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People Say Lyrics
Save me, I can't be saved
I won't
I'm a president's son
I don't need no soul
All the soldiers say
"It'll be alright,
we may make it through the war
if we make it through the night."
All the people, they sing:
"What a lovely day, yeah, we won the war.
May have lost a million men, but we've got a million more."
All the people, they sing.
Share with me all of your pain
I won't
Share your love
I need all your love
All the soldiers say
"It'll be alright,
We may make it through the war
If we make it through the night."
All the people, they sing:
"What a lovely day, yeah, we won the war.
May have lost a million men, but we've got a million more."
All the people, they sing.
Save me, I can't be saved
I won't
I don't need no love
I'm a president's son
All the soldiers say
"It'll be alright,
We may make it through the war
If we make it through the night."
All the people, they sing:
"What a lovely day, yeah, we won the war.
May have lost a million men, but we've got a million more."
All the people, they sing
It'll be alright, It'll be alright
It'll be right now
It'll be alright, It'll be alright
It'll be right now
It'll be alright, It'll be alright
It'll be right now
All the people, they sing
I won't
I'm a president's son
I don't need no soul
"It'll be alright,
we may make it through the war
if we make it through the night."
All the people, they sing:
May have lost a million men, but we've got a million more."
All the people, they sing.
I won't
Share your love
I need all your love
"It'll be alright,
We may make it through the war
If we make it through the night."
All the people, they sing:
May have lost a million men, but we've got a million more."
All the people, they sing.
I won't
I don't need no love
I'm a president's son
"It'll be alright,
We may make it through the war
If we make it through the night."
All the people, they sing:
May have lost a million men, but we've got a million more."
All the people, they sing
It'll be right now
It'll be alright, It'll be alright
It'll be right now
It'll be right now
All the people, they sing
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
It's about how the soldiers are in strife, "we may make it through the war if we make it through the night". While the people on the other side see them as expendable. "may have lost a million men but we got a million more". It's sad. All the people, they see.
Portugal the Man is one of my all time favorite bands and this is one of my favorite songs. Listening to the lyrics I thought it was obviously about war. However after watching the music video I slowly realized that this song is not meant to be taken so literal. I think it talks about how corrupt the government truly is, not just because of war. The line "I'm a president's son..." I think it's expressing us as citizens under the order of our president, not literally a "president's son" but the group of citizens. This song is symbolically representing how brainwashed citizens are and how we are blindly following the orders from the corrupt leaders of our government. (shown in the music video when he was blindfolded.) I think People Say has a deep meaning and the band tries to convey the message that it's all "about war.." but after analyzing the lyrics it is a lot more about the corruption of our government and how citizens are doing nothing about it, we are brainwashed to believe that it is okay.
out of the three that are leaked right now this is definitely my favorite! do you and the sun are super duper good too though
this song is amazing. cant wait to hear the new cd. i think for the chorus after he sings "we may make it through the war if we make it through the night" he sings "all the people, they see" instead of "they say" like people get coverage of the war brought to them but remain ignorant. unless someone they know is involved in the war somehow, then who cares? we have a million more men that will go to war after a million die.
Considering the song is titled "People Say," I think it's a safe bet that he is singing "all the people, they say" and not "see."
Considering the song is titled "People Say," I think it's a safe bet that he is singing "all the people, they say" and not "see."
i heard that too. there are some places in the song where they are clearly saying "all the people, they say" but there are other places where it sounds different. my guess is that they're saying "all the people, they sing" not "see."
i heard that too. there are some places in the song where they are clearly saying "all the people, they say" but there are other places where it sounds different. my guess is that they're saying "all the people, they sing" not "see."
Definitely about the war on terror and in Iraq and how ridiculous and unnecessary it is. It is certainly a reference to Bush and his achievements in presidency.
Definitely about the Iraq and how that is unnecessary. I don't really think you know what you're talking about if you say the war on terror is ubbecessary. It's pretty Rediculous to me to see how many people are unable to see the difference between Iraq and the war on terror. Even more hilarious that you listen to P,tM and throw those two wars together.
