Inspiration behind the DAD title revealed

23-Aug-2002 • Die Another Day

Jim Smith, author of unofficial book "The Bond Films", writes in (strangely) Doctor Who magazine about the inspiration of the "Die Another Day" title:

"The title is derived from the work of the poet A E Housman, whose signature collection, A Shropshire Lad (1896), contains the verse `The Day of Battle`, which itself contains a discussion of whether dying in battle is a worthwhile thing to do. At the suggestion that it might be better to run away, the poem points out that someone who `runs away lives to die another day`. The appropriation of Housman`s ambivalent sentiments suggests that the producers are keen to explore areas of ambiguity within the Bond character, and question his motivations."

The full poem:
A. E. Housman, "The Day of Battle"

"Comrade, if to turn and fly
Made a soldier never die,
Fly I would, for who would not?
`Tis sure no pleasure to be shot.

"But since the man that runs away
Lives to die another day,
And cowards` funerals, when they come,
Are not wept so well at home,

"Therefore, though the best is bad,
Stand and do the best, my lad;
Stand and fight and see your slain,
And take the bullet in your brain."