I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Once in a while maybe you will feel the urge
To break international copyright law
By downloading MP3's from file sharing sites
Like Morpheus or Grokster or LimeWire or KaZaA
But deep in your heart you know the guilt would drive you mad
And the shame would leave a permanent scar
'Cause you start out stealing songs, and then you're robbing liquor stores
And selling crack and running over school kids with your car
So don't download this song
The record store's where you belong
Go and buy the CD like you know that you should
Oh don't download this song
Oh you don't want to mess with the RIAA
They'll sue you if you burn that CDR
It doesn't matter if you're a grandma or a seven year old girl
They'll treat you like the evil, hard bitten criminal scum you are
So don't download this song
Don't go pirating music all day long
Go and buy the CD like you know that you should
Oh, don't download this song
Don't take away money from artists just like me
How else can I afford another solid gold Humvee?
And diamond studded swimming pools, these things don't grow on trees
So all I ask is everybody, please
Don't download this song (don't do it, no, no)
Even Lars Ulrich knows it's wrong (you can just ask him)
Go and buy the CD like you know that you should (you really should)
Oh, don't download this song
Don't download this song (Oh please don't you do it)
Or you might wind up in jail like Tommy Chong (remember Tommy)
Go and buy the CD (right now) like you know that you should (go out and buy it)
Oh don't download this song
Don't download this song (no no no no no no)
Or you'll burn in hell before too long (and you'd deserve it)
Go and buy the CD (just buy it) like you know that you should (ya cheap bastard)
Oh, don't download this song
To break international copyright law
By downloading MP3's from file sharing sites
Like Morpheus or Grokster or LimeWire or KaZaA
But deep in your heart you know the guilt would drive you mad
And the shame would leave a permanent scar
'Cause you start out stealing songs, and then you're robbing liquor stores
And selling crack and running over school kids with your car
So don't download this song
The record store's where you belong
Go and buy the CD like you know that you should
Oh don't download this song
Oh you don't want to mess with the RIAA
They'll sue you if you burn that CDR
It doesn't matter if you're a grandma or a seven year old girl
They'll treat you like the evil, hard bitten criminal scum you are
So don't download this song
Don't go pirating music all day long
Go and buy the CD like you know that you should
Oh, don't download this song
Don't take away money from artists just like me
How else can I afford another solid gold Humvee?
And diamond studded swimming pools, these things don't grow on trees
So all I ask is everybody, please
Don't download this song (don't do it, no, no)
Even Lars Ulrich knows it's wrong (you can just ask him)
Go and buy the CD like you know that you should (you really should)
Oh, don't download this song
Don't download this song (Oh please don't you do it)
Or you might wind up in jail like Tommy Chong (remember Tommy)
Go and buy the CD (right now) like you know that you should (go out and buy it)
Oh don't download this song
Don't download this song (no no no no no no)
Or you'll burn in hell before too long (and you'd deserve it)
Go and buy the CD (just buy it) like you know that you should (ya cheap bastard)
Oh, don't download this song
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"How else can I afford another solid gold Hum-Vee?"
This just explains it all. Artists who have "made it" and are popular are rich people. Going after every single dollar that could be made from purchasing a song, that's greed.
This song is the perfect commentary on the whole downloading controversy.
Al has this song up for free download on his myspace, I found this fact funnier than the actual song itself...
This is my new favorite Al song. I couldn't stop laughing the first time I heard it, and it still makes me chuckle.
'Cause you start out stealing songs and then you're robbing liquor stores And sellin' crack and runnin' over school kids with your car
It doesn't matter if you're a grandma or a seven year old girl They'll treat you like the evil hard-bitten criminal scum you are
To me, that's the PERFECT summary of what the RIAA is. BS arguements to justify their actions, and completely BS actions against people who didn't do anything wrong.
At first i thought the song was seriously anti-piracy, but as it went on I saw that it's obviously a satire. Most artists, from what I hear, don't make money per album sold, rather, the record company does. Artists get their money from the record companies practicly bidding for them.
it sounds like the music is spoofing songs like We Are The World and Do The Know It's Christams, great Tommy Chong referance btw
This is one of Weird Al Yankovixs ORIGINALS, so no parody here :)
Yeah this song is awesome! But what's really funnty is how some people are taking this song seriously and think that Al is just in it for the money. It's just like Come on people you fucking dumbasses. lol
Lars Ulrich - drummer for Metallica who went apeshit when they're stuff was leaked to the net around six or so years ago.
Tommy Chong - Cheech's English half. Actually did time for drug possession.
this song is obviously making fun of how downloading songs is considered wrong
Sorry to double-comment, but i have to add this: dontdownloadthissong.com/ An animated music video of this song. There's a big button in the corner of the window that says "Click here to download this song." Linked to right off of Al's official Myspace page. ^__^