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Agents of the law
Luckless pedestrian
I know you're out there
With rage in your eyes and your megaphones
Saying all is forgiven
Mad dog surrender
How can I answer
A man of my mind can do anything
[Chorus]
I'm a bookkeeper's son
I don't want to shoot no one
Well I crossed my old man back in Oregon
Don't take me alive
Got a case of dynamite
I could hold out here all night
Yes I crossed my old man back in Oregon
Don't take me alive
Can you hear the evil crowd
The lies and the laughter
I hear my inside
The mechanized hum of another world
Where no sun is shining
No red light flashing
Here in this darkness
I know what I've done
I know all at once who I am
[Chorus]
Luckless pedestrian
I know you're out there
With rage in your eyes and your megaphones
Saying all is forgiven
Mad dog surrender
How can I answer
A man of my mind can do anything
[Chorus]
I'm a bookkeeper's son
I don't want to shoot no one
Well I crossed my old man back in Oregon
Don't take me alive
Got a case of dynamite
I could hold out here all night
Yes I crossed my old man back in Oregon
Don't take me alive
Can you hear the evil crowd
The lies and the laughter
I hear my inside
The mechanized hum of another world
Where no sun is shining
No red light flashing
Here in this darkness
I know what I've done
I know all at once who I am
[Chorus]
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Agents of the law
Luckless pedestrian
I know you're out there
With rage in your eyes and your megaphones
Saying all is forgiven
Mad Dog surrender
How can I answer?
A man of my mind can do anything
This is a man (the so called Mad Dog) who has done something wrong. I don't think the song reveals the nature of the crime, but instead tries to share the psychological experience of the perpetrator. He is holed up with the law trying to talk him out of his barricade. He knows that although they say all is forgiven, they want to bring him to justice. But, he believes that he can think his way out of the situation. I am Not sure if the luckless pedestrian represents a victim or someone lucklessly caught up in the situation.
CHORUS:
I'm a bookkeeper's son
I don't want to shoot no one
Well I crossed my old man back in Oregon
Don't take me alive
Got a case of dynamite
I could hold out here all night
Yes I crossed my old man back in Oregon
Don't take me alive
The question here is, " who is the old man: His father or the law perhaps? I'm leaning toward it representing the law because that ties the whole story together as a violation of the law. He has made up his mind that he will not surrender and has enough resources to make his stand. He regretfully reflects on his ordinary life and pleads that he does not really want to hurt anyone. However, he has made up his mind that this will be his last stand and he won't be taken alive.
(Chorus)
Can you hear the evil crowd?
The lies and the laughter
I hear my inside
The mechanized hum of another world
Where no sun is shining
No red light flashing
Here in this darkness
I know what I've done
I know all at once who I am
A crowd has gathered and he knows they are enjoying his precarious situation. The mob is merciless and assuming about his guilt. The hopelessness of his situation is sinking in and he's losing his grip on sanity as his state of mind is changing to solitude. The mechanized hum of another world represents the normal lives of others and society which he is no longer a part of. He is outside of society now, and his world is growing dark. However, in spite of his loneliness and his crime, he is finally in touch with his true self. It is the irony of the story that the evil deed is the thing that brings him to self realization. What a killer tune (intended). I wonder if it was written about a real person / criminal from Oregon that ended up in this situation: Or maybe some other person that crossed the law in this fashion.
In summary, the lyrics are the thoughts of a fugitive and they reveal something sinister about self realization when the end is imminent.
I find it questionable if shootings of such high visibility persons are "commonplace". It DOES seem true that the society had become more violent. And the more we disarm it, the worse it seems to get. PROGRESS!?!?!
I guess Charles Schumer must think so.
I don't think cyborgs were involved in this one. And did I mention the killer guitar intro? I could listen to the beginning over and over and still get chills from it.
The mechanized hum is a reference to mental-illness. How else to truly good people end up commiting horrible acts? People in desperate situations or who have "snapped" and hurt someone will often "disconnect". They often say they heard voices or "ringing" or humming in their ears. They will say things had a very mechanical feel. They will later say that they were running on "autopilot". He is obviously desperate to get away from the mob, the police, justice, anxiety. So, he withdraws from reality into the dark recesses of his soul, by doing so, he realizes who he truly is, what he has done, and the true gravity of his situation.
I find it questionable if shootings of such high visibility persons are "commonplace". It DOES seem true that the society had become more violent. And the more we disarm it, the worse it seems to get. PROGRESS!?!?!
I guess Charles Schumer must think so.
Bear in mind that he "crossed" his old man in Oregon. I get the idea that he fleeced his father for a lot of money, or wronged him in some way, and now he's in serious trouble with him. So he takes a hostage a hides out. He may or may not have a gun or "a case of dynamite", but he's telling the cops that he does. They're trying to talk him out of it and surrender, but he won't do it. "Don't take me alive". He honestly wants the police to kill him, because he's more scared of what his father could do to him than what the cops will do. He's desperate now and there's no turning back.