Oh oh oh
Oh I don't know, I don't know, oh, where to begin
We are North Americans
And for those of you who still think we're from England
We're not, no
We build our planes and our trains till we think we might die
Far from North America
Where the buildings are old and you might have lots of mimes
Aha, oh, oh
I hate the feelin' when you're looking at me that way
'Cause we're North Americans
But if we act all shy, it'll make it okay
Makes it go away

Oh I don't know, I don't know, oh, where to begin
When we're North American
But in the end we make the same mistakes all over again
Come on North Americans

We are North American scum
We're from North America

And all the kids all the kids that want to make the scene
Here in North America
When our young kids get to read it in your magazines
We don't have those
So where's the love where's the love where's the
Love where's the love where's the love tonight?
But there's no love man there's no love and the kids are uptight
So throw a party till the cops come in and bust it up
Let's go North Americans
Oh you were planning it I didn't mean to interrupt
Sorry
I did it once and my parents got pretty upset
Freaked out in North America
But then I said the more I do it the better it gets

Let's rock North America

We are North American scum
We're from North America
We are North American scum
We are North American

New York's the greatest if you get someone to pay the rent
Wahoo North America
And it's the furthest you can live from the government un huh huh
Some proud American Christians might disagree
Here in North America
But New York's the only place we're keepin' them off the street
Boo boo now we can't have parties like in Spain where they go all night
Shut down in North America
Or like Berlin where they go another night, alright, un huh un huh

You see I love this place that I have grown to know
Alright, North America
And yeah, I know you wouldn't touch us with a ten-foot pole
'Cause we're North Americans

We are North American scum
We are North Americans
We are North American scum
We love North America

Take me back to the states man
North American scum
Where we can be all we want if we really
North American
Where the DJ gigs are as fun
Here in North American scum
Don't blame the Canadians
Let go North America


Lyrics submitted by cheeseface2000

North American Scum Lyrics as written by James Jeremiah Murphy

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

North American Scum song meanings
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28 Comments

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  • +5
    General Comment

    a much misunderstood song this, at least in the UK. it's not saying that north americans are scum, it's James Murphy getting pissed off with a racist generalisation about the country he's from. and he's right - there's good and bad in america and you shouldn't judge a person by their government.

    these are the key lines:

    "i hate the feelin' when you're looking at me that way cause we're north americans but if we act all shy, it’ll make it ok makes it go away."

    important sentiment, i can't believe no one (journalists, music fans) gets it.

    jameskendallon February 26, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is not tongue in cheek. MAYBE, i doubt it, a few parts are, but lines like "You see I love this place, that I've grown to know. And yea I know you wouldn't touch us with a ten-foot pole. We are North American scum!" THAT is said sarcastically, we're "scum" yeaaaa. He's commenting on how "great" America is, because everyone would say "great" in quotation marks, but he actually does enjoy being from the country. After traveling Europe for years, and tons of tours, and being mistaken for being a European band, people find out he's American and immediately his stock in their book falls. He encourages everyone to say, yea, it's "America", but they can be "cool" just like Europe. Not only "can they be", but they are. Touch us with a ten-foot pole, see what happens. Our over-criticism is unwarranted. Of course we will be criticized, for our government, for our wars, etc, we are the most powerful country in the world, it's going to be that way no matter what. But we still are a great country, we make good music, we have great bands (LCD Soundsystem), and we say fuck the parties that go all night like in Berlin... we'll still be North American "Scum", and we're proud of it, and wouldn't have it any other way.

    gdh8277on December 11, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    such a good song, kendall summed it up perfectly.

    deathbysexieston March 24, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I love the female back vocal singing North American :) Pretty catchy song.

    zatoichion August 16, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    There seems to be way too many verses in this song, when we're North American.

    TheBonoboson August 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hahahah WHAT?!?!?!

    rossismadon April 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    great song...new American anthem

    jameskendall - you nailed it. thanks

    ihumon May 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Murphy sends up both American cultural limitations and contempt from those who think dismissing Americans as cro-magnons = instant credibility. But he's a NYC boy, so he doesn't REALLY care.

    JAStewart, Theroux is hardly better than tabloid TV hosts in the US in his chosen subject matter, although he is certainly more posh and educated. Choosing an easy, sensational target is not the sign of an intrepid journalist.

    julepon August 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    probaly not the place for it but the whole louis theroux posh idiot thing is an act to get his subjects to open up and not feel threatened. the interview with him about jimmy saville on 50 greatest Documentaries was very interesting. he's very clever but jon ronson probably does the faux-niave thing better.

    jameskendallon November 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, the song isn't calling all North Americans scum (a reason the song probably did so well in the UK), it's sort of saying that just because our government is making questionable decisions doesn't mean all Americans feel the same way. As in any country, you've got a whole lot of nice people...and a whole lot of assholes. The narrator kind of plays up the stereotypical ignorant American, trying to party and have a good time, taking advantage of all of the freedoms he was born with.

    But...who knows? Maybe James Murphy really does hate his country, lol. In some ways, I wouldn't blame him...

    The song itself has an awesome groove, great to dance to, I'm sure. Actually, I wouldn't know, since I can't dance worth a lick, lol.

    tcaporaleon December 21, 2007   Link

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