This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
The credits roll, the camera pans
And in the mist our hero stands
He starts to speak, then folds his hands in prayer
An awkward pause, then what's my line?
There's nothing left to say this time
And what would you say to a bad guy who's not there?
In terms of Roman numerals
He's IV league with Roman Polanski
He'd win an Oscar every time if he was only given the chance
He started on the Broadway stage
A product of another age
An offer and a pilot drew him west
The series bombed, commercials came
And though nobody knew his name
They all recognized the potential he possessed
Deodorants and dental floss
And how much does that new car cost
His acting was methodical in "You Don't Need A Medical"
He's branded like a racing car
He's like a movie star without movies
The week of Independence Day
The casting agent called to say
Your smile could save our movie and the world
Buy, buy, buy, buy
Sell, sell, sell
How well you learn
To not discern
Who's foe and who is friend
We'll own them all in the end
It goes like this, we have no choice, the minarets
The wailing voice
And vaguely Celtic music fills the air
We choose a foreigner to hate
The new Iraq gets more irate
We really know nothing about them, and no one cares
Aladdin and The Forty Thieves
Enhanced by brand new special effects
Saddam and his cow disease spiced up
With some gratuitous sex
A movie's made, a war is won
A low-speed chase, a smoking gun
Distracts us while the actor takes the stand
Buy, buy, buy, buy
Sell, sell, sell
How well you learn
To not discern
Who's foe and who is friend
We'll own them all in the end
And in the mist our hero stands
He starts to speak, then folds his hands in prayer
An awkward pause, then what's my line?
There's nothing left to say this time
And what would you say to a bad guy who's not there?
In terms of Roman numerals
He's IV league with Roman Polanski
He'd win an Oscar every time if he was only given the chance
He started on the Broadway stage
A product of another age
An offer and a pilot drew him west
The series bombed, commercials came
And though nobody knew his name
They all recognized the potential he possessed
Deodorants and dental floss
And how much does that new car cost
His acting was methodical in "You Don't Need A Medical"
He's branded like a racing car
He's like a movie star without movies
The week of Independence Day
The casting agent called to say
Your smile could save our movie and the world
Buy, buy, buy, buy
Sell, sell, sell
How well you learn
To not discern
Who's foe and who is friend
We'll own them all in the end
It goes like this, we have no choice, the minarets
The wailing voice
And vaguely Celtic music fills the air
We choose a foreigner to hate
The new Iraq gets more irate
We really know nothing about them, and no one cares
Aladdin and The Forty Thieves
Enhanced by brand new special effects
Saddam and his cow disease spiced up
With some gratuitous sex
A movie's made, a war is won
A low-speed chase, a smoking gun
Distracts us while the actor takes the stand
Buy, buy, buy, buy
Sell, sell, sell
How well you learn
To not discern
Who's foe and who is friend
We'll own them all in the end
Lyrics submitted by ojms, edited by cocksucker
Sell Sell Sell Lyrics as written by Steven Page Ed Robertson
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Bill Pullman was first on Broadway in 2002, two years after the album came out, so no, it was not him.
Jeff Goldblum, however, was on Broadway in the 1970s and 1980s, but was not in many commercials.
Other likely candidates include Judd Hirsch, James Rebhorn, Randy Quaid, or Robert Loggia. I have not seen the "You don't need a medical" commercials, though.
Interesting.
My politically-minded sister is convinced it's about Ronald Reagan, and his legacy in the White House.
"His casting agent called to say "your smile could save our movie and the world".
As he reached success in Hollywood and then in Washington....
or
"An awkward pause, then "what's my line?" there's nothing left to say this time And what do you say to a bad guy who's not there? "
A direct reference to his Alzheimers.
"Buy buy buy sell sell sell.... How well you learn to not discern who's foe and who is friend
We'll own them all in the end."
Of course, the song goes on to incorporate the Middle East and the things that went on immediately following Reagan's presidency with the Bush dynasty.
BNL songs from E2E and Barenaked Ladies Are Me have a definite political bent to them, being almost exclusively against America's war-making actions during that time.
battaryacid...the album was released in 2000... something tells me, though the barenaked ladies have some good thoughts and lyrics, they didnt have so much insight that they could comment on a war which their album preceded by 3 years... unless by 'this whole war' you were referencing Bush Sr and previous conflicts?
this song foresees Bush's war on Iraq. odd how the barenaked ladies have been silent during this whole war.
they haven't been that silent. Read the interpretation for Second Best
it's about an actor that thins he is a big star but he's really just a little person in the company
so this song is pretty self-explanatory...just thought i'd add that it's pretty damn amazing =]
I think the 'war' they're singing about is IN the movie he's playing...
While the initial listen of this song leads to the believe it's about movies or possibly politics, I believe this is also a major shot at the bow of the music industry.
Basically, the takeaway from this is that substance means nothing in the arts anymore. Instead, it's about the person selling the product (actor, or ostensibly singer), no matter how inferior that product is. Who knows? Maybe it's semi-autobiographical...their most successful period in the industry's terms was a period when it seemed like their music went furthest from it's beginnings.
Well the third section is obviously about The Persian Gulf War and the OJ Simpson trial.