The volunteers were tired
Heads were hanging low
The news had spoiled their appetite
For stuffing envelopes
Twelve points was an awful lot
To be down in the polls
With only two weeks to go
Shouldering the phone
Loosening his tie
His running mate on pricks and pins
Hovering beside
The candidate wrote furiously
As if to save his life
Then hung up the phone
And spoke with great conviction
When you're nothing but a boyfriend
Dangling by a thread
Keep in mind the bottom line
Diamonds are a girl's best friend

Inches from the goal
One thing on his mind
To get behind her desk and make
Some big decisions
Power can be such a tease
You're always wanting more
It's good to know that just like sex
It can be paid for


Lyrics submitted by ScreamingInfidelity

Simple Economics Lyrics as written by David Shannon Bazan

Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY

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Simple Economics song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    I love Pedro the Lion. they're so deep and spiritual... yet that was kinda about sex so I dont know what I'm talking about. his other songs are better.

    Timberwolves at NJon June 07, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Hey everyone look at my comments under "Mind Of her Own" not "A Mind of her Own". It explains what the whole "Winners Never Quit" CD is about. The Whole cd is a story where each song explains a part of the story. It is christian. I promise. The "Whole" ep does the same thing in that it tells a story of David Bazan's Life and addiction to drugs but repents and is forgiven!!

    tobenut85on June 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    its so great......im crying

    dr.jacobon June 21, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Actually, David was never addicted to drugs. He said so himself.

    But it's still a great album.

    Pilchardon September 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song. I like how the lines "when you're nothing but a boyfriend/dangling by a thread/keep in mind the bottom line/diamonds are a girls's best friend" ties in with the last line "it's good to know that just like sex it can be paid for."

    Bad politician. Bad.

    sscw46on March 04, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    dear tobenut85, most of the songs that David writes are fictional, thats right they are stories. but he is a very convincing story teller so I can see how you would think that "Winners Never Quit" was about David. If they were about him, then he would most likely be in jail for killing someone right now (never leave the job half done) and drunk driving (to protect the family name).

    PedroFan0001on April 25, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hmm dear everybody what is this song about?? im tad confuzzled by it thanks

    churchclotheson May 10, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    pedro is the best

    berniceon July 07, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    David is showing the parallels between being a politician and being a boyfriend.

    He's saying that if you're just behind in the polls, or if you're doing badly with your girlfriend, money can always fix the situation.

    The closer your get to the goal, that is the only thing that occupies your mind. When he says that power is such a tease, it's clear that he's imply that girls can be teases as well, and you're always wanting more of both: power and sex.

    Cynically, he shows that money can not only win you the position behind a desk (the goal of the politician), but it can win over your girlfriend for sex (the goal of a boyfriend).

    I just bought the CD and I noticed this. PTL is here on July 9th and I'm going to make sure I don't miss it.

    Lightbluenesson June 12, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    LIGHTBLUENESS- you opened up a new possible meaning for this song, but i just keep getting tied up at the whole

    "One thing on HIS mind To get behind HER desk and make some big decisions"

    who is he? and who is she? and why is HE getting behind HER desk?

    lerinjerinon June 04, 2008   Link

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