The most contentious line in this song is 'He knows there's fewer more distressing sights than that of an Englishman in a
baseball cap'
The song is principally about the may day riots, that opposed globalisation. Mostly because it was often viewed as a form of Americanisation, or even a form of American cultural imperialism. There's plenty to suggest that Doherty agreed with the riots, and clearly denounces the treatment of the rioters. I think you can also infer references of the public school boys who joined in the riots too.
I think the baseball cap is a metaphor, that represents Americanisation. Dohertry quite clearly approved of the multi-cultural nature of the UK his anti-BNP rhetoric shows this. Further, given his affinity with the working class (ironic since the was clearly middle class) it's highly unlikely that it was an 'anti-chav' lyric. It's often suggested he was simply talking about the 'trackie bottoms tucked in socks' that the Arctic Monkeys reference, but this doesn't work.
So therefore, I would say that what the lyric literally means is that 'there's fewer more distressing sights than that of an Englishman who has been Americanised' .
The most contentious line in this song is 'He knows there's fewer more distressing sights than that of an Englishman in a baseball cap'
The song is principally about the may day riots, that opposed globalisation. Mostly because it was often viewed as a form of Americanisation, or even a form of American cultural imperialism. There's plenty to suggest that Doherty agreed with the riots, and clearly denounces the treatment of the rioters. I think you can also infer references of the public school boys who joined in the riots too.
I think the baseball cap is a metaphor, that represents Americanisation. Dohertry quite clearly approved of the multi-cultural nature of the UK his anti-BNP rhetoric shows this. Further, given his affinity with the working class (ironic since the was clearly middle class) it's highly unlikely that it was an 'anti-chav' lyric. It's often suggested he was simply talking about the 'trackie bottoms tucked in socks' that the Arctic Monkeys reference, but this doesn't work.
So therefore, I would say that what the lyric literally means is that 'there's fewer more distressing sights than that of an Englishman who has been Americanised' .