In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Up there on the platform
He is speaking to the people
The people are responding
With clapping and a'cheering
But the meaning of the message
Not revealed to those assembled
They're taken for a ride
Taken In his stride
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
There's a rumor in the ranking
Someone's talking insurrection
So the General has a purge
Cause he wants to win elections
With the certain satisfaction
That the people are appeased
Long live the revolution
The General's very pleased
Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around
He is speaking to the people
The people are responding
With clapping and a'cheering
But the meaning of the message
Not revealed to those assembled
They're taken for a ride
Taken In his stride
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
There's a rumor in the ranking
Someone's talking insurrection
So the General has a purge
Cause he wants to win elections
With the certain satisfaction
That the people are appeased
Long live the revolution
The General's very pleased
Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Exposes how manipulative the government/army is in selling war
Oils on the Water performance of this song - unbeatable. Wish I'd seen it live but I was only 8 at the time! ha ha.
General Electric, General Insurance, etc. Also about the soveriegnty of corporations apart from government. Oppressive capitalism.
one of midnight oil's best. awesome live.
fat cats pushing thin cats around? is it saying that big corporations are driving the small firms out of business? coz that kinda is a problem of capitalism.
hmm also mentions appeasement of the people, gathering support etc.
anyway its a great song. im suprised more people haven't commented on the midnight oil songs.
Military industrial complex
This doesn't look like a complete set of lyrics, as the spoken part is missing. (This is where they say "We have General Motors... General Foods corporation... General Insurance... they're the worst generals of all you know!") I have to wonder if that part exists.
@quamp lyrics dont usually come with spoken parts, also there was another bit to the spoken part only found in the original studio version
It starts with the more obvious generals around. The military dictatorships which will do anything to stay in power. Purging is a nice way of saying killing.
Further on in the song the more hidden "generals" of modern society are reveiled, the big business cooperations which will do exactly the same. And if you think they will stop short of killing, you're wrong. As said: they are the worst kind of generals.