If I Had a Rocket Launcher
Encyclopedia
"If I Had a Rocket Launcher" is a song by Bruce Cockburn
, from his 1984 album Stealing Fire
.
The song was inspired by Cockburn's visit, sponsored by OXFAM
, to Guatemala
n refugee camps in Mexico
following the counterinsurgency campaign of dictator Efraín Ríos Montt
. Although Cockburn had occasionally touched on political themes in his earlier songs, "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" was his first explicitly political song to be released as a single, and earned him a new reputation as an outspoken musical activist.
In the song, Cockburn despairs of waiting for a political solution to the crisis, and expresses the desire to take matters into his own hands. Each verse ends with a line stating what Cockburn would do if he had a rocket launcher
: in the first verse, I'd make somebody pay. In the second, I would retaliate. In the third, I would not hesitate.
The fourth and final verse ends with the song's most famous and controversial lyric: if Cockburn had a rocket launcher, some son-of-a-bitch would die.
In a later interview, Cockburn stated that the song "is not a call to arms; this is a cry."
In 2009, Cockburn performed the song for Canadian troops in Afghanistan; he was subsequently presented (temporarily) with a rocket launcher.
in Toronto
.
The song also reached No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100
charts in the United States
. It was Cockburn's only single besides "Wondering Where the Lions Are
" to even reach the Top 100 in that country.
.
During their Maybe You Should Drive
tour, Barenaked Ladies
often inserted the "some son-of-a-bitch would die" lyric into their own song "If I Had $1000000
".
Following their album Rattle and Hum
, U2
reportedly rehearsed the song a number of times with the intention to record a cover
, although this never materialized.
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
, from his 1984 album Stealing Fire
Stealing Fire
Stealing Fire is an album by Bruce Cockburn released in 1984. It featured the hit singles "If I Had a Rocket Launcher", an angry political commentary on refugees under fire, and "Lovers in a Dangerous Time"...
.
The song was inspired by Cockburn's visit, sponsored by OXFAM
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
, to Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n refugee camps in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
following the counterinsurgency campaign of dictator Efraín Ríos Montt
Efraín Ríos Montt
José Efraín Ríos Montt is a former de facto President of Guatemala, dictator, army general, and former president of Congress. In the 2003 presidential elections, he unsuccessfully ran as the candidate of the ruling Guatemalan Republican Front .Huehuetenango-born Ríos Montt remains one of the most...
. Although Cockburn had occasionally touched on political themes in his earlier songs, "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" was his first explicitly political song to be released as a single, and earned him a new reputation as an outspoken musical activist.
In the song, Cockburn despairs of waiting for a political solution to the crisis, and expresses the desire to take matters into his own hands. Each verse ends with a line stating what Cockburn would do if he had a rocket launcher
Shoulder-launched missile weapon
A shoulder-fired missile, shoulder-launched missile or man-portable missile is a projectile fired at a target, small enough to be carried by a single person, and fired while held on one's shoulder...
: in the first verse, I'd make somebody pay. In the second, I would retaliate. In the third, I would not hesitate.
The fourth and final verse ends with the song's most famous and controversial lyric: if Cockburn had a rocket launcher, some son-of-a-bitch would die.
In a later interview, Cockburn stated that the song "is not a call to arms; this is a cry."
In 2009, Cockburn performed the song for Canadian troops in Afghanistan; he was subsequently presented (temporarily) with a rocket launcher.
Chart performance
Although the song received considerable airplay on Canadian radio in early 1985, many radio stations played an edited version which faded out before the "son-of-a-bitch" lyric was heard. The song failed to reach the national Top 40, peaking at No. 49 on the Canadian charts in the week of March 9, 1985. It did, however, reach the Top 40 in some individual markets — for example, it peaked at No. 24 on the CHUM ChartCHUM Chart
The CHUM Chart was a ranking of top 30 songs on Toronto, Ontario radio station CHUM 1050 AM, from 1957 to 1986, and was the longest-running Top 40 chart in the world produced by an individual radio station...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
The song also reached No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
charts in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was Cockburn's only single besides "Wondering Where the Lions Are
Wondering Where the Lions Are
"Wondering Where the Lions Are" is a song by Bruce Cockburn, from his 1979 album Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws. It was Cockburn's only Top 40 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100....
" to even reach the Top 100 in that country.
Other notes
The song was covered by Cottage Industry on the 1991 Bruce Cockburn tribute album Kick at the DarknessKick at the Darkness
Kick at the Darkness is a tribute album to Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn, released in 1991. The title comes from a line in the song "Lovers in a Dangerous Time", gotta kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight....
.
During their Maybe You Should Drive
Maybe You Should Drive
- Singles :* "Jane"** Released: 1994** Formats: CD, cassette* "Alternative Girlfriend"** Released: 1995** Formats: CD- Charts :Album...
tour, Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
often inserted the "some son-of-a-bitch would die" lyric into their own song "If I Had $1000000
If I Had $1000000
"If I Had $1000000" is a song by the Canadian musical group Barenaked Ladies from their album Gordon. Composed by founding members Steven Page and Ed Robertson, the sing-along track has become one of the band's best-known songs, and is a live show staple, despite never having been a true single...
".
Following their album Rattle and Hum
Rattle and Hum
Rattle and Hum is the sixth studio album by rock band U2 and companion rockumentary directed by Phil Joanou, both released in 1988. The film and the album feature live recordings, covers, and new songs...
, U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
reportedly rehearsed the song a number of times with the intention to record a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
, although this never materialized.