Having been around when this song first came out in the early 70's let me give you a historical perspective. Back then, we always though the madman was he was refering to was Nixon and the "boat on the reef with a broken back" refered to the ship of state. The "good part in a play" refered to being Vice President under Eisenhower. The in laws refered to his daughter Julie Nixon marrying Eisenhower's grandson. The joke and the think it's very funny everything I say, refered to his, "and you won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore" after loosing the California Gov. race in 1962 and his appearance on "Laugh In" when he said,"Sock it to me," in 1968.
Remember that was a different time. People wrote songs for other purposes than just making money.
@coa4thva
Respectfully as you are obviously a very thoughtful individual:
Neither this song, nor American Pie (it was also alleged to be about US political players) has anything to do with Nixon. Songs were written poetically in the '60s and '70s and sometimes there were political allegorical or analogous subtexts to them. This is not one of them.
@coa4thva
Respectfully as you are obviously a very thoughtful individual:
Neither this song, nor American Pie (it was also alleged to be about US political players) has anything to do with Nixon. Songs were written poetically in the '60s and '70s and sometimes there were political allegorical or analogous subtexts to them. This is not one of them.
@coa4thva
You know, songs used to have double meanings back before pop music took over. It could very well be that both of your interpretations are correct.
@coa4thva
You know, songs used to have double meanings back before pop music took over. It could very well be that both of your interpretations are correct.
Having been around when this song first came out in the early 70's let me give you a historical perspective. Back then, we always though the madman was he was refering to was Nixon and the "boat on the reef with a broken back" refered to the ship of state. The "good part in a play" refered to being Vice President under Eisenhower. The in laws refered to his daughter Julie Nixon marrying Eisenhower's grandson. The joke and the think it's very funny everything I say, refered to his, "and you won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore" after loosing the California Gov. race in 1962 and his appearance on "Laugh In" when he said,"Sock it to me," in 1968. Remember that was a different time. People wrote songs for other purposes than just making money.
@coa4thva Respectfully as you are obviously a very thoughtful individual: Neither this song, nor American Pie (it was also alleged to be about US political players) has anything to do with Nixon. Songs were written poetically in the '60s and '70s and sometimes there were political allegorical or analogous subtexts to them. This is not one of them.
@coa4thva Respectfully as you are obviously a very thoughtful individual: Neither this song, nor American Pie (it was also alleged to be about US political players) has anything to do with Nixon. Songs were written poetically in the '60s and '70s and sometimes there were political allegorical or analogous subtexts to them. This is not one of them.
@coa4thva You know, songs used to have double meanings back before pop music took over. It could very well be that both of your interpretations are correct.
@coa4thva You know, songs used to have double meanings back before pop music took over. It could very well be that both of your interpretations are correct.