The lyrics were an attempt to make a statement on the Lebanese civil war which had been exacerbated by Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon of 1982 . In a television interview , Human League member Philip Adrian Wright commented that Oakey 's politically-charged lyrics were written specifically about the Sabra and Shatila massacre . Human League singer Susan Ann Sulley said of the song that the band " wanted to speak up for the little people " and say something about the situation in Lebanon at the time , and that the band was not trying to be political for the sake of it . The band were criticized at the time for being banal and " out of their depth " , but in a retrospective review , AllMusic journalist Andy Kellman wrote that the song " looks atrocious on paper but sounds fantastic " . . " The Lebanon " was released as a UK single in April 1984 . It failed to replicate the Top 3 success of the band 's previous singles " ( Keep Feeling ) Fascination " and " Mirror Man " , only reaching number 11 in the UK Singles chart and number 64 in the '' Billboard '' Hot 100 , becoming their lowest-charting single ever in the United States . The track has frequently been played by the band live and is nearly always on their set list
Sabra and Shatila massacre
Sabra and Shatila massacre
The Lebanon (song)