Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
If pain was a color to paint on you
Your heart would be the color blue
Be a gradient from there Until your body met your hair
Which remained a silver
You are the one they call Jesus Christ
Who didn't know no rock n' roll
Just a mission, and a gun to paint rainbows in Vietnam
And a heart that always told you
There's madness in us all
There's madness in us all
So, who wrote the rules?
Who wrote the rules, who wrote the rules?
They said, every one of you will never try to lend a hand
When the police men don't understand
Boys, all you boys, you think it's so American
Girls, all you girls, yeah, you're so American
He may not be born of this land
But he was born of this world
He was born of all the mothers and the colors of our brothers
And the love that was started
You are the one they call Jesus Christ
Who may not know no rock n' roll
And there may not be a Heaven
Or a place of which to send you
But you know in the end
There's madness in us all
There's madness in us all
There's madness in us all
There's madness in us all
So, who wrote the rules?
Who wrote the rules, who wrote the rules?
They said, every one of you will never try to lend a hand
When the police men don't understand
Boys, all you boys, you think it's so American
Girls, all you girls, yeah, you're so American
There's two eyes for every one of us
But somebody got there first and took them all
There's two eyes for every one of us
But somebody got there first and took them all
Man, oh man, you think it's so American
Man, oh man, yeah, you're so American
Man, oh man, you think it's so American
Man, oh man, yeah, you're so American
There's two eyes for every one of us
But somebody got there first and took them all
There's two eyes for every one of us
But somebody got there first and took them all
Your heart would be the color blue
Be a gradient from there Until your body met your hair
Which remained a silver
You are the one they call Jesus Christ
Who didn't know no rock n' roll
Just a mission, and a gun to paint rainbows in Vietnam
And a heart that always told you
There's madness in us all
There's madness in us all
So, who wrote the rules?
Who wrote the rules, who wrote the rules?
They said, every one of you will never try to lend a hand
When the police men don't understand
Boys, all you boys, you think it's so American
Girls, all you girls, yeah, you're so American
He may not be born of this land
But he was born of this world
He was born of all the mothers and the colors of our brothers
And the love that was started
You are the one they call Jesus Christ
Who may not know no rock n' roll
And there may not be a Heaven
Or a place of which to send you
But you know in the end
There's madness in us all
There's madness in us all
There's madness in us all
There's madness in us all
So, who wrote the rules?
Who wrote the rules, who wrote the rules?
They said, every one of you will never try to lend a hand
When the police men don't understand
Boys, all you boys, you think it's so American
Girls, all you girls, yeah, you're so American
There's two eyes for every one of us
But somebody got there first and took them all
There's two eyes for every one of us
But somebody got there first and took them all
Man, oh man, you think it's so American
Man, oh man, yeah, you're so American
Man, oh man, you think it's so American
Man, oh man, yeah, you're so American
There's two eyes for every one of us
But somebody got there first and took them all
There's two eyes for every one of us
But somebody got there first and took them all
Lyrics submitted by DrShinLoungKim
So American Lyrics as written by John Baldwin Gourley
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Punchline
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
This song has dick-all to do with Obama. It's about the way that the band sees reality. There are many people that literally believe that all is one. We're all just incarnations of an infinite, perfect being experiencing itself subjectively so that it can understand imperfection. This belief gives a rational basis to many of the things that Jesus said and did. "I and the Father are one" - since oneness is the nature of all reality this makes perfect sense. When PTM sing of "you are the one they call Jesus Christ" they are talking to you; literally. You and the Father are one also - you just don't realize it. Jesus did. Whether or not this is true of not is basically unprovable "there may not be a heaven or a place in which to send you buy you know that end the end there's a madness in us all."
Now take this worldview and idea of Jesus and compare it to what gets passed around as Christianity in America nowadays. To be a "Real American Christian" one need only be white and say the words "praise Jesus" - actually acting like Jesus is hippie-liberal bullshit. The singer sees so many Sarah Palin-style Christians (they are from the same town ya know) glorifying war, despising the poor and using their faith in Jesus as justification to hate people. The whole tone of the song isn't one of anger though - it's one of bemusement and pity. "You think you're so American." He's seeing people who are not seeing. "There's two eyes for every one of us, but someone got there first and took them all." He's saying that the ability to become realized, to feel that love and connection that comes with it is within us all if we could just see, but we're raised to conform to a culture that has lost its way.
Very well said. When you brought up Sarah Palin it reminded me of an old blog post about her. John Gourley tells a story about when he was young, when he was first taught that the classic American lifestyle of wanting more of everything is not at all necessary. Now 4 years later they write this song, and it really sends chills down my spine to know that this song has been in John's heart for years and years and he is finally able to share his opinion with the rest of the country, and hopefully the rest of the world. He is our generations Bob Dylan, of that there is no doubt.<br /> myspace.com/portugaltheman/blog/430416200
I haven't met a single Christian in my life glorifying war or despising the poor, actually quite the contrary.
