indians didn't give gifts and take them back later, they had a custom of giving something with the expectation of receiving something in return - it was trading, only a form of trading the europeans weren't accustomed to - and if the indians didn't receive anything, they would take it back. europeans misunderstood the custom and assumed they were being presented with gifts.
with that said, the song might not deal with the "indian giver" term. forget the word indian and replace it with natives/aboriginals of any land, and think of the settlers who enountered the natives/aboriginals. the natives/aboriginals were, not in all cases, happy to help the settlers by providing food, shelter, clothing, and teaching them how to use the land. as time passed, the settlers wanted more, demanded more, began to take, they brought illnesses and death. eventually, the natives/aboriginals were pushed aside when they were no longer useful, or they were "civilized."
one possibility, then, is that god is someone who gave us a means to live/survive, and we, the assholes, are never happy with what we have and demand more. all we do is kill god or use god for things we want and toss god to the side when we're done.
"get on your horse and ride" is another way of saying "fuck off."
@Boswell I originally thought it was this interpretation as well. The Native Americans/Indians didn't believe in property, they lived in Rousseau's state of nature, more or less. And they were happy this way. I think American culture today is the opposite of that, with everything being about personal property and everyone benefiting off of a system that inherently unequal. So to me it's saying, you're not an Indian, you're not gonna save the world, your just another asshole in the rat race buying things you don't need, so do what you're gonna do but "fuck off" with your holier-than-thou self....
@Boswell I originally thought it was this interpretation as well. The Native Americans/Indians didn't believe in property, they lived in Rousseau's state of nature, more or less. And they were happy this way. I think American culture today is the opposite of that, with everything being about personal property and everyone benefiting off of a system that inherently unequal. So to me it's saying, you're not an Indian, you're not gonna save the world, your just another asshole in the rat race buying things you don't need, so do what you're gonna do but "fuck off" with your holier-than-thou self.
indians didn't give gifts and take them back later, they had a custom of giving something with the expectation of receiving something in return - it was trading, only a form of trading the europeans weren't accustomed to - and if the indians didn't receive anything, they would take it back. europeans misunderstood the custom and assumed they were being presented with gifts.
with that said, the song might not deal with the "indian giver" term. forget the word indian and replace it with natives/aboriginals of any land, and think of the settlers who enountered the natives/aboriginals. the natives/aboriginals were, not in all cases, happy to help the settlers by providing food, shelter, clothing, and teaching them how to use the land. as time passed, the settlers wanted more, demanded more, began to take, they brought illnesses and death. eventually, the natives/aboriginals were pushed aside when they were no longer useful, or they were "civilized."
one possibility, then, is that god is someone who gave us a means to live/survive, and we, the assholes, are never happy with what we have and demand more. all we do is kill god or use god for things we want and toss god to the side when we're done.
"get on your horse and ride" is another way of saying "fuck off."
@Boswell I originally thought it was this interpretation as well. The Native Americans/Indians didn't believe in property, they lived in Rousseau's state of nature, more or less. And they were happy this way. I think American culture today is the opposite of that, with everything being about personal property and everyone benefiting off of a system that inherently unequal. So to me it's saying, you're not an Indian, you're not gonna save the world, your just another asshole in the rat race buying things you don't need, so do what you're gonna do but "fuck off" with your holier-than-thou self....
@Boswell I originally thought it was this interpretation as well. The Native Americans/Indians didn't believe in property, they lived in Rousseau's state of nature, more or less. And they were happy this way. I think American culture today is the opposite of that, with everything being about personal property and everyone benefiting off of a system that inherently unequal. So to me it's saying, you're not an Indian, you're not gonna save the world, your just another asshole in the rat race buying things you don't need, so do what you're gonna do but "fuck off" with your holier-than-thou self.
It's probably works on multiple levels.