As I read and listen to the song, the use of "Please" caught my attention.
Please don’t shoot us any more
Please don’t shoot us any more
Please stop this war
Maybe it is just that I don't fully understand how/when to use "Please," but if I tell you how I felt honestly, I felt a sense of unease with "Please" in the above lyrics because I came up with a question : Do you need to say "please" in saying "Don't shoot us any more"?
I would have said them without "Please."
I know that lyrics are written with careful attention to each and every word, so the use of "Please" must be the result of deep thought, but I don' get it.
When someone is under duress, being forced to do something against their will, they will plead with the persecutor. When we plead or beg for something, we often use “Please…”, so in this case, it gives the feeling that the people are begging not to be attacked any more. “Don’t shoot us any more” has the nuance of a threat as in, “Don’t shoot us any more or we will do (xyz)!”, but the people in this case probably do not have equal power with the persecutor to demand anything. “Please” has the feeling of begging someone earnestly to do something.
Thank you, Louise, for a clear explanation. It makes perfect sense. I didn't know that the expression without "please" has the nuance of a threat. Thank you! Mitsuru
Maybe I should have written “could” have the nuance of a threat. It isn’t always the case, is it…. or is it? I tell my cat, “Don’t eat that!” And it implies “because it will make you sick.” Hmmm.🤔
I've just read through your conversation with Mitsuru, I agree with both him and you... but what a sad and depressing world we live in for this question to even arise, for a song to be written with lyrics such as "Please don't shoot us anymore"... 😔
Slava Ukraini!
As I read and listen to the song, the use of "Please" caught my attention.
Please don’t shoot us any more
Please don’t shoot us any more
Please stop this war
Maybe it is just that I don't fully understand how/when to use "Please," but if I tell you how I felt honestly, I felt a sense of unease with "Please" in the above lyrics because I came up with a question : Do you need to say "please" in saying "Don't shoot us any more"?
I would have said them without "Please."
I know that lyrics are written with careful attention to each and every word, so the use of "Please" must be the result of deep thought, but I don' get it.
Mitsuru
Thank you for the great question, Mitsuru!
When someone is under duress, being forced to do something against their will, they will plead with the persecutor. When we plead or beg for something, we often use “Please…”, so in this case, it gives the feeling that the people are begging not to be attacked any more. “Don’t shoot us any more” has the nuance of a threat as in, “Don’t shoot us any more or we will do (xyz)!”, but the people in this case probably do not have equal power with the persecutor to demand anything. “Please” has the feeling of begging someone earnestly to do something.
Does this make sense?
Thank you, Louise, for a clear explanation. It makes perfect sense. I didn't know that the expression without "please" has the nuance of a threat. Thank you! Mitsuru
Maybe I should have written “could” have the nuance of a threat. It isn’t always the case, is it…. or is it? I tell my cat, “Don’t eat that!” And it implies “because it will make you sick.” Hmmm.🤔
I've just read through your conversation with Mitsuru, I agree with both him and you... but what a sad and depressing world we live in for this question to even arise, for a song to be written with lyrics such as "Please don't shoot us anymore"... 😔
For pride, power, and profit. Endless, senseless war.