You've Got a Chance

I totally agree with the two posts above and am not at all trying to undercut their opinions with my post, however, I do intend to take what they posted a little bit further and expand on their thoughts and ideas. Also, I intend to look at the song a whole and give meaning to all of it.

I believe there are 3 main points that are also very different in this song. The first point is the first verse and I believe Graffin was writing about the 2000 election in this verse. The album was released in May of 2000, six months before the presidential election. Graffin may have been voicing his opinion of the candidates shrouded “in disguise” and how the American people remain “reluctantly aligned” or together by force. The second verse is were Graffin may be voicing his concern of pop culture and the reality T.V. shows that began to take over at the turn of the century. The lines that indicate this to me the most is the last two, “Popularity and fame don’t care / if you’re a reprobate.” In other words, you can become famous even if you are a degenerate, which is something that our culture has embraced as of late. The third main point comes in the interlude I guess you could call it. This part talks of how we have the right motivations and intentions but society has drilled us in a certain direction and forces us to do things that, in turn, do not allow us to do the right thing. And of course the chorus is telling us that we do have a chance.

That’s my take on the song, other thoughts are welcomed and encouraged.