We who have so much to you who have so little
to you who don't have anything at all
We who have so much more than any one man does need
and you who don't have anything at all, ah
Does anybody need another million dollar movie
does anybody need another million dollar star
Does anybody need to be told over and over
spitting in the wind comes back at you twice as hard

Strawman, going straight to the devil
Strawman, going straight to hell
Strawman, going straight to the devil

Strawman
Strawman
Strawman
Strawman, yes

Does anyone really need a billion dollar rocket
does anyone need a 60,000 dollars car
Does anyone need another president
or the sins of Swaggart parts 6, 7, 8 and 9, ah
Does anyone need yet another politician
caught with his pants down and money sticking in his hole
Does anyone need another racist preacher
spittin' in the wind can only do you harm, ooohhh

Strawman, going straight to the devil
Strawman, going straight to hell
Strawman, going straight to the devil

Strawman
Strawman
Strawman
Strawman

Does anyone need another faulty shuttle
blasting off to the moon, Venus or Mars
Does anybody need another self-righteous rock singer
whose nose he says has led him straight to God
Does anyone need yet another blank skyscraper
if you're like me I'm sure a minor miracle will do
A flaming sword or maybe a gold ark floating up the Hudson
when you spit in the wind it comes right back at you

Strawman, going straight to the devil
Strawman, going straight to hell
Strawman, going to the devil

Strawman, strawman
Strawman, ...., ah
Strawman
Strawman



Lyrics submitted by Eatcarpet

Strawman Lyrics as written by Lou Reed

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Strawman song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    This is a great song.

    Eatcarpeton March 20, 2005   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    Yes, a great song. I mean, let's face it, he's talking about how fed up he is with things going on around that time. I just like the way he sings it with anger. R.I.P Lou.

    scarfone58on November 02, 2013   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    Yep, a great angry song from a great angry album by a great angry artist. No question.

    The true meaning of the song isn't just a list of things Lou was fed up with. It's the title. Strawman. As in "a straw man argument". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man

    A straw man argument is a false argument, an intentional exaggeration, one easily defeated. Nobody NEEDS the things he lists in the song, like a $60,000 car. Check the opening lines:

    We who have so much / to you who have so little to you who don't have anything at all We who have so much / more than any one man does need and you who don't have anything at all

    We (the wealthy citizens of New York) don't NEED any of these things. Not compared to the rest of the world, which is in ruins. What we need is a sign that the our time is running out - the flaming sword, etc.

    tkaczmarekon December 30, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is a great track, filled with anger and bitterness regarding the scum and douchebags that fill our world every day.

    This song rocks so hard. This tracks kicks all kinds of ass.

    goodvibe61on February 21, 2014   Link

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