I see it
I get it
I promise you I do
Your mom walked out on you
When you were only two
You've grown up believing
That this country is a bore
Your a dad three times
And your only twenty four
The Christians on the radio
They act like your're scum
Self righteous congressmen
They bastard each and every one
I don't read the bible
But I try to love you man
Every flaw and violent act
I think I understand
But your dogs
Your dogs
What's fun about those
The tat on your neck and the ring through your nose
The weed, the junk food, the violent pornography
Don't think you want to be just a little more like me
I still have hopes
You can join our community
More of us than you
But we welcome the diversity
You're not quite trash like the other neighbors say
If you want to challenge stereotypes then join the P.T.A.
At night when your pitbulls are scaring our children
My wife, I'll be honest here, wants me to shoot them
Sometimes I bet my fantasy is fun
But your dogs
Your dogs
What's fun about those
The tat on your neck and the ring through your nose
The weed, the junk food, the violent pornography
Don't you think you want to be just a little more like me
But that's only at night when I'm not really thinking
And your listening to Metallica in your backyard drinking
The rest of the time I think we get along fine
I've never judged you I'm a live and let live guy
But your dogs
Your dogs
What's fun about those
The tat on your neck and the ring through your nose
The weed, the junk food, the violent pornography
Don't think you want to be just a little more like me
I get it
I promise you I do
Your mom walked out on you
When you were only two
That this country is a bore
Your a dad three times
And your only twenty four
They act like your're scum
Self righteous congressmen
They bastard each and every one
But I try to love you man
Every flaw and violent act
I think I understand
Your dogs
What's fun about those
The tat on your neck and the ring through your nose
The weed, the junk food, the violent pornography
Don't think you want to be just a little more like me
You can join our community
More of us than you
But we welcome the diversity
You're not quite trash like the other neighbors say
If you want to challenge stereotypes then join the P.T.A.
My wife, I'll be honest here, wants me to shoot them
Sometimes I bet my fantasy is fun
Your dogs
What's fun about those
The tat on your neck and the ring through your nose
The weed, the junk food, the violent pornography
Don't you think you want to be just a little more like me
And your listening to Metallica in your backyard drinking
The rest of the time I think we get along fine
I've never judged you I'm a live and let live guy
Your dogs
What's fun about those
The tat on your neck and the ring through your nose
The weed, the junk food, the violent pornography
Don't think you want to be just a little more like me
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Really, I think this song is more about the narrator than the guy with the dogs. He fancies himself an enlightened, open-minded person - certainly more tolerant than the other people living in his community. He views himself as a "live and let live guy" who can empathize with his white trash neighbor's peculiar lifestyle.
Sadly though, it's all a sham. As much as he tries to be accepting of the guy next door, ultimately he wants him to be "just a little more like me". He looks down on his neighbors for ostracizing the guy, but he also looks down on the guy for leading a lifestyle that he doesn't quite understand. It's an elitist attitude masquerading as tolerance.
To be fair, the guy with the dogs sounds like a total jerk.
I totally agree with your interpretation, however, the only thing that makes him sound like a jerk is the violent pornography. He actually reminds me of myself a bit: tat on my arm, a beautiful white pit bull named Berkeley, listening to metal in my own backyard enjoying a beer, occasional marijuana use... But maybe I'm reading into that part of the song too much and, as you pointed out, it's moreso about the narrator being a hypocrite.
I totally agree with your interpretation, however, the only thing that makes him sound like a jerk is the violent pornography. He actually reminds me of myself a bit: tat on my arm, a beautiful white pit bull named Berkeley, listening to metal in my own backyard enjoying a beer, occasional marijuana use... But maybe I'm reading into that part of the song too much and, as you pointed out, it's moreso about the narrator being a hypocrite.
That being said, great tune and great writing forces in Folds and Hornsby.
That being said, great tune and great writing forces in Folds and Hornsby.
Wow...he sounds great on this one - killer chorus, and Hornby as his best.
It seems to be about an attempt to understand a neighbor everyone else has written off...getting everything except his (apparently scary) dogs. I love this line: 'If you want to challenge stereotypes join the P.T.A.,' considering the earlier 'You're a dad three times, and you're only twenty four'. Just a cool song.