Dear Mr. President
Come take a walk with me
Let's pretend we're just two people and
You're not better than me
I'd like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly

What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street?
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep?
What do you feel when you look in the mirror?
Are you proud?

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Can you even look me in the eye
And tell me why?

Dear Mr. President
Were you a lonely boy? (Are you a lonely boy?)
Are you a lonely boy?
(Are you a lonely boy?)
How can you say
No child is left behind?
We're not dumb, and we're not blind
They're all sitting in your cells
While you pave the road to hell

What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away?
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay?
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Can you even look me in the eye?

Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Minimum wage with a baby on the way
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Building a bed out of a cardboard box
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
You don't know nothing 'bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
Oh

How do you sleep at night?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Dear Mr. President
You'd never take a walk with me
Would you?


Lyrics submitted by hotarunohaka

Dear Mr. President Lyrics as written by William Mann Alicia Moore

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Dear Mr. President (feat. Indigo Girls) song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

144 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    Parts of this song I really like, especially the lines:

    "Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep?" and "How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?"

    Honestly, just because it's so true, and it really makes me wonder. Maybe just because when you're that far up there and so rich, you don't really have relationships with the single moms who work for minumum wage with a baby on the way (or the people who are practically starved to feed their kids) and you don't have to see so many people you are close to overdose on drugs or be shot or anything. Because those are the people some pray for at night so desperately before they go to bed. So how can he pray at night? Seems like his prayers would be distant and cold. I don't know.

    However, I don't think P!nk "must have really had balls" to write this song. It's only what every other celebrity talks about all the time.

    Also, who is P!nk to tell him he is neglecting the poor. How much money do you think she spends on helping? Yes, I'm sure she donates to charity, but really? She could do a lot more. She's got money and she spends it on luxery. Though, I do think she probably has seen poorer days than Bush, and seen a lot more of what she writes about in this song than Bush has.

    Also, about the people saying "Bush does really work hard," yes, sure he works hard. I really think she's talking about a different kind of hard work, and there is a difference. It's more about working everyday so hard, all the while knowing if you don't work that way or if you lose that job, you have A LOT to lose. The president has everything he needs if he ever didn't feel like working.

    Overall, pretty good song. Nothing real surprising from a mainstream artist, but not bad.

    brown sugar pleaseon April 23, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Show Me a Little Shame
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
He certainly did earn that reputation.
Album art
Step
Ministry
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.
Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.