No one likes us
I don't know why
We may not be perfect
But heaven knows we try
But all around
Even our old friends put us down
Let's drop the big one
And see what happens

We give them money
But are they grateful
No, they're spiteful
And they're hateful
They don't respect us
So let's surprise them
We'll drop the big one
And pulverize them

Asia's crowded
And Europe's too old
Africa's far too hot
And Canada's too cold
And South America stole our name
Let's drop the big one
There'll be no one left to blame us

We'll save Australia
Don't want to hurt no kangaroo
We'll build an all American amusement park there
They've got surfing, too

Boom goes London
And boom Paris
More room for you
And more room for me
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town
Oh, how peaceful it'll be
We'll set everybody free
You'll have Japanese kimonos, baby
There'll be Italian shoes for me
They all hate us anyhow
So let's drop the big one now
Let's drop the big one now


Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira

Political Science Lyrics as written by Randy Newman

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Political Science song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    One of the most blisteringly brilliant satirical songs I've ever heard. It takes on a whole new meeaning after the Iraq war, and has become all the more important.

    I saw Randy Newman on a late night show, and he was brought on to play this thirty-year-old song. That's how important this facetious song is.

    jnb987on December 29, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Last time I saw Randy live he intro'd this by saying he'd written it as satire only to see it become prophecy and then reportage.

    pconlon March 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    How come there's no comments here? Maybe this is just too obscure a song that nobody knows, but hey, since last september its whole feel has changed. We do this song and these days it gets a huge response!

    russ'llon June 20, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Honestly i love Randy Newman's political songs, but of the ironic twist of his sound.

    Mostly Harmless is actually the best way to describe it, the lyrics have such strength, but the playful sound is just fun. Another great is the song call "rednecks", just don't sing it out loud cause you'll be lyntched.

    St. martanion April 18, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I saw Newman play this on Conan O' Brien as well. I thought he had written it yesterday. It was before I had truly discovered his music, so I was a little uneasy because I thought he might be serious. This song is similar to the Dead Kennedys "Kill the Poor" in that it would be an awesome idea if it weren't so terrible.

    yallon January 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is pretty damn funny.

    That's what I think.

    Java_bean_xon February 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    what he says about Australia is interesting and very true... funny too :P. American imperialism has gone too far...

    kikiwon August 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Randy Newman was so ahead of his time, everything from just the title of the song make it great. Political Science to describe the growing feeling of American superiority and dislike of other "non-American" countries.

    Nonfactoron February 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Is it sad that when I first heard this song, I had to check to make sure it was satire? I'm afraid that if Randy played this song down South, he'd get cheers for all the wrong reasons.

    tommygon September 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Tommyq - it's so true that if Randy played this song down South, he'd get cheers for all the wrong reasons. Same reasons Springsteen's Born in the USA was considered a war anthem - everything is grist to the rednecks' mill.

    Yes too brilliantly satirical for Middle America - excuse me while I despair.

    vasnmoGoon August 01, 2007   Link

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