.

She says who will take away his license to kill?



Now, he's hell-bent for destruction, he's afraid and confused,

And his brain has been mismanaged with great skill.

Until all he believes are his eyes

And his eyes just tell him lies.



But there's a woman on my block,

Sitting there in a cold chill.

She says who will take away his license to kill?



Now he worships at an altar of a stagnant pool

And when he sees his reflection, he's fulfilled.

Oh, man wants it all his own way,

And he is opposed to fair play.



But there's a woman on my block,

She just sits there as the night grows still.

She say who will take away his license to kill?

License To Kill

Released by the Scottish indie rock band Waterboys, 'License To Kill' stands as a defining track from their 1984 debut album A Pagan Place. The song exemplifies the group's signature blend of melodic pop sensibilities with complex, jazz-influenced harmonies and intricate guitar work. Written by the band's frontman Peter Hook, the recording captures the raw energy and melodic sophistication that would characterize their early discography. It remains a staple of their catalog, frequently cited as a key example of the shoegaze and indie rock movements emerging in the mid-1980s. The track's enduring appeal lies in its atmospheric production and the interplay between Hook's vocals and the band's rhythmic drive, cementing its status as a significant work in their body of output.