You see the ghost of the buffalo moving both fierce and slow
Like glittering prophesies on the edge of the horizon
As you drive glittering highways and beaten-up byways
That straddle and girdle our great and many-faced nation
You see the lambs in the ghettos who worship their Gepettos
Believing in, never seeing, the strings they think bind them
So we write to our congressmen with bleeding pens of the sorrow within
And in return, they just send tickets to the latest Tom Hanks show

[Chorus]
Welcome to the new wild west
Each man for himself
A nation of civilized steeples
And lonely people
Welcome to the new wild west

There are so many factions and cue-card reactions
It's hard to keep clear the possibilities here 'cause there's no force to unite them
Privilege has ruled for thousands of years
Wars have been fought with bibles and tears
Yet liberation can't deny the temptation and soon becomes the oppressor
Show me a leader who's fit to lead
Who don't sow his seed in anything wounded enough to breed
Because after all, what fun is power if you can't act like a rock star?

[Chorus]

As for me, I've been petty
Oh, and unkind, but I know my own mind
And since it seems clear there's no one leading us here
The only thing left it appears is to task ourselves to be better each time, than those before us
We'll be an army of thieves, of self-freed slaves, of mild-mannered maids
We'll fight with whispers and blades
So get ready, a new day is dawning


Lyrics submitted by 7_myshell_7

The New Wild West Lyrics as written by Jewel Kilcher

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The New Wild West song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    why hasn't anyone commented on this song?? it is one of her best. very outspoken. i love this part: Privilege has ruled for thousands of years Wars have been fought with bibles and tears Yet liberation can't deny the temptation and soon becomes the oppressor Show me a leader who's fit to lead Who don't sow his seed in anything wounded enough to breed Because after all, what fun is power if you can't act like a rock star?

    its so great. she has such a way with words!

    purplevelveton August 02, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is one of my favorite songs all together. It took me forever to figure out what it meant and I still don't think I got it, but I think its telling how much the world has changed or hasn't changed for that matter. How as the world becomes more modern and civilized, its acctually getting harsher. We're all killing eachother and fighting. And it's like we're trying to get better, but we're acctually just turning ourselves into one big army. That's the new world and Jewel is telling us to be prepared because it's just getting worse.

    Turtlegrlion August 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I never heard this song before. I just saw your comment on the "newest comment box" or whatever it's called, and decided to check it out. And now I really want to hear it. The lyrics are amazing. They're so true.

    And you're right, her wording is fabulous. My favorite line is:

    "We'll fight with whispers and blades So get ready, a new day is dawning "

    It brings to mind some really powerful mental images.

    Luv ya! Sox

    SexierThanSoxon August 02, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song, to me, is all about how the only new frontier left to settle is ourselves, and the way that we live. I think that this is one of the most powerful and true songs on her latest CD. The way she sings it is perfect.

    skycaton April 10, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is indeed one of Jewel's best "lyrical" songs. Her social critique is precise and thoughtful, I particularly like the choice of words in the part:

    "You see the lambs in the ghettos who worship their Gepettos Believing in, never seeing, the strings they think bind them So we write to our congressmen with bleeding pens of the sorrow within And in return, they just send tickets to the latest Tom Hanks show "

    marrissayon April 19, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think the greatest songs are the ones that can make you feel many different emotions when listening to it. This is one such song, it compromises bitterness, anger, sorrow and can create a strong willing to try and make something better of ourselves. Definitley the best song off the 'This way' album, gets better with every listen. Still not sure which I prefer, the studio version or the live one.

    Lailseaxon October 21, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    how intuitive jewel was back when she wrote this...

    protest song in its own way. her words are so powerful

    silhouettedon October 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    What does she mean when she says "worship their geppettos" Geppetto is Pinnochio's father right? Is it a metaphor saying how people worship God or whatever they believe in?

    PS: Geppetto has 2 Ps not 1

    PlagueRoseon March 01, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Very great deep song, si true

    Patrice50on August 14, 2015   Link

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