@smcgov A bit late, but you're pretty fortunate. I wouldn't single it out to just Christians, but a very large portion of American mainstream media does nothing but glorify war and hatred on a daily basis. Just recently, "American Sniper" came to theaters, glorifying a man who, according to him in his own book, wanted to kill every single Iraqi man, woman, and child he could. <br /> <br /> As for despising the poor, you'd only need to take a look at our government at large.<br /> <br /> I believe that there are many, MANY good people out there, Christian or not. I also believe this song aims more towards our "Conservative Christian" side of government and their faults more than anyone else.
If pain was a color to paint on you your heart would be the color blue it would be a gradient from there till your body met your hair which would remain a silver hue you are the one they call Jesus Christ didn't know no rock and roll just a mission and a gun to paint rainbows in Vietnam and a heart that always told you there's a madness in us all there's a madness in us all
so who broke the rules? who broke the rules? who broke the rules?
they said every one of you will never try to lend a hand when the policemen don't understand
boys, all you boys think it's so American girls, all you girls yeah, you're so American
he may not be born of this land but he was born of this world he was born of all the mothers and the colors of our brothers and the love that was taught to you by the one they call Jesus Christ he may not know no rock and roll and there may not be a heaven or a place of which to send you but you know in the end, there's a madness in us all there's a madness in us all there's a madness in us all there's a madness in us all
so who broke the rules? who broke the rules? who broke the rules?
they said every one of you will never try to lend a hand when the policemen don't understand
boys, all you boys think it's so American girls, all you girls yeah, you're so American
there's two eyes for every one of us but somebody got there first and took them all (x2)
man, oh man you think it's so American man, oh man. yeah, you're so American (x2)
there's two eyes for every one of us but somebody got there first and took them all (x2)
if pain was a color to paint on you<br /> your heart would be the color blue<br /> it would be a gradient from there till your body met your hair<br /> which remained a silver hue<br /> you are the one they call jesus christ<br /> didn't know no rock n roll<br /> just a mission and a gun to paint rainbows in vietnam<br /> and a heart that always told you there's a madness in us all<br /> there's a madness in us all<br /> <br /> so who broke the rules<br /> who broke the rules<br /> who broke the rules<br /> <br /> they said every one of (you) would never try to lend a hand<br /> when the policemen don't understand<br /> <br /> boys all you boys<br /> think it's so American<br /> girls all you girls<br /> yeah you're so American<br /> <br /> he may not be born of this land<br /> but he was born of this world<br /> he was born of all the mothers and the colors of our brothers<br /> and the love that was taught to<br /> you by the one they call jesus christ<br /> he may not know no rock n roll<br /> and there may not be a heaven or a place of which to send you<br /> but you know in the end there's a madness in us all<br /> there's a madness in us all<br /> there's a madness in us all<br /> there's a madness in us all<br /> <br /> so who broke the rules<br /> who broke the rules<br /> who broke the rules<br /> <br /> they said every one of (you) would never try to lend a hand<br /> when the policemen don't understand<br /> <br /> boys all you boys<br /> think it's so American<br /> girls all you girls<br /> yeah you're so American<br /> <br /> there's two eyes for every one of us<br /> but somebody got there first and took them all<br /> there's two eyes for every one of us<br /> but somebody got there first and took them all<br /> <br /> man oh man<br /> you think it's so american<br /> man oh man<br /> yeah you're so american<br /> man oh man<br /> you think it's so american<br /> man oh man<br /> yeah you're so american<br /> <br /> there's two eyes for every one of us<br /> but somebody got there first and took them all<br /> there's two eyes for every one of us<br /> but somebody got there first and took them all<br /> <br /> [lyrics taken from the inside vinyl cover]
if pain was a color to paint on you your heart would be the color blue it would be a gradient from there till your body met your hair which remained a silver hue you are the one they call jesus christ didn't know no rock n roll just a mission and a gun to paint rainbows in vietnam and a heart that always told you there's a madness in us all there's a madness in us all
so who broke the rules who broke the rules who broke the rules
they said every one of (you) would never try to lend a hand when the policemen don't understand
boys all you boys think it's so American girls all you girls yeah you're so American
he may not be born of this land but he was born of this world he was born of all the mothers and the colors of our brothers and the love that was taught to you by the one they call jesus christ he may not know no rock n roll and there may not be a heaven or a place of which to send you but you know in the end there's a madness in us all there's a madness in us all there's a madness in us all there's a madness in us all
so who broke the rules who broke the rules who broke the rules
they said every one of (you) would never try to lend a hand when the policemen don't understand
boys all you boys think it's so American girls all you girls yeah you're so American
there's two eyes for every one of us but somebody got there first and took them all there's two eyes for every one of us but somebody got there first and took them all
man oh man you think it's so american man oh man yeah you're so american man oh man you think it's so american man oh man yeah you're so american
there's two eyes for every one of us but somebody got there first and took them all there's two eyes for every one of us but somebody got there first and took them all
[lyrics taken from the inside vinyl cover]
"just a mission and a gun to paint rainbows in vietnam and a heart that always told you there's a madness in us all"
I think that the first verse has to do with americans thinking that the american way must be spread. we go in thinking yeah, we're so american we're badass everybody wants to be like us and if they dont want to be we'll show them how awesome we are with our guns and tanks till they want to be just like us. we invade countries and try to pass on the american way.
