In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I cried on September 11th
Tear ran down my spine
Like I cry for each murdered Iraqi
As though I've lost a neighbor of mine
But Afghanistan got what was coming
It was the right thing to do at the time
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
And I go to the anti-war rallies
Curse George and the whole G.O.P.
And I can't get enough of Obama
Oh his message of change speaks to me
But sure Nader's right about most thing
But he cost Gore that election, you see
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
And I bristled with rage through Katrina
The response made me sick to my heart
I'm sure FEMA would've come running
Had it flooded rich whites in Cape Cod
But don't talk about revolution
Cause that's going just a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
Yes I vote for the Democratic Party
I figure soon enough they'll come along
And I attended those vote for change concert
And they sure got me singing those songs
And I'm bothered about corporate government
But I do want our brand to trade strong
So love me, love me, love me I'm a liberal
Yes I read the New Yorker and Nation
And I've learned to take every view
And I idolized Franken and Stewart
Hell I feel like I'm almost a Jew
But when it comes down to globalized markets
Well there's no one more red, white, and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
And sure once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to some socialist meetings
Yeah I learned all the old union hymns
But oh I've grown older and wiser
and that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal.
Tear ran down my spine
Like I cry for each murdered Iraqi
As though I've lost a neighbor of mine
But Afghanistan got what was coming
It was the right thing to do at the time
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
And I go to the anti-war rallies
Curse George and the whole G.O.P.
And I can't get enough of Obama
Oh his message of change speaks to me
But sure Nader's right about most thing
But he cost Gore that election, you see
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
And I bristled with rage through Katrina
The response made me sick to my heart
I'm sure FEMA would've come running
Had it flooded rich whites in Cape Cod
But don't talk about revolution
Cause that's going just a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
Yes I vote for the Democratic Party
I figure soon enough they'll come along
And I attended those vote for change concert
And they sure got me singing those songs
And I'm bothered about corporate government
But I do want our brand to trade strong
So love me, love me, love me I'm a liberal
Yes I read the New Yorker and Nation
And I've learned to take every view
And I idolized Franken and Stewart
Hell I feel like I'm almost a Jew
But when it comes down to globalized markets
Well there's no one more red, white, and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
And sure once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to some socialist meetings
Yeah I learned all the old union hymns
But oh I've grown older and wiser
and that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal.
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
It's definitely based on the Phil Ochs song. I've found that a lot of people aren't catching on to the sarcastic message here. Kevin Devine is opposed to the two big political parties and realizes that true democracy will not be obtained as long as these corporate politicians are in office. The song is directed to those "liberals" who feel like they are fighting a good fight, even though they just do what is convenient and trendy, while often being extremely uneducated.
This song is great. I think it's based on this song: cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/ochs-phil/love-me-im-a-liberal-11453.html but the lyrics are changed to talk about modern politics.
Also, the lyrics should read "Franken and Stewart", as in Al Franken, the political commentator.
This is definitely based on Phil Ochs' song of the same name. Foreversend is right on the money.
I can't help but laugh a little when I hear this song. I played No Time Flat in the car once with my dad- who happens to be a huge Phil Ochs fan- and we agreed No Time Flat was something along the lines of what Ochs might play if he was still around. Go figure that this comes out, haha.