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Walk Tall Lyrics
The simple minded
And the ill informed
Can be easily led astray
And those that cannot connect the dots
Hey look the other way
People believe what they want to believe
When it makes no sense at all
So be careful of those killing in Jesus' name
Who don't believe in killing at all.
Walk tall
Yeah walk on
Through this world
Walk tall
Somewhere out in the distance
Is the death of you and me
Even though we don't think of it much
It's still out there for us to see
If you treat life like a bar room fight
You'll die stinking of gin
No drunkards are allowed in heaven
No sinners will get in
Walk tall
Yeah, walk on
Walk tall
Through this world
Walk tall
So be careful in what you believe in
There's plenty to get you confused
And in this land called paradise
You must walk in many men's shoes
Bigotry and hatred are enemies to us all
Grace, mercy and forgiveness
Will help a man walk tall
So walk tall
Yeah, walk on
Walk tall
Through this world
Through this world
Yeah, walk tall
Then walk on
Walk tall
Then walk on
Through this world
Through this world
Through this world
Through this world
Walk tall
Walk tall
Then walk on
Walk tall
And the ill informed
Can be easily led astray
And those that cannot connect the dots
Hey look the other way
People believe what they want to believe
When it makes no sense at all
So be careful of those killing in Jesus' name
Who don't believe in killing at all.
Yeah walk on
Through this world
Walk tall
Is the death of you and me
Even though we don't think of it much
It's still out there for us to see
If you treat life like a bar room fight
You'll die stinking of gin
No drunkards are allowed in heaven
No sinners will get in
Yeah, walk on
Walk tall
Through this world
Walk tall
There's plenty to get you confused
And in this land called paradise
You must walk in many men's shoes
Bigotry and hatred are enemies to us all
Grace, mercy and forgiveness
Will help a man walk tall
Yeah, walk on
Walk tall
Through this world
Through this world
Then walk on
Walk tall
Then walk on
Through this world
Through this world
Through this world
Through this world
Walk tall
Then walk on
Walk tall
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Mellencamp says he's for "Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness..." except for white Republican Christians, which his lyrics: "So be careful of those killing in Jesus's name - He don't believe in killing at all" were suspiciously censored here. He wrote this song when Bush won his 2nd term. Insulting many of his fans and neighbors: "...The simple minded..." "...the ill informed..." "...easily led astray..." "...cannot connect the dots..." in his middle America he brags about so much in life and his music. John's a hipocrite. Keep puffing away there, Commie Atheist.
"The simple minded And the uninformed Can be easily led astray"
So those who don't agree with Mellencamp's world view are simple minded and uninformed. Gotcha. Pompous ass.
You don't believe this country has a plethora of ignorant people in it? It makes perfect sense to me and no one's ever called me pompous. I think the song--a suggestion to "Walk Tall" amidst the ignorance, bigotry, racism, narrow-mindedness that infect so many in this country--is not only clearly sensible but also very positive. I think your comment could use some support (what about this song makes the writer/singer seem pompous to you? Is there actual evidence that the singer/songwriter believes that everyone who doesn't agree with his viewpoint are simple minded and uniformed, or is that an...
You don't believe this country has a plethora of ignorant people in it? It makes perfect sense to me and no one's ever called me pompous. I think the song--a suggestion to "Walk Tall" amidst the ignorance, bigotry, racism, narrow-mindedness that infect so many in this country--is not only clearly sensible but also very positive. I think your comment could use some support (what about this song makes the writer/singer seem pompous to you? Is there actual evidence that the singer/songwriter believes that everyone who doesn't agree with his viewpoint are simple minded and uniformed, or is that an inference you've made based on personal perspective rather than empirical support? Could he be referring people of the type like that old lady at a John McCain presidential rally years ago who called Obama a "Muslim, Arab, and a terrorist," and the "Birthers" who genuinely believe the president was born in Africa? Or who don't know where South America is and have never heart of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, or even Pakistan? Who believe California is an island near Greenland?
These lyrics at the end of the first verse, "And I wish you all along the sideline/ The strength to" are not the actual lyrics he sings. He sings, "So be careful of those killing in Jesus' name/ who don't believe in killing at all."
Mellencamp is warning us about ourselves
I have loved this song since I first heard it - such a thought provoking song. Still not completely sure about the meaning and all of the small little nuances... However, I am sure that this song is about discrimination... of all kinds. The video - simple, but poignant - is really what caught my eye. It's a video that I would love for most people to see, just once. I would say that, for me, at least, it really left an impression.
It's kind of ironic how JM refers to how "the simple-minded and the uninformed can be easily led astray", when one way they can be led astray is by taking his political songs seriously.
How are they likely to be led astray by this song? That's a ludicrous comment.
How are they likely to be led astray by this song? That's a ludicrous comment.