"he may not be born of this land but he was born of this world he was born of all the mothers and the colors of our brothers and the love that was taught to you by the one they call jesus christ"
the second verse goes deeper than obama as thefoxkyle suggested. this verse is saying that america is a multinational nation. yet each of us has been guilty of hating our fellow brother due to his skin color, his nationality. we see somebody with dark tan skin and think 'is he a terrorist?' we look at foreigners with hateful eyes. we dont look at them as we look at ourselves, as human beings. however we know this to be false as they were born on this same planet of the love that is universal in every home.
"they said every one of you will never try to lend a hand when the policemen don't understand"
i believe this has a personal, and group message in it. on a personal level, its saying that when we see for example, the police beating a homeless man to death, we wont stop the police. nobody will object or help. who will speak up against the police? maybe not the best example, its saying when we see our brother from india being hassled by an officer, being unfairly searched, just because of his pigment, that we will just let this slide, and chock it up to this is america. thats the american way.
"there's two eyes for every one of us but somebody got there first and took them all"
we all have the ability to see these truths, but somebody blinded us in our childhood, taught us hate, and prejudice, taught us that our brothers were not our brothers because they believe differently or love differently or even just look differently. taught us that america is #1!!! and that we should push our ideals everywhere else we walk.
this song is just an attempt to wake a few people up. its a slap in the face at american idealism. and an attempt to remind you that jesus christ taught you to love everybody and that not one of us here in america remembers the parables we learned in sunday school
to mornings: Paragraph 8 hits a note few people see or really understand. Our views of life are shaped by those around us to such a degree that prejudices last through generations. And so many of these prejudices are ridiculous. If we could see the world through pristine eyes and without the shades that other folk have painted for us, I believe there would be less hatred and fear around us. Example: as long as Palestinian children are taught that his Jewish cousin has "horns" so will it continue as they in turn teach their children the same thoughts. Here's hoping people will search for the truth for themselves and not so easily accept all that they are taught.
thanks myhers and singapore, your interpretations seem accurate. Here is a breakdown of the guitar if anyone is interested...
Key of C
(Verse : note proper theory is a em for C major scale though E major sounds like what they play) C - E - Am - D
theres a madness in us all - theres a madness in us all
everyone of you will never try to lend when the policemen dont understand
F - C - E - D
Chorus (boys all you boys) C - E - Am - G
You are the one they call Jesus Christ. Who didn't know no rock and roll. Just a mission made of guns that they give boys in Vietnam But they always told him
Really love this one, being called by them "Jesus Christ" would imply a martyr, savior, leader by example to virtue and righteousness. To not know rock and roll, implies a contradiction or disconnection to the "youth" in a broadstrokes kind of way.. you didn't know how to "get down" be cool, roll with it. But you did know the mission, the calling, to war, destruction, conquest.. They always told you of the madness that is within you, within all of us. This is how you come to know your agression. evil side.
There's a madness in us all. There's a madness in us all.
So who broke the rules? Who broke the rules? __Who broke the rules? hey
Looking for a fall person, the empirically wrong individual, someone must have broken a rule.. for this situation to come to fruition.. that where The Messiah has become a man handing out guns to children in Vietnam (in this example). Something here has created a major point of confusion.
They said Every one of you will never try to lend a hand __When the police men don't understand.
When the individuals that ought to be assumed to know the law, right from wrong, good from bad, are without the enlightenment -understanding- direction, "you" will remain frozen, and not willing to attempt to provide the direction, the law, the framework for that which is correct, virtuous.
Oh tell your boys, all you boys Think you're so American. Girls, all you girls They're so American.
Historically Americans stand for much of that which is just, free, and virtuous (this is what the girls and boys think they are). But perhaps we are only American now in the most contemporary form, a confused, corrupt, misguided power, one of imperialism, greed, self love, lack of diplomacy.
If anybody wants to help me figure out some of the ?'s in there please feel free to drop some suggestions as to what you think they are.
"There's two eyes for every one of us But somebody got their purse(?) and took them all"
It sounds like he's saying exactly this, but for some reason I don't think he's saying "purse". He very well could be.
There's a couple lines that I just had zero idea what he was saying, hence the ?'s. This is all based off of live recordings of the song.
I think he's saying "but somebody got there first and took them all"
im not sure but i hear "just a mission made of guns that they give boys in vietnam"
but damn what an album! definitely up there as one of there best.
Awww Chingy Chang Chong!
Aaaa thaaaankkk you vedddy much! I love the Portugar The Man. But I WILL NEVA BUY CD. MY FATHA ALWAYS TELL ME "SHIN YOU NEVER BUY CD". So I never buy cd EVA AGAIN.
i think buying the album is showing support. if you buy it from them directly, its giving them support, not itunes or something.