I'm not sure if I have this compeletly correct but here is my interpretation.
The beginning talks about how America was born from people who tried to escape religion.
"Like good Christians some would burn the witches" refers to the Salem Witchcraft Trials as stated by LuvvingReefer above.
Then they talk about how African Americans were made into slaves "Later some got slaves to gather riches".
"They came by thousands..." refers to emmigration. "to court the wild" is claiming territory.
The song talkes about the Statue of Liberty, but im not 100% sure... "To be their spirit and guiding light".
"Westward in saddle and wagon it went" marking of the Gold Rush
"And till the railroad linked ocean to ocean" completion of the Transcontinental Railroad
"Many the lives which had come to an end" End of the Cowboy Era
"While we bullied, stole and bought a homeland
We began the slaughter of the red man" We fought Native Americans for their territory
"The Blue and Grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war was over
They stuffed it just like a hog"
The Civil War as Zephid mentioned above. "they stomped it" refers how the Civil War destroyed America
"But its protectors and friends have been sleeping" the people have allowed America to change for the worse.
"And its keepers seemed generous and kind" The keepers are politicians
"We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole world's got to be just like us"
These lines refer to how America trys to force other countrys to do stuff.
"Now we are fighting a war over there" The Vietnam War
"America, where are you now
Don't you care about your sons and daughters
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster
America, where are you now
Don't you care about your sons and daughters
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster"
The last lines are calling out to The People to fight the goverment, so their children have a better world.
That write-up seems to be correct, but why do people call black people "African Americans?" The white people who enslaved them aren't called "European Americans." And what about black people who live in London? Are they "African Europeans?"
That write-up seems to be correct, but why do people call black people "African Americans?" The white people who enslaved them aren't called "European Americans." And what about black people who live in London? Are they "African Europeans?"
I'm not sure if I have this compeletly correct but here is my interpretation.
The beginning talks about how America was born from people who tried to escape religion.
"Like good Christians some would burn the witches" refers to the Salem Witchcraft Trials as stated by LuvvingReefer above.
Then they talk about how African Americans were made into slaves "Later some got slaves to gather riches".
"They came by thousands..." refers to emmigration. "to court the wild" is claiming territory.
The song talkes about the Statue of Liberty, but im not 100% sure... "To be their spirit and guiding light".
"Westward in saddle and wagon it went" marking of the Gold Rush
"And till the railroad linked ocean to ocean" completion of the Transcontinental Railroad
"Many the lives which had come to an end" End of the Cowboy Era
"While we bullied, stole and bought a homeland We began the slaughter of the red man" We fought Native Americans for their territory
"The Blue and Grey they stomped it They kicked it just like a dog And when the war was over They stuffed it just like a hog" The Civil War as Zephid mentioned above. "they stomped it" refers how the Civil War destroyed America
"But its protectors and friends have been sleeping" the people have allowed America to change for the worse.
"And its keepers seemed generous and kind" The keepers are politicians
"We don't know how to mind our own business 'Cause the whole world's got to be just like us" These lines refer to how America trys to force other countrys to do stuff.
"Now we are fighting a war over there" The Vietnam War
"America, where are you now Don't you care about your sons and daughters Don't you know we need you now We can't fight alone against the monster America, where are you now Don't you care about your sons and daughters Don't you know we need you now We can't fight alone against the monster" The last lines are calling out to The People to fight the goverment, so their children have a better world.
That write-up seems to be correct, but why do people call black people "African Americans?" The white people who enslaved them aren't called "European Americans." And what about black people who live in London? Are they "African Europeans?"
That write-up seems to be correct, but why do people call black people "African Americans?" The white people who enslaved them aren't called "European Americans." And what about black people who live in London? Are they "African Europeans?"
It's silly terminology.
It's silly terminology.