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.
So, you've been to school
For a year or two
And you know you've seen it all
In daddy's car
Thinking you'll go far
Back east your type don't crawl
Playing ethnicky jazz
To parade your snazz
On your five-grand stereo
Braggin' that you know
How the niggers feel cold
And the slum's got so much soul
It's time to taste what you most fear
Right Guard will not help you here
Brace yourself, my dear
Brace yourself, my dear
It's a holiday in Cambodia
It's tough, kid, but it's life
It's a holiday in Cambodia
Don't forget to pack a wife
You're a star-belly snitch
You suck like a leech
You want everyone to act like you
Kiss ass while you bitch
So you can get rich
While your boss gets richer off you
Well, you'll work harder
With a gun in your back
For a bowl of rice a day
Slave for soldiers
Till you starve
Then your head is skewered on a stake
Now you can go where the people are one
Now you can go where they get things done
What you need, my son...
What you need, my son...
Is a holiday in Cambodia
Where people are dressed in black
A holiday in Cambodia
Where you'll kiss ass or crack
Pol Pot, Pol Pot, Pol Pot, Pol Pot
It's a holiday in Cambodia
Where you'll do what you're told
It's a holiday in Cambodia
Where the slums got so much soul
Pol Pot
For a year or two
And you know you've seen it all
In daddy's car
Thinking you'll go far
Back east your type don't crawl
Playing ethnicky jazz
To parade your snazz
On your five-grand stereo
Braggin' that you know
How the niggers feel cold
And the slum's got so much soul
It's time to taste what you most fear
Right Guard will not help you here
Brace yourself, my dear
Brace yourself, my dear
It's a holiday in Cambodia
It's tough, kid, but it's life
It's a holiday in Cambodia
Don't forget to pack a wife
You're a star-belly snitch
You suck like a leech
You want everyone to act like you
Kiss ass while you bitch
So you can get rich
While your boss gets richer off you
Well, you'll work harder
With a gun in your back
For a bowl of rice a day
Slave for soldiers
Till you starve
Then your head is skewered on a stake
Now you can go where the people are one
Now you can go where they get things done
What you need, my son...
What you need, my son...
Is a holiday in Cambodia
Where people are dressed in black
A holiday in Cambodia
Where you'll kiss ass or crack
Pol Pot, Pol Pot, Pol Pot, Pol Pot
It's a holiday in Cambodia
Where you'll do what you're told
It's a holiday in Cambodia
Where the slums got so much soul
Pol Pot
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It's self-explanatory. He's skewering the people in the opening of the song: So you been to schools For a year or two And you know you've seen it all
Basically, kid who has never been outside the suburbs goes off to college...learns about far left ideology (think Marx) and decides that he/she too will be a "revolutionary." They learn to "appreciate" jazz...thereby "understanding" the plight of Blacks in the US.
Student thinks to self, "Too bad we can't have a state like Marx talked about, where there really is 'justice for all.'"
Biafra is basically satirizing the student who has absolutely no clue what the real world is like.
As was pointed out, Pol Pot killed or "re-educated" college graduates. But Cambodia was just the example. Every "communist" revolution ends up killing the majority of the intelligentsia...they use the students as an alternative to the thugs, but, let's face it, the students get pissy when the great leader begins to oppress the masses. So the leader eliminates them.
Think about it. Then think about who makes up the majority of the student activists at any college campus.
Brilliant post. You almost begin to restore some faith in humanity.<br /> <br /> Almost.
@BitterGenXer You're fucking moron to politicize this song as somehow only leftist are clueless, as if no right wing silver spoon asshole has acted as if they know everything look at trump.
Please oh please show where 'far left' and 'marxism' is referenced. So jazz and ethnicky mean they are leftist and marxist? This song could be referencing anyone who hasn't been out of the comforts of modern society that acts like they have lived and know everything. Lol
@BitterGenXer You are right, this song is a criticism of faux revolutionary communists produced by the leftist education system.<br /> <br /> It is a warning of the dangers of far left ideology that has lead to millions of deaths worldwide.<br /> <br /> Communists and Nazis are both left wing ideologies and both were criticized by DK.<br /> <br /> Capitalism may not be perfect but it is the best system we have, communism and fascism have both failed.<br /> <br /> We don't need brainwashed college graduates bringing about totalitarianism through their ignorance.
@BitterGenXer The problem is that it is not the ideology fault, the problem is that it is a third world country. Any third world country has these conditions, communist or not. Alot of the deaths you hear about, in communism are straight up false, and the western education system fails/does not care for showing any of the good things.
@al28335431: I never said that only leftists are clueless. People on both sides are clueless, but this isn't called "Holiday in Chile," and the refrain isn't "Agusto...Pinochet." With that said, yes, the underlying theme does apply to anyone who hasn't been out of the comforts of home. Also, thanks for the ad hominems. Very much appreciated.<br /> <br />
@russian re What cause the rise of Pol Pot? Nixon bombing Cambodia to knock out the Ho Chi Minh Trail. There are plenty of free "third world countries" that don't have leaders that exterminate people. Please point out the bullshit deaths that are lies...Stalin (millions killed), Mao (Millions killed), Pot (millions killed). I will completely agree with you that it happens on the right too: Hitler, Pinochet, Pahlavi...the Contras raped and murdered people...as did the Escuadrón de la Muerte...can we agree that the common denominator is dictatorships? A leader can call themselves whatever they want (e.g. Hitler keeping the name of the Nazi party), but calling yourself something don't make it so.<br /> I am curious. What did Pol Pot do that made him a misunderstood leader? (Land reform = good; killing the landowner = bad.)
@BitterGenXer Y'all really missed that the punk genre was wholly influenced by Marxist political philosophy, huh?<br /> <br /> "You're a star-belly snitch<br /> You suck like a leech<br /> You want everyone to act like you<br /> Kiss ass while you bitch<br /> So you can get rich<br /> While your boss gets richer off you"<br /> This entire section is literally summable as "capitalism sucks ass"<br /> <br /> <br /> It's making fun of performative upper-middle class liberals who speak as if they support revolutionary action, but never actually do anything and know nothing about the people they claim to care about.