2 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Gojam Province 1968 Lyrics
Running like a band of angry schoolboys
Up and down the well-lit streets today
Bashing in the heads of tax collectors
Anybody else who's in our way
Bathing in the sunlight that's our birthright
Waiting for someone to set the scene
Last time he came to town a few stray coins came raining down
We scrambled in the dirt for them
Like ants around the queen
We take aim at the dawning day
And we shoot
Starving to death
Starving to death for the low-hanging fruit
Then all at once comes the motorcade
Slow and steady down the beaten track
And as we're bashing out the windows of the limo
We notice there's nobody in the back
And a helicopter lands atop the palace
The royal guard assembles at the gate
The country's gonna burn and we'll still have to wait our turn
Last among contenders of the super-featherweights
We take aim at the dawning day
And we shoot
Starving to death
Starving to death for the low-hanging fruit
Up and down the well-lit streets today
Bashing in the heads of tax collectors
Anybody else who's in our way
Waiting for someone to set the scene
Last time he came to town a few stray coins came raining down
We scrambled in the dirt for them
Like ants around the queen
And we shoot
Starving to death
Starving to death for the low-hanging fruit
Slow and steady down the beaten track
And as we're bashing out the windows of the limo
We notice there's nobody in the back
The royal guard assembles at the gate
The country's gonna burn and we'll still have to wait our turn
Last among contenders of the super-featherweights
And we shoot
Starving to death
Starving to death for the low-hanging fruit
Song Info
Submitted by
mdon06 On Oct 10, 2008
More The Mountain Goats
No Children
This Year
Dance Music
Dilaudid
The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
the low-hanging fruit is a reference to the Greek mythological character Tantalus, who was punished by the gods to exist eternally in a pool of water that he could not drink, reaching for a fruit that was forever out of his reach.
Gojam province is in Ethiopia and in 1968 experienced a revolt by the people against high taxes. The government reacted by reversing the taxes and putting new governors in charge.
I listen to this song a few times in the car before i know what the title is. Trying to work out the meaning thinking there are themes of poverty and struggle here that could apply to any number of situations. Even knowing the title you would need to look up the reference to the specific revolt that john has brought to life here, it's far from common knowledge. One of those songs like September 15th 1983. i feel like i'm learning about a previously unknown piece of history but in an emotive way rather than from a textbook.
I listen to this song a few times in the car before i know what the title is. Trying to work out the meaning thinking there are themes of poverty and struggle here that could apply to any number of situations. Even knowing the title you would need to look up the reference to the specific revolt that john has brought to life here, it's far from common knowledge. One of those songs like September 15th 1983. i feel like i'm learning about a previously unknown piece of history but in an emotive way rather than from a textbook.
Is it...
Is it safe to assume 'He' (last time he came to town) and the empty limo are referring to Haile Selassie?