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.
I pushed the button and elected him to office and
He pushed the button and he dropped the bomb
You pushed the button and could watch it on the television
Those motherfuckers didn't last too long
I'm sick of hearing 'bout the have's and have-not's
Have some personal accountability
The biggest problem with the way that we've been doing things is
The more we let you have, the less that I'll be keeping for me
Well, I used to stand for something
Now I'm on my hands and knees
Traded in my god for this one
And he signs his name with a capital G
Don't give a shit about the temperature in Guatemala
Don't really see what all the fuss is about
Ain't gonna worry about no future generations and I
Am sure somebody's gonna figure it out
Don't try to tell me that some power can corrupt a person
You haven't had enough to know what it's like
You're only angry 'cause you wish you were in my position
Now nod your head because you know that I'm right, all right!
Well, I used to stand for something
But forgot what that could be
There's a lot of me inside you
Maybe you're afraid to see
Well, I used to stand for something
Now I'm on my hands and knees
Traded in my god for this one
And he signs his name with a capital G
Well, I used to stand for something
But forgot what that could be
There's a lot of me inside you
Maybe you're afraid to see
Well, I used to stand for something
Now I'm on my hands and knees
Traded in my god for this one
And he signs his name with a capital G
He pushed the button and he dropped the bomb
You pushed the button and could watch it on the television
Those motherfuckers didn't last too long
I'm sick of hearing 'bout the have's and have-not's
Have some personal accountability
The biggest problem with the way that we've been doing things is
The more we let you have, the less that I'll be keeping for me
Well, I used to stand for something
Now I'm on my hands and knees
Traded in my god for this one
And he signs his name with a capital G
Don't give a shit about the temperature in Guatemala
Don't really see what all the fuss is about
Ain't gonna worry about no future generations and I
Am sure somebody's gonna figure it out
Don't try to tell me that some power can corrupt a person
You haven't had enough to know what it's like
You're only angry 'cause you wish you were in my position
Now nod your head because you know that I'm right, all right!
Well, I used to stand for something
But forgot what that could be
There's a lot of me inside you
Maybe you're afraid to see
Well, I used to stand for something
Now I'm on my hands and knees
Traded in my god for this one
And he signs his name with a capital G
Well, I used to stand for something
But forgot what that could be
There's a lot of me inside you
Maybe you're afraid to see
Well, I used to stand for something
Now I'm on my hands and knees
Traded in my god for this one
And he signs his name with a capital G
Lyrics submitted by SMUSER17012811, edited by blackcats111, shadowcat9
Capital G Lyrics as written by Trent Reznor
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think the application of the Capital G to George Bush is short-sighted and somewhat childish- Trent is more subversive then that. I'd invite interpreters to think about the implication of a Capital to a name- we use the capital to speak about God, even in the pronoun form. I think the song is attempting to point out how we allow our leaders to make decisions for us, and effectively become removed from the system that we have chosen by voting for it. In a sense, we worship this system in the most passive and apathetic way possible- as a television audience (in the song).