Definitely about the Iraq and how that is unnecessary. I don't really think you know what you're talking about if you say the war on terror is ubbecessary. It's pretty Rediculous to me to see how many people are unable to see the difference between Iraq and the war on terror. Even more hilarious that you listen to P,tM and throw those two wars together.
it's actually "all the people, they sing"
via the lyrics booklet
“Save me, I can’t be saved” — opening line from Satanic Satanist
“…I don’t believe.” – closing line from Satanic Satanist
“These two lines are like bookends to the new album. They tie into the way my dad and other people escaped to Alaska in the 70s, and represent their proud independence and courage. The album’s last line finishes the thought of the first line. It was Alaska. Everything we’ve gotten to be and everything we’ve gotten to go through, we’ve been lucky enough to have what we have.”
— John Baldwin Gourley
@brkn Good works, John! I'm a Portugal. The Man admirer for these past 10 years or so, as introduction, and I particularly enjoyed your Edgefield show with GroupLove a few years back (even though it was like 102 degrees!). I was psyched to find your old 2009 comment here on this site (to which I now reply).
@brkn Good works, John! I'm a Portugal. The Man admirer for these past 10 years or so, as introduction, and I particularly enjoyed your Edgefield show with GroupLove a few years back (even though it was like 102 degrees!). I was psyched to find your old 2009 comment here on this site (to which I now reply).
After learning some of the band's (and your personal) history related to Alaska, I often listen to the newer albums with that in mind. But I can't read "People Say" lyrics without thinking the main theme encompasses the subtle divides between different elements of 21st...
After learning some of the band's (and your personal) history related to Alaska, I often listen to the newer albums with that in mind. But I can't read "People Say" lyrics without thinking the main theme encompasses the subtle divides between different elements of 21st century American society. The "people" represented in the song seem to under-appreciate the "soldiers" in a foolishly optimistic, insulated way. They feel safe from the simple public presentation of victory: "what a lovely day, yeah, we won the war"; yet they fail to afford proper dignity in recognition of the costs: "may have lost a million men, but we got a million more."
I see that as representative of dangerous ignorance within America. And I think many other intelligent people would support my sentiments, whether you acknowledge that intent in your message or not. Regardless, "People Say" was one of the first 3 or 4 Portugal. The Man songs I was exposed to and, thus, it contributed to turning me into a collector of your albums.
I also wanted to specifically respond that those "bookend" lines/phrases you cite are the kind that can convey broad meaning to listeners when not recognized in the context you have provided. That's one of the things I like about P-The Man songs: I can generally keep my original interpretations in mind without major conflict even after I hear explanatory comments from the author (i.e., you, John Gourmley). David Bowie was pretty good at presenting poignant poetry without demanding some tunnel-vision interpretation of meaning. As a philosopher, I tend to take a broad view, so it's nice when artists don't take offense if I imbue meaning periphery to the true inspiration. I also consider myself a poet and sometimes my friends tell me things about my own work that I had not consciously considered. So I hope that you will be more pleased than annoyed should I ever suggest an interpretation of any of your songs that you did not specifically have in mind.
3/25/2018 - expect to see more comments from me, as I look up other of my favorite songs -- P.S. sorry I couldn't make the Pioneer Square gig you had yesterday, too
this song is about the human cost of war.
Just a thought, but I believe when this song refers to "the war" it could also be analogous to human trafficking. In the video there are a group of guards in a small room overseeing blindfolded prisoners that appear to be forced into labor by working as telemarketers and crocheters. What's interesting is they all have been branded with a triangle. What this symbolizes is unknown to me.
Then again, the symbology could be an analogy of a country's flag and how said country have soldiers, who are "prisoners" to the military, which "forces" them to work.
Ok this is kinda a stretch and I do not know my theory 100% but maybe someone else can help me out and expand on my theory.
So Cydonian talked about the music video with sex trafficking and how the prisoners had triangles branded on them. Well Portugal has been known to believe in the Illuminati and I do not know about all their albums, but in "In the Mountain, In the Cloud" they have a triangle symbol on the album art to represent the Illuminati.
So maybe when he says the lyrics, "I am president's son, I don't need no soul", he is talking about his theory on the Illuminati, and how people in power sell their souls in order to become a part of this cult type organization for world power.
Understand, I do not believe that the Illuminati runs world events and that all the richest and coolest people in the world are a part of it...but I've heard from many people that PtM does have connections to it.
So I don't know, but its a theory.