Lyric discussion by Tedvi 

Cover art for Aftermath USA lyrics by Drive-By Truckers

I realize there is a face value (obvious) meaning to the song.

I see another, more political, layer that tells a perfect rip-van winkle story of falling asleep around 1999 and waking up today in America. There's so much allusion to politicians, business, the media, common people, Wall Street, the national debt, etc etc.

"Its all worse that we think"