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Chicago Lyrics

The pig's spitting taxes and unwanted tasks
We say,
"Send me to the battle please sir!"

Chicago is dancing in xylophone laughter
We say burn the fucker down
Burn the motherfucker down

But would you please speak up
I can't hear with these clouds in my ears
The system's down
I doubt we'll get through
Send your money for
The caterpillars to entertain

The horse has been taken
Runs clubs in the pasture
Song Info
Submitted by
constant On Dec 16, 2005
16 Meanings

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Cover art for Chicago lyrics by Portugal. The Man

A lengthier lyrical submission.... ~-~-~-~-~ Ohhhhhh, oh oh ohh ohh The pig's spitting taxes and unwanted tasks He says, "Send me to the battle place" ah ah "Send me to the battle place" ah ah

Ohhhhhh, oh oh ohh ohh

Chicago is dancing in xylophone laughter Burn this burn this burn this fucker down down down Burn this mother fucker down

Please, please, speak up I can't hear with these clouds in my ears Systems down, tied, we'll get through Send the money for...

Ohhhhhh, oh oh ohh ohh

The horse has been taken Runs clubs in the pasture Burn this burn this burn this fucker down down down Burn this mother fucker down

Please, please speak up I can't hear with these clouds in my ears Ooohh ooh ooh ooh ooh They're singing... ooohh ooh ooh ooh They're singing...

Systems are tied, we'll get through Send money for the catepillars to entertain

Systems are tied, we'll get through Send money for the catepillars to entertain

Systems are tied, we'll get through Send money for the catepillars to entertain (Systems are gonna tie, we'll get through it all So send your money oh oh, for the catepillars to entertain) X4 ~-~-~-~-~

Nice flame getfasterer. Anyway, yes, it could be drugs, though I like where sweater was going.

Besides, when did music need to have an absolute meaning? It's how we interpret it and choose to understand it (as outlandish as the meaning might seem).

Cover art for Chicago lyrics by Portugal. The Man

Favorite song on the album. I'm yet to look into it, I will and post my out look when I get a chance.

Cover art for Chicago lyrics by Portugal. The Man

hmm i'm thinking this song is about government corruption

Cover art for Chicago lyrics by Portugal. The Man

is this not the most catchy sound u've ever heard

Cover art for Chicago lyrics by Portugal. The Man

i think this song is just a statement on the war, or war in general. the line "send me to the battle please sir!" is a pretty obvious tip in that direction, but there are a few other such references.

"the pig's spitting taxes and unwanted tasks" i'm sure most of you are aware how frequently pigs are used as symbols for officials, especially corrupt ones. see Animal Farm, or the song Pigs by Pink Floyd, or the song War Pigs by Black Sabbath. and he's spitting taxes, which the people have to pay to finance the war.

the image of a city burning, not necessarily Chicago, is a pretty powerful piece of imagery associated with war.

"send your money for the caterpillars to entertain" this line sounds like nonsense at first, but.. the treads of tanks are commonly referred to as caterpillar treads. it could be a metaphor for "support the troops" donations and increased taxation going to finance tanks which then go out and "burn the motherfuckers down"

of course I could be completely wrong. but anybody care to add to this?

Cover art for Chicago lyrics by Portugal. The Man

Well, living in Chicago, and with the references to Chicago and taxes, I'd agree with poweroff with the corruption in government.

Cover art for Chicago lyrics by Portugal. The Man

to add to sweatersdotcom... -the pig=the government -We say, "send me to the battle please sir!" [people are still eager to risk their lives in war for their country] -everyone (including those in chicago?) celebrates the killing of foreign enemies. -the listener is asked to speak up [protest] because so many people have their heads in the clouds and cant see whats really going on. -the system's down i doubt we'll get through [the way the public thinks isnt right and its hard to change that] -people make donations to support the war as everyone celebrates -and im kinda stumped by the last two lines. help me out.

Cover art for Chicago lyrics by Portugal. The Man

the pig could also be a more specific as to Bush.

Cover art for Chicago lyrics by Portugal. The Man

i asked John Gourley the meaning of the song at a show and he said it was about the chicago fire.

Cover art for Chicago lyrics by Portugal. The Man

thanks george orwell. animal farm anyone?? book is about government corruption, played out by animals. the pigs in the novel are the once righteous leaders who eventually become more and more humanlike and eventually morph into power-hungry dictators. the animals attempt to build a windmill, but it gets blown up, and consequently, burns down. ...maybe not a perfect match, but the parallels are somewhat undeniable.

 
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