Us living as we do upside down
And the new word to have is revolution
People don't even want to hear the preacher
Spill or spiel because God's whole card has been thoroughly piqued
And America is now blood and tears instead of milk and honey
The youngsters who were programmed to continue
Fucking up woke up one night digging
Paul Revere and Nat Turner as the good guys
America stripped for bed and we had not all yet closed our eyes
The signs of truth were tattooed across her often entered vagina
We learned to our amazement untold tale of scandal
Two long centuries buried in the musty vault
Hosed down daily with a gagging perfume
America was a bastard, the illegitimate daughter of the mother country
Whose legs were then spread around the world
And a rapist known as freedom, free-doom
Democracy, liberty, and justice were revolutionary code names that preceded
The bubbling, bubbling, bubbling, bubbling, bubbling
In the mother country's crotch
What does Webster say about soul?
All I want is a good home and a wife
And a children and some food to feed them every night
After all is said and done, build a new route to China if they'll have you
Who will survive in America?
Who will survive in America?
Who will survive in America?
Who will survive in America?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kanye West's song Who Will Survive in America are a commentary on the state of America and the disillusionment of its people. The opening line, "Us living as we do upside down," speaks to the idea that society is turned on its head, with the new word being revolution. The people are seeking change but are no longer listening to the traditional sources of guidance, such as religious preachers, because they see that even God's plans have been disrupted.

The line "America is now blood and tears instead of milk and honey" is a reference to the idea that America has lost its innocence and has become a place of violence and struggle. The youth who are supposed to be the future are lost and misguided, looking to figures like Paul Revere and Nat Turner as heroes. Meanwhile, America's past is filled with scandal and hidden truths that have only recently come to light. The country's foundations are built on lies and exploitation, and the people are trying to come to terms with that history.

The final lines of the song reflect a desire for a simpler life - a home, a family, and food to eat. Even after all that has been said and done, the hope of a new future remains. However, the underlying question remains, "Who will survive in America?" suggesting that the struggle for survival and progress is ongoing.

Line by Line Meaning

Us living as we do upside down
The society is functioning in a way that is opposite to the natural order.

And the new word to have is revolution
Revolution has become a popular and relevant word to use.

People don't even want to hear the preacher
People are not interested in listening to religious leaders.

Spill or spiel because God's whole card has been thoroughly piqued
Preachers are not taken seriously anymore because their message has already been heard.

And America is now blood and tears instead of milk and honey
America is now a place of conflict and suffering, rather than prosperity and happiness.

The youngsters who were programmed to continue
The younger generation has been taught to continue the same pattern of behavior and beliefs.

Fucking up woke up one night digging
The younger generation has realized the flaws in their programming and are questioning their beliefs.

Paul Revere and Nat Turner as the good guys
Historical revolutionaries are now viewed as heroes.

America stripped for bed and we had not all yet closed our eyes
America is in a vulnerable state and people are not aware of the full extent of its issues.

The signs of truth were tattooed across her often entered vagina
The truth about America's issues have been hidden and ignored for too long.

We learned to our amazement untold tale of scandal
The younger generation is learning about the scandals and issues of America which were not talked about before.

Two long centuries buried in the musty vault
The scandals and issues of America have been ignored for a very long time.

Hosed down daily with a gagging perfume
The issues of America are being covered up by a facade or perfume.

America was a bastard, the illegitimate daughter of the mother country
America was created in a way that was not legitimate or honorable.

Whose legs were then spread around the world
America's influence and power spread throughout the world.

And a rapist known as freedom, free-doom
Freedom, or the concept of it, has been used to harm and oppress people.

Democracy, liberty, and justice were revolutionary code names that preceded
These values were used as a way to overthrow oppressive systems in the past.

The bubbling, bubbling, bubbling, bubbling, bubbling
The resentment and frustration of the people is growing.

In the mother country's crotch
In the heart of the oppressive systems that created America.

What does Webster say about soul?
It is unclear what the true nature of the soul is.

All I want is a good home and a wife
What people truly want is a peaceful life with a partner and a home.

And a children and some food to feed them every night
They want to be able to provide for their children and ensure they are fed every day.

After all is said and done, build a new route to China if they'll have you
If all else fails, people will try to start anew in another country.

Who will survive in America?
The survival of America and its people is in question.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jeff Bhasker, Kanye West, Gil Scott-Heron, Alfred Scramuzza, Edwin J Bocage

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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