It begins when we chain ourselves to the ATMs
Make a mess when we pitch our tents on the statehouse steps
Now we're taking it, now we're taking it back
Now we're taking it, now we're taking it back
For the greater good
Goddamn Robin Hoods

Fan the flames, serve them cocktails down at the Stock Exchange
Hear the screams, take our baseball bats to the limousines
They'll be talking us, they'll be talking us up
They'll be talking us, they'll be talking us up
To the journalists
If there's any left

You know the Sixties proved that change is hit or miss
Every bloody pacifist concedes the truth
If one must die to save the ninety-nine
Maybe it's justified
The left is right
We're doomed


Lyrics submitted by esdebah

The Left Is Right Lyrics as written by Denver Collin Dalley Conor M. Oberst

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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The Left Is Right song meanings
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2 Comments

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  • +3
    Song Meaning

    I love this, Conor is showing his support for the occupy movement,

    This line "If one must die to save the ninety-nine Maybe it’s justified"

    Occupy's 99% vs 1% way of framing the debate about inequality is really interesting, it's great to hear it put in these utilitarian-esque terms.

    Payola might be the best Protest album ever, what an opener.

    amber10042on July 22, 2015   Link
  • -2
    General Comment

    It seems to me that Conor is protesting violence in all its forms.

    For the greater good Goddamn Robin Hoods Robin Hood was a character who believed that he was acting for the greater good by stealing from people.

    Hear the screams, take our baseball bats to the limousines They’ll be talking us, they’ll be talking us up They’ll be talking us, they’ll be talking us up To the journalists If there’s any left

    The one percent will be telling reporters about the violent crime committed by the protesters, but the incredibly biased media just won't report on it.

    Every bloody pacifist concedes the truth If one must die to save the ninety-nine Maybe it’s justified The left is right

    This is sarcasm. Those that call themselves pacifists advocate violence against the wealthy. Its incredible how eloquently conor points out the inconsistency of many that call themselves pacifists.

    We're doomed

    This advocacy of the initiation of the use of force will not end well.

    chaskin104on February 23, 2016   Link

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