Hey you say you like the way
The cowboys tip their hats and say
"How's it goin', ma'am?"
But you're never quite clear
If their glares are sincere
Or really only just second hand
To you it's all roses
It's a lavender haze
The man is a marvel
It's a shame about his brains
But that's okay you say,
"He's got straight teeth
And it's good sex"
You look to the sky
You look to the man
You claim innocence
And not to understand
Or do you?
Do you?
There's a big man wearing a white suit
And patent leather shoes
He wants to take his monkeys
To see the kids at the zoo
Cause the gypsy on the corner said,
"Hey, mister, you can't lose"
And it's your first day at the track
You feel that heat on your back
We all want to find a way
To beat the system
Find some rhythm in the madness
Get down on your knees and pray
Say, "I'll do whatever you want, God
Just let me have my way"
Well will you?
Will you?
Come on all you merry men
Rally your cry
Dance with the devil
For tomorrow we'll surely
Hey, hey, blow the men down
You with all your cigarettes
And cool stares
Filled with blank glares
And loaded regrets
Just like the girls today
With nothing to say
No more pigtails and pony rides
They're sophisticated
They sip on lattes and have their eyes
On a bigger prize
We shake our fists and say
"Well, good golly we're mad
That God kills children
With our very own hands"
We claim innocence
And not to understand
Or do we?
Do we?
Come on all you merry men
Rally your cry
Dance with the devil
For tomorrow we'll surely
Hey, hey, blow the men down
Blow the men down
Hey, hey
The cowboys tip their hats and say
"How's it goin', ma'am?"
But you're never quite clear
If their glares are sincere
Or really only just second hand
To you it's all roses
It's a lavender haze
The man is a marvel
It's a shame about his brains
But that's okay you say,
"He's got straight teeth
And it's good sex"
You look to the man
You claim innocence
And not to understand
Or do you?
Do you?
And patent leather shoes
He wants to take his monkeys
To see the kids at the zoo
Cause the gypsy on the corner said,
"Hey, mister, you can't lose"
And it's your first day at the track
You feel that heat on your back
We all want to find a way
To beat the system
Find some rhythm in the madness
Say, "I'll do whatever you want, God
Just let me have my way"
Well will you?
Will you?
Rally your cry
Dance with the devil
For tomorrow we'll surely
Hey, hey, blow the men down
And cool stares
Filled with blank glares
And loaded regrets
Just like the girls today
With nothing to say
No more pigtails and pony rides
They're sophisticated
They sip on lattes and have their eyes
On a bigger prize
"Well, good golly we're mad
That God kills children
With our very own hands"
We claim innocence
And not to understand
Or do we?
Do we?
Rally your cry
Dance with the devil
For tomorrow we'll surely
Hey, hey, blow the men down
Blow the men down
Hey, hey
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
raise your hand if you're MADLY in love with this song OOOOOOOO! MMEE!!! this song kicks major booty. i don't even have a clue what the words mean cause i don't care cause the sound is so damn good. sigh wow. this. song. RULES.
This song is challenging society in general. There are many verses that seem to question the thoughts and actions of people. She always ends the verse/chorus with "do you?" or "will you".
I think this song is about the things we tell ourselves even when we know we are doing the wrong thing.
"We claim innocence and not to understand, but do we?"
This song, like other songs of this album, is about the lost of innocence. Only in this song she is angry about the lost, and accuse people of forgetting what it's like to be pure hearted and innocence.
I think it definitely focusses on the way people view God in their lives. I love the line "I'll do whatever you want God, just let me have my way." People tend to think they know what's best and don't have faith in devine order.
I also love the line "We shakes our fist and say 'Well, good golly we're mad that God kills children with our very own hands.'" Because even though we tend to believe that we know what's right, when bad things happen, we always blame God. Even when we made a choice that lead us there.
The verse about "The girls to day with nothing to say" is so perfectly written. It may be my very favorite Jewel lyric ever.
The lines: "Just like the girls today With nothing to say No more pigtails and pony rides They're sophisticated They sip on lattes and have their eyes On a bigger prize"
Because really, when I was young and innocent all I wanted to do was have my hair braided and ride ponies. Now I've ditched the stables for the local starbucks and the hottie working there. It completely summarizes my personal loss of innosense.