Kanada, oh, Kanada, I ain't ever been your son
You're a genteel rent boy choking on your tongue
And your bankers vain plazas never nutured no one
Kanada, oh, Kanada, I ain't ever been your son

And your concrete expanses lay fallow in the sun
And your cities all collapsing while your corrupt mayors shrug
Kanada, oh, Kanada, I ain't ever been your son

And your grownups all gone bankrupt and their children all on drugs
And your doe-eyed policeman demanding more guns
Kanada, oh, Kanada, I ain't ever been your son
And your distained farmers waiting on the flood

Kanada, oh, Kanada, I ain't ever been your son
Overfed and easy led and twisting in the wind
Your senators in diapers, all stinking of gin

Kanada, oh, Kanada, I ain't ever been your son
Kanada, oh, Kanada, I ain't ever been your son
Kanada, oh, Kanada, I ain't ever been your son...

Kanada, oh, Kanada, I have always been your son

Shop and save
Beneath the western Sun
Bought and paid for with
Teddy Roosevelt's guns

Teddy Roosevelt's guns
Teddy Roosevelt's guns
Teddy Roosevelt's guns...



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Teddy Roosevelt's Guns song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I was discussing the lyrics of that song today with some friend and here's what I see in it.

    The band is from Montreal, which means that this song isn't just about "the Canada from a Canadian point of view" but is "about Canada from a French-Canadian point of view".

    Alot in this song seems to reflect what most Quebecers think of the Canadian governement. The bureaucracy of the Governement, and the feeling of being "trapped in it" (Remember the "We're trapped in the belly of horrible machine, and the machine is bleeding to death?), which is the feeling of "not being able to change anything". Why do we have that feeling? Because, even though we accuse the "rest of the Canada" and it's "right wing affiliation" of being "Overfed and easy led", "genteel", "vain", we must come to the conclusion that we are just the same. We don't want to, but after all we are "sons of Canada".

    If that make sense at all.

    Tho I'll admit I say that as a French-Canadian and sincerely, this kind of speech could match with any country.
    Flag Canvaverbisteon May 04, 2011   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:since none of these anwers are very satisfactory... in brief he is saying that Canada is riding on the same western wave of antisemitism, laissez-faire capitolism and war mongering that have made the US unpopular throughout the world but in a passive role, and he is therefore disclaiming his country, Canada.
    Flag bathosdrifton September 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Perhaps the teddy rosevelts guns reference is a mockery of Canada's status as a peackekeeper, an empty charade the band is calling out?
    Flag Hungryforalynchinon July 12, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Whether Teddy carried a gun or fought a war doesn't matter as much as the fact that to many people, Teddy is the traditional figurehead of modern Western imperialism. This song critiques Canada for riding the wave of imperialism to a over-indulgent, corrupt, lazy, greedy, loveless future.
    Flag afropathon January 23, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"Kanada, oh, Kanada, I ain't ever been your son...
    Kanada, oh, Kanada, I have always been your son"

    He's trying to say that, no matter how much he disowns his country and the awful things that happen in it, Canada has still made an indelible impression on him. It's how I feel about America, too...
    Flag timothyrealon October 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Definitely not praise for Canada. Nobody in their right mind would praise the government of either nation. Or, to be perfectly honest, the government of any nation.
    Flag not24601on March 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"This song is a love song from our prime minister to the prime minister of canada."
    Flag A-jaxon July 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Teddy Roosevelt did actually tote guns if you look to his "gunboat diplomacy" outlook. He scared other nations into doing his bidding by showing off his big navy, etc., similar to what the USA does today with its nuclear weapons.

    Also, ASMTZ probably wouldnt praise Canada. I am guessing ASMTZ actually hates Canada nearly as much as the USA. Go them!
    Flag rosshahahaon July 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Actually, I couldn't find this quote, but I recall reading a statement of Roosevelt's to the effect of "My only regret of my presidency is that I wasn't president during a war."

    Also, he was heavily involved with the Spanish-American War, which ultimately elevated him to the Presidency, though this was really do to his attempts to reform the government of NYC.

    In addition to all of this, Roosevelt was a hunter, and in his hunting, he disregarded quite a few ecological issues, though he was ultimately more of a benefit to environmentalism. For example, from the back of his train out West, Roosevelt would often shoot the Buffalo that he saw, without using the body in any way, and this could be the reason for his reference to Teddy Roosevelt.

    Also, this does not appear to favor Canada at all. It seems to be a critique of Canada, without comparing it with the United States.
    Flag Speed Is Dreamingon April 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:teddy roosevelt was a former US president, so he did kind of mention the US.

    i don't think the song is really for or against one side, the teddy roosevelt thing is probably a reference to the strong US influence on canada. i find the song title kind of ironic, though, because teddy roosevelt wasn't a gun toater, he was actually the first american to win a novel peace prize for ending the russio-japanese war. not a very violent guy.

    canada's not perfect at all though. they've got terrible drug use percentages, one of their provinces is thinking about declaring independence, etc etc. since gy!be/silver mt. zion are from canada, it's probly an ode to their hometown instead of focusing on the US as much as they have before
    Flag naptimeon January 01, 2006   Link

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