Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Well you win, it's your show now
So what's it gonna be
'Cause people will tune in
How many train wrecks do we need to see
Before we lose touch of
We thought this was low
It's bad getting worse so
Where did all the good people go,
I've been changing channels
I don't see them
On the TV shows
Where did all the good people go,
We got heaps and heaps of what we sow
They got this and that
With a rattle of tat
Testing, one two
Man what you gonna do
Bad news, misused
Got too much to lose
Gimme some truth
Now whose side are we on
Whatever you say, turn on the boob tube
I'm in the mood to obey
So lead me astray, and by the way now
Where did all the good people go,
I've been changing channels I don't see them
On the TV shows
Where did all the good people go,
We got heaps and heaps of what we sow
Sitting around feeling far away
So far away but I can feel the debris
Can you feel it
You interrupt me from a friendly conversation
To tell me how great it's all gonna be
You might notice some hesitation
It's important to you it's not important to me
But way down by the edge or your reason
Well it's beginning to show
And all I really want to know is
Where did all the good people go,
I've been changing channels
I don't see them on the T.V. shows
Where did all the good people go,
We got heaps and heaps of what we sow
They got this and that
With a rattle of tat
Test down, one two
Man what you gonna do
Bad news, missed use
Gimme some truth
You got too much to lose
Now whose side are we on
But anyway, okay, whatever you say,
Wrong or resolute, I'm in the mood to obey
Station through station
Desensitizing the nation
Where did all the people go?
Going, going, gone
So what's it gonna be
'Cause people will tune in
How many train wrecks do we need to see
Before we lose touch of
We thought this was low
It's bad getting worse so
Where did all the good people go,
I've been changing channels
I don't see them
On the TV shows
Where did all the good people go,
We got heaps and heaps of what we sow
They got this and that
With a rattle of tat
Testing, one two
Man what you gonna do
Bad news, misused
Got too much to lose
Gimme some truth
Now whose side are we on
Whatever you say, turn on the boob tube
I'm in the mood to obey
So lead me astray, and by the way now
Where did all the good people go,
I've been changing channels I don't see them
On the TV shows
Where did all the good people go,
We got heaps and heaps of what we sow
Sitting around feeling far away
So far away but I can feel the debris
Can you feel it
You interrupt me from a friendly conversation
To tell me how great it's all gonna be
You might notice some hesitation
It's important to you it's not important to me
But way down by the edge or your reason
Well it's beginning to show
And all I really want to know is
Where did all the good people go,
I've been changing channels
I don't see them on the T.V. shows
Where did all the good people go,
We got heaps and heaps of what we sow
They got this and that
With a rattle of tat
Test down, one two
Man what you gonna do
Bad news, missed use
Gimme some truth
You got too much to lose
Now whose side are we on
But anyway, okay, whatever you say,
Wrong or resolute, I'm in the mood to obey
Station through station
Desensitizing the nation
Where did all the people go?
Going, going, gone
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i am so glad that jack johnson uses his songs to make social commentary, someone needs to! this is one of my favorite songs on the new album. sadly, its really true how controlled we all are by various aspects of our lives, like television. people just dont think for themselves as much as they should be.
much like ted leo/pharmacists, jack makes a politically and socially charged song feel so happy-go-lucky. Love it. :)
reality t.v. sucks!
I love the way there is a build up of intensity in his questioning of 'where did the good people go?' -- this shows his building frustration towards the way society is going due to media. True lyrical genious.
This song is my highlight of the new album (lots of close seconds) - love singin' it at the top o' my lungs in the car.
It's an added bonus that this song has a social commentary - I just like it cuz' it's bloody catchy - nuf' said.
JACK IS the sheeznat! I can't believe I missed out on concert tix! ARgh!
station to station desensitizing the nation
isnt that like the tightest two lines ever with that tune jack is so frigging awesome.
where did all the good people go? what is the world coming to? people are turning into bad people who only care about themselves. i like jack johnson because he doesnt only sing about relationships like most popular singers. reality tv shows encourage that. its horrible. they make people think that whats on tv is real. most of it is script! and most everyone on those shows are back stabbers and everything else horrible. i do wonder where did all the good people go?
one of my favorite songs on the new album. & it's true.. where did all the good people go?
anyone else see a semi-relation to cookie jar.. about what we see on tv.. hmm
This song represents why Jack Johnson is the epitome of cool, and why he would rather surf and hang out at the beach then fall for the trappings of American celebrity. On top of that ,the song is so pleasant and relaxing to listen to. This guy is really such a unique talent and person and this is my favorite of his new songs.
yeah this songs about lack of decent people.... very true especially if you watch tons of reality tv....backstabbing mofos..... survivor, tar, apprentice, realworld....every single one of these so called reality tv shows display societies lack of ....decency..... i still love reality tv though lol.....
This song was actually written just after George Bush won the election. The lines "wrong or Resoulute but in the mood to obey' really reflect Jack' attitude well