I've got this planet in my hands.
You know I'll waste it if I can.
Come on let's give it a twist
and if it all turns to shit
Oh wait, let's try that again.

My life's too short to have a plan
Here, let me help you understand
First take this drink and this pill
relax your mind and be still
Let's find out who I am
Cause I,
I'm just American Trash
Stupid American Trash

I've got this planet in my hands
I'll start to save it if I can
I'm satisfied with myself
don't care for anyone else
I'm so united when I stand
I get my facts from the TV
Believe in everything I read

It's such an ignorant bliss
when the whole fucking world wants to be
like me
Cause I,
I'm just American Trash.
Stupid American Trash.

And everyone is shutting down
the people all so worn out
Wake up, the dream is over
Wake up, the dream is over.
Cause I,
I'm just American trash.
Stupid American Trash.


Lyrics submitted by Nikulfoo

American Trash song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    I'm American trash and I know it.

    janice111on May 24, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    This song reminds me of upper middle-class teenagers complaining about how awful America is even though they've never left the country. If you talk to anyone beyond the USA, it becomes pretty obvious the rest of the world deals with all of these same issues on a different financial scale, but I suppose myopia is part of the song. "I've got this planet in my hands" I don't know how you think wealth is distributed in this country, but I'm among the ~99% of people to whom this does not fucking apply. I can't even hold my own life in my hands without it slipping through my fingers, so speak for yourself. "It's such an ignorant bliss When the whole fucking world wants to be like me." Yeah, I'd say it's pretty ignorant to think the whole world wants to be like America. The internet will gleefully remind you that all Americans are stupid, fat, and lazy, and everyone looks down on them. "I'm satisfied with myself . . . I'm just American Trash" This song somehow manages to reinforce the tired stereotypes it criticizes even through obvious satire. What's the point of encouraging someone to accept that they're garbage? How empowering. Are they calling us trash without offering us any productive options because that's how America usually works? I might find that poetic if it didn't seem to suggest we're responsible for the institutions that block upwards mobility in this country. That was my father's generation, thanks. We're too busy drowning in student loans and hoping this teetering house of credit cards we live in doesn't crush us when it finally crashes down.

    I actually rather liked the music video, but it doesn't match the lyrics. The video seems to focus on the transience of value and cheap materialism, which really isn't in the lyrics, so they had to use a lot of on-screen text to make that point. It's unfortunate that adding a cool video doesn't make the actual song any easier to listen to.

    Bileon June 27, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is a song about America and Americans. Everyone is lost in an ignorant bliss, blindly following the propaganda. He stresses how America runs the world despite its flaws. And he calls himself "stupid American trash" because that's how a lot of the world views Americans. He claims the world wants to be like him, which in a way is true. America is the largest superpower. In the last verse he's trying to wake America up, to relieve them of the fake American lifestyle. He wants to save the people. This song is just a mocking of the ignorant American way and lifestyle.

    thepeachieston December 03, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is a song about America and Americans. Everyone is lost in an ignorant bliss, blindly following the propaganda. He stresses how America runs the world despite its flaws. And he calls himself "stupid American trash" because that's how a lot of the world views Americans. He claims the world wants to be like him, which in a way is true. America is the largest superpower. In the last verse he's trying to wake America up, to relieve them of the fake American lifestyle. He wants to save the people. This song is just a mocking of the ignorant American way and lifestyle.

    thepeachieston December 03, 2015   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    I had a discussion if this song is offensive for Americans and that was my thoughts: This song is using a lot of bad stereotypes about USA but tbh I think "american trash" is a metaphore because anyone can be that trash if they don't think on their own and just believe everything that social medias or celebrities are saying. It's just because of these stereotypes about Americans "american trash" fits the best.

    UnrequitedObsessionon July 31, 2016   Link

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