The Mercenary

Album: Brave New World (2000)
Play Video
  • Pay to kill, die to lose
    Hunted, hunter, which are you?
    Diablo, come again
    To make trophies out of men
    Lose your skin, lose your skull
    One by one the sack is full
    In the heat dehydrate
    Know which breath will be your last

    Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
    You've got to kill to stay alive
    Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
    You've got to kill to stay alive

    Show them no fear, show them no pain
    Show them no fear, show them no pain
    Show them no fear, show them no pain
    Show them no fear, show them no pain

    Human heart, human mind
    Intellect intertwined
    Focus sharp in the night
    Watch the jungle burning bright
    Toe to toe, throw the line
    Everyone's caught hands tied
    Iron will, iron fist
    How could it have come to this?

    Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
    You've got to kill to stay alive
    Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
    You've got to kill to stay alive

    Show them no fear, show them no pain
    Show them no fear, show them no pain
    Show them no fear, show them no pain
    Show them no fear, show them no pain

    Show them no fear, show them no pain
    Show them no fear, show them no pain
    Show them no fear, show them no pain
    Show them no fear, show them no pain
    Show them no fear, show them no pain Writer/s: Janick Gers, Stephen Percy Harris
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

  • Dec from GalwayIt's about the movie Predator. As a response to previous comments, The Mercenary does not = Predator, The Mercenary = "Dutch" Schaefer, Arnold Schwarzenegger's character, the last mercenary hunted by "El Diablo". And to the person who said the the lyric "You have to kill to stay alive" makes no sense in the context of the movie, I ask this - would Dutch still be alive at the end of the movie, if he hadn't killed the predator? He had to kill him to stay alive.
  • Whatevs from Where NotCould it just be random lyrics? To me it makes no sense this is about Predator.
  • Jon from Sd, CaLol
    It's about Predator...

    "Diablo come again to make trophies out of men"
    Predator is often referred to as "el Diablo."

    "Lose your skin, lose your skull, one by one the sack is full"
    Predator skins its victims and takes their skulls as trophies. "one by one" comments on the predator's hunting style, it doesn't bust in guns blazing, it picks its targets off when they separate.

    "In the heat dehydrate"
    Predators are attracted to warmth, they are only found in hot places and if they are in a cold region, they will find warmth.

    "Focus sharp in the night, watch the jungle burning bright"
    May be a direct reference to the ending scene in the first movie.

    "Toe to toe throw the line, everyone's caught hand tied"
    "hand tied" isn't to be taken literally, it represents how a predator hunts. It outsmarts its prey and traps them in a position where their "hands are tied" (where they cant do anything, or can only do one thing)

    "Show them no fear, show them no pain"
    This is about the predator's honor system. It has to do with never running away. If you don't win, you die. Running away would disgrace them.

    The lyrics are not about the movie, just about the predator in general.
  • John from Philadelphia, PaAlso, there are the lyrics that say "you have to kill to stay alive", but if they don't kill then the Predator won't kill them, just like the spanish girl. So that doesn't make sense. So, while some of the lyrics do fit with the predator, most don't. It's about something else.
  • Mike from Lakewood, CoLol@ the hitler comment... obviously never heard the song before. This song definately isn't about the predator although a lot of the lyrics fit... the ending lyrics before the final chourus state that everyone gets caught and that their hands are tied. "Toe to toe throw the line, everyone's caught hand tied Iron will iron fist, how could it have come to this?" Nowhere in predator does that happen. And also mr scottland the lyrics are "one by one the sack is full". If it is predator then a lot of things don't fit. As simple as "show them no fear, show them no pain". Who are they? Sounds like someone got caught and now being tortured. But if anyone finds out if its an actual story or just a mercenary killing everyone let me know.
  • Joey from Douglas, GaI think it is about the war in Vetetnaim. Reason for "Watch the jungle burning bright."
  • Xavier from Usa, IlI didn't know at first it was about the movie Predator, but it makes sense. I think however that bands who get inspiration from books and movies, have better songs in many cases. I knew what the song meant to 'me' right away, in a general essence it can be viewed as not allowing evil to win, and don't let the evil feed on fear and pain. It's about being strong and knowing your 'trapped', but knowing who your enemy is and knowing you are really free. at least to me that is what it's about.
  • Jaymz from Ayr, ScotlandThe song is about the movie "Predator" it has nothing to do with Hitler as stated by the chap Damien from Canada. How can anyone even come up with that as a result. Nothing in the lyrics points towards Hitler. The woman in the movie Predator spoke of a devil making tropheys out of men. Hence the lyrics that Bruce sang: "Diablo come again to make tropheys out of men" and as the chap above (Lewis) stated the lyrics: "Lose your skin lose your skull" which is what the Predator does to it's victims - strips them of their skin and skull which it keeps for a trophey, and also the lyrics "one by one the sidekicks fall" meaning Arnold's sidekicks getting taken down one by one.

    The Mercenary = Predator.
  • Damien from Edmonton, CanadaMeh, I think this song is about Hitler. Great song though.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Tommy James

Tommy JamesSongwriter Interviews

"Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Draggin' The Line"... the hits kept coming for Tommy James, and in a plot line fit for a movie, his record company was controlled by the mafia.

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.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.