Hmm. I think Robert Hunter was feeling disgusted with something in the US (song is from early '70's but could fit any period). I'd be curious what in particular, back then, set him off. And he was saying to take a stand to not support whatever idiocy had set this off. Ship of fools/ship of state. At sea, mutiny is not taken lightly, so this is a serious decision, to not stand by the supposed leader... Most Dead songs (& Hunter's in particular) tried to stay somewhat apolitical, but occasionally, they got fed up or fired up but it was generally in a way that didn't pin them to any specific time or item of regard.
Hmm. I think Robert Hunter was feeling disgusted with something in the US (song is from early '70's but could fit any period). I'd be curious what in particular, back then, set him off. And he was saying to take a stand to not support whatever idiocy had set this off. Ship of fools/ship of state. At sea, mutiny is not taken lightly, so this is a serious decision, to not stand by the supposed leader... Most Dead songs (& Hunter's in particular) tried to stay somewhat apolitical, but occasionally, they got fed up or fired up but it was generally in a way that didn't pin them to any specific time or item of regard.