Riddle In Londontown

This song is referring to the Mining Accident that occurred several years ago. "The daughter of the second American Revolution" refers to coal which is the product and primary fuel of the Industrial Revolution. The line "Don't go ask the newsman because he will tell you everything he don't know" refers to the mistake the newsmen made when they claimed that all of the miners that were trapped had survived; actually if I remember correctly they all died. The line "But it ain't the bridges that are falling down" again refers to the collapse of the mine. Overall this song is critical of the media that is so set on getting the news first that they make mistakes that can be devistating.

this song is incredibly moving. his voice is amazing.

i could be very wrong, but to me this song is about how the problems in the world today are not a result of bad relationships between people, but within ourselves..."she said she aint never goin back to what she believes....it aint the bridges that are falling down"

This song is about how the media (i.e. FOX News) keeps repeating what the Bush Administration feeds them. "Don't you dare go ask the newsman/Cause he'll tell you everything/He don't know."

It goes on to talk more about how people have all these wrong preconceived notions and how people are forming opinions around what the media tells them: "And when she looked into their eyes to see/She know she ain't never going back to what she believe."

why Londontown?

"Don't you dare go ask the newsman Cause he'll tell you everything He don't know" This can be read in two different ways: he'll tell you everything, but he doesn't know or he'll tell you everything that he doesn't know. Overall though, this song is about the media and how it skews things and doesn't give a non-biased opinion, like it should.

"She was the daughter of the second American Revolution A tall girl with a stones constitution And when she looked into their eyes to see She know she ain't never going back to what she believe To what you believe "

I think it's referring to a someone from the 60's "hippie movement" (the second american revolution, and the stones constitution referring to the rolling stones) who grew up and abandoned her ideals.

I'm not really sure why londontown, but it connects with the line "got my back to the fire, my feet on the ground, but it ain't the bridges that are fallin down." in reference to nursury rhyme: 'London bridge is falling down'

After reading Butters analysis i suppose that the song is directly referring to a particular catastrophe, yet prior to reading that I saw this song as a metaphor for where the United States is today and how it has changed from the "daughter of the second American Revolution" to the superpower she is today that "is never going back to what she believed." I had also thought that the inclusion of Londontown likewise is linked to our separation from UK and how the affairs between the two countries are today.

I love this song. I just did a presentation in school about it (as a poetic song), so that gave me a chance to think about it A LOT.

First off, I agree with the coal mining accident explanation , but I've just got even more metaphors (etc.) to point out:

I interpret the second verse as talking about World War One and the Great Depression that followed:

"They said they would never fight no more"

• WWI was the 'War To End All Wars'

"After the day she went away"

• Also, the war was one of the leading causes of the Great Depression in the 20's and 30's. So this is talking about unavailability of coal for many people, due to the inflated cost. You could also see it as talking about lack of resources in general, and how that is often the cause of war.

"What in the world are we all fighting for If we don't give they're going to take"

• Essential anti-war line! This can be talking further about lack of resources, possibly a jab at the current war in Iraq.

Keeping with the theme of the mining accident, it could be saying something like: 'why are we arguing about weather there are people alive in the mine; we just need to hope there are and work together to get them out!' Or something.

Anyway, that's my (additional) two cents.

I love this song, but I like it better by Dispatch (it's performed live on the All Points Bulletin CD).

I'd also like to know: why Londontown?