Oh, give us your vote
Give us your vote
If you know what's good for you
Oh, give us your vote
Give us your vote
If you know what's good for you

These are the lines
That we straighten every year
But it's the second time
They mapped the constellations
So we search for you by night
In the Deptford gravel pit
Until the tramp finds Christ
Injustice is my middle name

'cause you don't need to change
Your future's with us
You don't need to change
Your future's with us

You look a wreck
Left your key inside the door
And my rook will check
Across this black and white chessboard
'cause your English is good
We can see it in your bones
In this neighborhood
We ain't driving you home

'cause you don't need to change
Your future's with us
You don't need to change

Oh, give us your vote
Give us your vote

'cause your English is good
We can see it in your bones



Lyrics submitted by El_Jefe07

Track duration: 03:11


Your English Is Good song meanings
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23 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:So we search for you by night
    In the Deptford gravel pit
    Until the tramp finds Christ

    This is actually from the book, The fifth business. Check it out.
    Flag mantaclause23on February 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Sorry. One more thought that I forgot to mention. The major repeated lines in the song "You don't need to change / Your future's with us" refer to politicians pandering to their audience to get the vote. In other words, promising to take care of potential voters by giving them whatever they want without having to change or sacrifice anything, which is obviously a lie.
    Flag truthinwordson September 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:The song seems to be, at least somewhat, a critique on politicians and the way they treat voters, specifically minorities and lower income voters. The first verse mentions searching for the tramp (beggar, vagrant) in the gravel pit, ending with "Until the tramp finds Christ / Injustice is my middle name." This seems like a commentary on self righteous, religious politicians, those that claim to follow Christ but do nothing to aid the downtrodden (or those who do not share their beliefs) through their policies once in office.

    The second verse makes a similar point with the line "your English is good" followed by "In this neighborhood / We ain't driving you home." In this case, politicians are looking to court the minority vote (those who may not be native English speakers), but they would never set foot into any of the poorer neighborhoods where those voters live. The overall point being that some politicians will say anything to win support from the desired demographic, but that they don't truly care about the well being of those they are elected to serve.

    The lines "And my rook will check / Across this black and white chess board" further emphasize the idea of political strategizing in a game of race. Notice that he specifically mentions that the chess board is black and white.

    My 2 cents.
    Flag truthinwordson September 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Pretty much no one has interpreted this song yet.
    I agree it's a little tricky. I'm not so informed
    on the historical/literature part, but they sound good.
    I defenintaly think it's political.

    OMG! #^$%!!! I wish that guy would stop looking @ me!
    He's really starting 2 creep me out!
    Anyway, I had 2 get that out...

    These are the lines line between good/bad or rich/poor
    That we straighten every year
    But it's the second time Maybe it's the 2nd time this certain
    They mapped the constellations (frusterating/confusing?)event has taken place
    So we search for you by night <-This kinda sounds like a murder/missing person..?
    In the Deptford gravel pit
    Until the tramp finds Christ There's a low chance they'll find the body/person
    Injustice is my middle name He will continue to feel that the perp. has not been
    brought 2 "justice"???

    Forget it that's way 2 choppy 2 make sense
    out of! idk. I tried,it's a fantastic song
    tho & it gets stuck in my head about every
    3 days or so! :P




    Flagged Udahoon August 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I saw these guys at the rabbit in san antonio and this song definitly took the show...not for me though...I like cut cut paste.
    Flag SandSpideron June 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:So so cool
    Flag WhipsFeldmanon June 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i just love tokyo police club
    thats all.
    Flag starlasatur9on February 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song confused me as the verses seem agressive but then the chorus is passive (thats how i read it). Or could it be about abduction of vulnerable people

    and how "your future is with us" trying to convince people to join then
    Flag NateChaion August 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Saw this song played live, everyone sang it all together barely could hear Dave it was amazing.
    Best part was the beggining "O give us your vote, give us your vote, If you know whats good for you"
    Flag Oranjeon July 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To add onto daretoeatapeach ,
    Maybe it's a political take on a relationship?

    Like if you think about it the person it trying to convince them otherwise.
    Ahhhhh I don't know.
    I'm just throwing stuff out there. ;D
    Flag AlohaAndreaon July 20, 2008   Link

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