Kings of Leon – Ragoo

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  My Interpretation:I somewhat agree with sotireddear, except for the fact that I'm not convinced it's about growing as a person. Rather, I think maybe the opposite. I feel the narrator wants to be someone who has learned some great truth in his life (and thus, "changed the world"), but he simply hasn't. He hasn't "been to the ocean" -- rather, he's spent his life "running barefoot through the stream", implying he's stayed in the shallow end. I think in the chorus he admits that he doesn't have any answers, as much as he tries to come off like he does. My guess on the papa/slave reference is that it's an illustration of someone who really made something of himself -- started as a slave, joined the Union army to fight for the end of slavery, then fought for civil rights in the courts, and eventually became a prosperous business owner. He presents this as a contrast to his own life, which he has spent 'playing' or worse, merely reminiscing about having had fun in the past: "And I'mma holdin' tight to that night we had a ball" (I think this is the actual lyric).
  
  Whether or not I'm right about the meaning, I love this song, and never get tired of listening to it.

  Flag BrianEffon January 14, 2013   Link

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    I agree. I was listening to the band via Youtube earlier today...good song. I believe the narrator (singer?) gets that he's where he needs to be. He finally gets it. He had lived a lie (and had lied repeatedly about what he wanted or perhaps was just confused about what he wanted???). There was no growth; rather, an overwhelming desire to return to the past, prior to all the confusion and expectation and fear. Spot on with the analysis, and what a great band.

    Flag IllToast2Thaton February 09, 2013  
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  General Comment:I'm pretty sure its a reflection on the past and how you try to pass it down and learn from it. People are usually adamant about claiming they know exactly whats up but most people are just bullshitting. This is obvious in the second verse that he tries to impart some knowledge of stupid teenagers that won't listen anyway with the first part being a reflection about what he knows and whats there left to learn. Then the whole bit about his grandaddy's slave who he now works for in a remedial labor intensive position kind of drives this home...or maybe im just lyin

  Flag duckbutteron December 10, 2012   Link

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    so pretty much what sotireddear says

    Flag duckbutteron December 10, 2012  
• -2
  General Comment:I think he's getting a blow job.

  Flagged buttholewizardon April 19, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:This song has nothing to do with his father! 'Round here, your grandpa is usually your Papa. Pronounced "pawpaw," just like in the song. These guys aren't even close to being old enough to have a Civil War-era dad. In fact, he's probably talking about his great-grandfather, or even further back. But "great-great grandfather" wouldn't have sounded very good lyrically, would it?

  Flag triviafairyon August 06, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:Ok i see this song as saying that he understands that he needs to change the world.
  
  the second verse is him talking about her knows the kids are out there doing what they shouldnt be and he doesnt want to be the one preaching to them because they think they know it all but realy have no idea - so instead he'll use his music to teach them the way
  
  I think the you caught me lying part is about their whole concept of them changing the world - & tryna teach what not to do but they know they do it them selves. hence "you caught me lying"
  
  
  - the whole "My paw paws slave had to go and fight the war" part i believe goes along w/ the rest of the irony in the song .
  
  The slave fought a war came back sued for his freedom made money now his pawpaw working from the slave.
  
  just showing irony of how the slave ended up on top
  
  & i think " We ain't even been to the ocean We've been running barefoot in the streets"
  part is a metaphore. The ocean...e.i water is usually used as a metaphor for cleansing yourself... but he's saying we havent been trying to "cleanse ourselvs instead we running wild in the streets"... or atleast thats how i understood it
  
  
  - theres a big ironic undertone to the songg
  

  Flag KCtheuptowngirlon October 19, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:Im addicted to this song..i had to get use to it first...but now i listen to this song more than i do cold desert..! such a great beat..and yeah it a gerat song

  Flag ericaonjion January 19, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I think it sounds like he is saying - either way you caught me with the lion
  
  Because if you think about it, the song is mostly about his dad and his family, and his dad's name is Leon which means Lion.

  Flag wsoliz90on September 07, 2009   Link

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• +3
  General Comment:To me the song is about being young, having morals, making mistakes, growing as a person and wanting to guide others, yet being unsure of what is actually right.
  
  What a brilliant song.
  
  

  Flag sotireddearon July 24, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:while i love kings of leon and still love this song, it is almost a direct rip of the "Time To Pretend" by MGMT riff. thats a very good song though and this is a more rock version of it so i still like this one

  Flag adwbandon June 16, 2009   Link

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    it cant be a rip of MGMT.
    MGMT time to pretend was made recently, Ragoo was made quite a while ago.

    Flag thelovelyboneson December 17, 2009  
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  General Comment:"You caught me whilst a lying
  You caught me with my pants down"
  
  My favorite part.
  This song is amazing!
  I don't even care what it means..
  I love Kings of Leon.

  Flag cmstableinnon June 16, 2009   Link

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