The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
What would you do
If you were asked to give up your dreams for freedom
What would you do
If asked to make the ultimate sacrifice
Would you think about all them people
Who gave up everything they had.
Would you think about all them War Vets
And would you start to feel bad
Freedom isn't free
It costs folks like you and me
And if we don't all chip in
We'll never pay that bill
Freedom isn't free
No, there's a hefty fuckin' fee.
And if you don't throw in your buck o' five
Who will?
What would you do
If someone told you to fight for freedom.
Would you answer the call
Or run away like a little pussy
'Cause the only reason that you're here.
Is 'cause folks died for you in the past
So maybe now it's your turn
To die kicking some ass
Freedom isn't free
It costs folks like you and me
And if we don't all chip in
We'll never pay that bill
Freedom isn't free
Now there's a hefty fuckin' fee
And if you don't throw in your buck o' five
Who will?
You don't throw in your buck 'o five. Who will?
Oooh buck o' five
Freedom costs a buck 'o five
If you were asked to give up your dreams for freedom
What would you do
If asked to make the ultimate sacrifice
Would you think about all them people
Who gave up everything they had.
Would you think about all them War Vets
And would you start to feel bad
Freedom isn't free
It costs folks like you and me
And if we don't all chip in
We'll never pay that bill
Freedom isn't free
No, there's a hefty fuckin' fee.
And if you don't throw in your buck o' five
Who will?
What would you do
If someone told you to fight for freedom.
Would you answer the call
Or run away like a little pussy
'Cause the only reason that you're here.
Is 'cause folks died for you in the past
So maybe now it's your turn
To die kicking some ass
Freedom isn't free
It costs folks like you and me
And if we don't all chip in
We'll never pay that bill
Freedom isn't free
Now there's a hefty fuckin' fee
And if you don't throw in your buck o' five
Who will?
You don't throw in your buck 'o five. Who will?
Oooh buck o' five
Freedom costs a buck 'o five
Lyrics submitted by shirvs
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in the second chorus, they still say "hefty fuckin' fee"
This song is such a great parody of patriotic country songs. It basically takes their message and puts it in words that describe the sentiment better and makes me laugh. So good. The music in their movies is always great. Freedom costs a buck 'o five... hahahaha!
$1.05
I think it is supposed to sound like that bell-end country singer who made that stupid song about 9/11.
they should play this during speeches given by bush.
This song is halarious. Especailly the singing.
Does the live "freedom cost a 1.05" supposed to mean any thing, or is it just some random line they put in?
I thought it was "Fuck .o5."
The general meaning of the song is as follows. However, in short, the song is bashing current era politics in the sense that they claim improving foreign policy is hard when in fact it really isn't. Alluding to the phrase; "Freedom Costs a buck 'o five." satyrically states how simple it is to achieve GLOBAL freedom if only everyone were to chip in their $1.05.
Freedom Isn't Free I believe is a bash against common era governments (U.S. in particular). As many people may think, Trey Parker and Matt Stone would never have meaning in their songs but they're actually very intelligent guys. I believe it's a bash particularly on the American government because it's got the whole patriotic American country genre. The main thing I believe it revolves around in the issue of peace and freedom for all in the world. The American government (among others) constantly insist of how hard freedom is to achieve and how grateful we should be; while America is or has been in other countries imperializing countries however you see it. (Example: Nicoragua, Cuba, Iraq.)
Anyway what I'm ultimately getting at is the line repeated in the chorus etc: "Freedom costs a buck o' five." This line is mocking the American government satirically. This I believe because I think Trey and Matt know that it's a lot simpler than the government makes it sound. And if we were all to make a small sacrifice (literally) freedom and peace could be achieved for all. But to the American government - a dollar fifty is way too much! Since this song is making fun of American patriotism and saying that freedom costs a dollar five clearly states that the 20% of privileged people and governments of developed nations feel about freedom and peace. Read the lyrics again now understanding my interpretation.
Wow. Over-analyze much? It's actually really simple. It's a parody of an uber-nationalist country song, but it's not really satirical. The whole movie is a satire, but the song rings true to the American extremist characters. A "buck 'o' five" simply represents a taxed dollar (for the sake of the song, 5% tax). It's saying if everyone pays there taxes and "dues", they'll have freedom and democracy.