Lyrics of Back in Control by Sabaton
Sent to the islands to secure what is ours
Marching ashore in the cover of night
Hide until dawn and attack in the twilight
Shake them awake with the thunder of guns
Orders from the iron maiden, get the islands back
Failure will not be accepted, call for artillery strike, launch attack
We are back in control, force them to surrender
Take what is ours, restore law and order
Back in control, push them further out to sea
Falklands in our hands, back under British reign
Push them back further and out from the islands
Into our fleet that will stop their retreat
Mark their positions and call in the airforce
Harriers and Vulcans strikes at our command
Historical Background
In short: The song is about the British recapture of the Falkland Islands in 1982.
Back in Control – The Falklands War and Britain’s Fight to Take Back Its Territory
Some wars are fought over ideology. Others over survival. But the Falklands War (1982)?
This was about pride, sovereignty, and proving that an empire—though faded—was far from finished.
Sabaton’s Back in Control throws you straight into the British counterattack, when the UK refused to back down and launched one of the most daring military operations of the 20th century.
Let’s break it down.
The Invasion – Argentina Takes the Falklands
On April 2, 1982, Argentina’s military junta, led by General Leopoldo Galtieri, invaded the Falkland Islands—a small British territory off the coast of South America.
Why?
- Argentina claimed the islands as their own (calling them Islas Malvinas).
- The ruling dictatorship needed a quick victory to distract from economic collapse and internal unrest.
- They assumed Britain wouldn’t fight for a few remote islands.
They were wrong.
“Sent to the islands to secure what is ours, marching ashore in the cover of night.”
When Argentina took the islands, Britain had two choices: accept defeat or take them back.
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher made it clear:
Britain. Does. Not. Surrender.
The British Counterattack – Operation Corporate
“Orders from the Iron Maiden, get the islands back. Failure will not be accepted.”
The “Iron Maiden” wasn’t just a metal reference—it was Margaret Thatcher. And her orders? Send the fleet. Take back the Falklands. No excuses.
- 28,000 British troops
- 127 warships, submarines, and support vessels
- Elite forces: The SAS, Royal Marines, and Paratroopers
“We are back in control, force them to surrender. Take what is ours, restore law and order.”
The British launched a naval and air campaign, cutting off Argentina’s forces on the islands.
May 1: British Vulcan bombers hit Stanley Airfield in a record-breaking long-range bombing run.
May 2: HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano, forcing Argentina’s navy to retreat.
May 21: British troops landed on the Falklands, launching their ground assault.
The Final Push – Retaking the Falklands
“Push them back further and out from the islands, into our fleet that will stop their retreat.”
The British fought through brutal conditions, facing entrenched Argentine forces. But they had one advantage:
Superior training, firepower, and air support.
- Harrier jets dominated the skies.
- The Royal Navy pounded enemy positions.
- Commandos pushed the Argentines out, town by town.
By June 14, 1982, Argentina surrendered.
“Falklands in our hands, back under British reign.”
The war lasted just 74 days, but it cemented Britain’s military dominance and restored its national pride.
Why Back in Control Hits Hard
This wasn’t just about land—it was about proving Britain still had the will to fight.
- Argentina underestimated them. The British hit back harder than anyone expected.
- It was a modern war. Jets, warships, special forces—this wasn’t a colonial-era fight.
- It was a message. The UK sent a clear warning to the world: We don’t back down.
And thanks to that, the Falklands are still British territory today.
The Lesson?
Never assume a wounded lion won’t bite.
Argentina thought Britain wouldn’t fight.
Britain fought harder than anyone imagined.
And in the end, the islands were back under British rule.
