Is there any hope for us, or are the rumors true?
Are we just the mulch and kindling that accrues?
Can we recover from this?

I've seen expressions in department stores
I've smelled regression wafting up from these shores
This is not a celebration of slipping through some crack
This is sloth and devastation and we're the resulting trash

Count on your fingers tonight
Count on your fingers tonight
And believe what you find
I'm sick of making small talk in this rotting chowline

Can we recover, recover recover?
Can we recover, recover recover?
We cover our heads and run for the gutter

Toby Keith's horses and Toby Keith's men
Finally put us all in our place
It's a wonderful hug when there's so much more to love
When there's steaks and hearts jammed in your face

This is the fucking slop line
And we're scratching with our hooves
How much of evolution
Must we finally disprove?

Count on your fingers tonight
Count on your fingers tonight
And believe what you find
I don't believe what we find

Can we recover, recover recover?
Can we recover, recover recover?
We cover our heads and run for the gutter

Dear Mother, I'm sorry
There was nowhere left to run
We fought and we fought until our bullets ran out
And they took us one by one

Dear Mother, I'm sorry
We had just barely begun
This will be the last letter from your only son
Your only son

Yeah I do not believe
Recover as one


Lyrics submitted by punkpirate

Recovering The Opposable Thumb song meanings
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    General Comment

    I think this song is about how the lawrence arms are going against all musical trends, and selling their records while doing it. Toby Keith, who I presume is a popular country singer, is used to show what's in right now as far as the mass public as he "puts them in their place".

    How much of evolution Must we finally disprove?

    is the key line in this song I think. And the opening where he says, "This is not a celebration of slipping through some crack", i think he's trying to say that their accomplishment is nothing small.

    antiviruson March 24, 2006   Link

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