Aristocrats on a mountain climb
Making money, losing time
Communism is just a word
But if the government turn over
It'll be the only word that's heard
America, America
God shed His grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
Little sister making minimum wage
Living in a 1 room jungle monkey cage
Can't get over, she's almost dead
She may not be in the black
But she happy she ain't in the red
America, America
God shed His grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
Freedom
Love
Joy
Peace
Jimmy Nothing never went to school
They made him pledge allegiance
He said it wasn't cool
Nothing made Jimmy proud
Now Jimmy lives on a mushroom cloud
America, America
God shed His grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
America, America
God shed His grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
Freedom
Love
Joy
Peace
And the bomb go (boom)
And the bomb go (boom)
Teacher, why wouldn't Jimmy pledge allegiance?
Making money, losing time
Communism is just a word
But if the government turn over
It'll be the only word that's heard
God shed His grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
Living in a 1 room jungle monkey cage
Can't get over, she's almost dead
She may not be in the black
But she happy she ain't in the red
God shed His grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
Love
Joy
Peace
They made him pledge allegiance
He said it wasn't cool
Nothing made Jimmy proud
Now Jimmy lives on a mushroom cloud
God shed His grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
God shed His grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
Love
Joy
Peace
And the bomb go (boom)
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Very jaded but accurate view of 80's society. Rich men, seemingly without a care, but the Cold War and Communism scares them.
The African American woman who's practically working her self to death, just ti get by.
The frustrated young man who's ostracized for his disillusioned view of what patriotism and pride means to him.
The mushroom cloud reference could mean nuclear war. It could be a reference to falling prey to drug addiction
@mrxb72 I would say the mushroom cloud is definitely a nuclear reference.
@mrxb72 I would say the mushroom cloud is definitely a nuclear reference.
The beginning of this song (Not lyrically but instumentally) sounds very similar to his other song "Baby I'm a Star", when played in concert on the "Live" home video from back in '85.
You are right partially, the beat is the same as "Baby I'ma Star", but there is a certain intensity that "America" has that "Baby I'ma Star" does not have. I know I don't sound clear but listen to them back to back and you will know what I mean.
You are right partially, the beat is the same as "Baby I'ma Star", but there is a certain intensity that "America" has that "Baby I'ma Star" does not have. I know I don't sound clear but listen to them back to back and you will know what I mean.
I bought this album in the 80's and listened to it all the time. I used to think it was "she may not be in black, see how she is in red" but it is about communism, meaning, America is so afraid of commies that it's ok to struggle and barely survive, as long as you are not "red" (communist).