Making History

Adam Ant's song 'Making History' delves into the grim and often ironic nature of human conflict and violence. The lyrics paint a stark picture of 'murder happy characters' who derive pleasure from committing heinous acts. These characters are depicted as having fun while committing murders, even targeting innocent children. The repetition of the phrase 'And we call this making history' serves as a biting commentary on how society often glorifies or normalizes violence and conflict as part of its historical narrative.

The song juxtaposes the 'good guys' and 'bad guys,' highlighting the mutual hatred between them. This binary opposition is a common trope in storytelling and history, where complex situations are often oversimplified into good versus evil. Adam Ant critiques this oversimplification by showing that both sides contribute to the cycle of violence. The line 'You want a second chance, but you don't get one' underscores the finality and irreversible nature of these violent acts, suggesting that once history is made, it cannot be undone.

The lyrics also touch on the idea of preemptive violence as a means of control. The 'murder happy characters' claim to know how to keep the crime rate low by 'nipping it in the bud.' This reflects real-world policies and actions where extreme measures are taken to prevent potential threats, often leading to more violence and loss of innocent lives. Adam Ant's 'Making History' serves as a powerful critique of how violence is interwoven with the human experience and how it is often justified or romanticized in the name of making history.