er...Les is highly critical of American society as a whole, and this song definately seems to be outlining some of the reasons why. There is no positivity in this song, believe me. I think some of you maybe confusing and reading your own, and possibly American values into this song way too much - he's breaking down the illusion that America is any superior or better to live in than other country, it's just as messed up, but in different ways. There will always be people at the bottom if there are people at the top, this is fact. In this suppossed Land of Opportunity, there are those that still suffer in it through no fault of their own, but actually due to their unfortunate circumstances. In regards to the foreigners, they had a run of bad luck, but their luck will not change in this new environment, because they are not of the 'advantaged'. The final referance is to show the irony of the fact that it's not just foreigners who find themselves in this position, but also those who originate from this apparently 'blessed' land.
The first verse is the illusion they've been fed, but the environment is described as "a cold day" - to represent the harsh reality that's about to face them, and the following verse presents the actual reality of the type of situation they will face, followed by how even those who are born into the country can also face such an existence.
Full Stop.
er...Les is highly critical of American society as a whole, and this song definately seems to be outlining some of the reasons why. There is no positivity in this song, believe me. I think some of you maybe confusing and reading your own, and possibly American values into this song way too much - he's breaking down the illusion that America is any superior or better to live in than other country, it's just as messed up, but in different ways. There will always be people at the bottom if there are people at the top, this is fact. In this suppossed Land of Opportunity, there are those that still suffer in it through no fault of their own, but actually due to their unfortunate circumstances. In regards to the foreigners, they had a run of bad luck, but their luck will not change in this new environment, because they are not of the 'advantaged'. The final referance is to show the irony of the fact that it's not just foreigners who find themselves in this position, but also those who originate from this apparently 'blessed' land. The first verse is the illusion they've been fed, but the environment is described as "a cold day" - to represent the harsh reality that's about to face them, and the following verse presents the actual reality of the type of situation they will face, followed by how even those who are born into the country can also face such an existence. Full Stop.