I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
He's a man
With a plan
Got a counterfeit dollar in his hand
He's Misstra know-it-all
Playin' hard
Talkin' fast
Makin' sure that he won't be the last
He's Misstra know-it-all
Makes a deal
With a smile
Knowin' all the time that his lie's a mile
He's Misstra know-it-all
Must be seen
There's no doubt
He's the coolest one with the biggest mouth
He's Misstra know-it-all
When you tell him he's livin' fast
He will say what do you know
If you had my kind of cash
You'd have more than one place to go
Ooh
Any place
He will play
His only concern is how much you'll pay
He's Misstra know-it-all
If he shakes
On a bet
He's the kind of dude that won't pay his debt
He's Misstra know-it-all
When you say that he's living wrong
He'll tell you he knows he's livin' right
And you'd be a stronger man
If you took Misstra know-it-all's advice oh oh
Ooh
He's a man
With a plan
Got a counterfeit dollar in his hand
He's Misstra know-it-all
Take my word
Please beware
Of a man that just don't give a care no
He's Misstra know-it-all (look out he's coming)
Dum bum bum ba bum bum
Dum bum bum ba bum bum
Bum bum bum bum bum say
He's Misstra know-it-all
Can this line, take his hand
Take your hat off to the man who's got the plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
Every boy take your hand
To the man that's got the plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
Give a hand to the man
Don't you know he's got the plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
Give a hand to the man
You know damn well he's got the super plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
Give a hand to the man
You know damn well he's got the super plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
If we had less of him
Don't you know we'd have a better land
He's Misstra know-it-all
So give a hand to the man
Although you've given out as much as you can
He's Misstra know-it-all
Check his sound out
He'll tell it all
Hey you talk too much you worry me to death
He's Misstra know-it-all
With a plan
Got a counterfeit dollar in his hand
He's Misstra know-it-all
Playin' hard
Talkin' fast
Makin' sure that he won't be the last
He's Misstra know-it-all
Makes a deal
With a smile
Knowin' all the time that his lie's a mile
He's Misstra know-it-all
Must be seen
There's no doubt
He's the coolest one with the biggest mouth
He's Misstra know-it-all
When you tell him he's livin' fast
He will say what do you know
If you had my kind of cash
You'd have more than one place to go
Ooh
Any place
He will play
His only concern is how much you'll pay
He's Misstra know-it-all
If he shakes
On a bet
He's the kind of dude that won't pay his debt
He's Misstra know-it-all
When you say that he's living wrong
He'll tell you he knows he's livin' right
And you'd be a stronger man
If you took Misstra know-it-all's advice oh oh
Ooh
He's a man
With a plan
Got a counterfeit dollar in his hand
He's Misstra know-it-all
Take my word
Please beware
Of a man that just don't give a care no
He's Misstra know-it-all (look out he's coming)
Dum bum bum ba bum bum
Dum bum bum ba bum bum
Bum bum bum bum bum say
He's Misstra know-it-all
Can this line, take his hand
Take your hat off to the man who's got the plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
Every boy take your hand
To the man that's got the plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
Give a hand to the man
Don't you know he's got the plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
Give a hand to the man
You know damn well he's got the super plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
Give a hand to the man
You know damn well he's got the super plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
If we had less of him
Don't you know we'd have a better land
He's Misstra know-it-all
So give a hand to the man
Although you've given out as much as you can
He's Misstra know-it-all
Check his sound out
He'll tell it all
Hey you talk too much you worry me to death
He's Misstra know-it-all
Lyrics submitted by AgathaKavka
He's Misstra Know It All Lyrics as written by Stevie Wonder
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I'd say it's about some kind of a gambler. A guy who maybe cheats ("with a counterfeit dollar in his hand") or tricks people just to get his money ("playin' hard, talkin' fast, makin' sure that he won't be the last"). A gambler could at least be a possibility ("any place, he will play") because it's a normal thing to do if you like taking risks, know that you're good and so on. "His only concern is how much you'll pay" could mean that he knows he'll win, and he's very self confident and acts cool etc. "He'll tell you he knows he's living right", "If you had my kind of cash you'd have more than one place to go". He's cold and lonely, maybe, but lifts himself up in his mind because he's winning all the time.
So it seems to me like Stevie Wonder describes a hustler of some kind, maybe a seller ("makes a deal with a smile") that lures people to pay too much, or just a guy that has found a way to beat the system. "Must be seen, there's no doubt, he's the coolest one with the biggest smile", maybe points out the ego in him, giving me the impression that he's either having a lot of secrets or just enjoying it all. And tricking others to "believe" his smile and friendliness.
"If we had less of him, we'd had a better land" proves to me, at least, that this is about a character who's personality can be found in every population. And not about Nixon, but about a man that started off with nothing and worked his way up to get rich with dirty money. Though, of course, this is pointed at the United States, and maybe the US money culture in general (like ASigIAm213 said).
As for "He's misstra know it all", I know what it means, but what about "His misstra know(s) it all"? Like if it's his woman, or God, or any other person knowing that "his lie's a mile". At least that's a feeling I get: Somebody knows all the wrong he's done. But on the other hand, it pretty obviously means "He is Mr. Know-It-All", right?
Yeah.
One of my favorite songs of all time, too. Doesn't mean I'm correct at all, though. :) Maybe it actually is about Nixon.