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Government Center
The Modern Lovers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well we've got a lot, a lot, a lot of hard work today
We got to rock at the government center
To make the secretaries feel better
When they put the stamps on the letter

And they got a lot a lot a lot of great desks and chairs, uh-huh
At the government center
We gotta make those secretaries feel better
Where they put the stamps on the letter

We got to rock, to rock, to rock nonstop tonight, uh-huh
At the government center
Make those secretaries feel better
When they put the stamps on the ledgers

Won't stop until we see secretaries smile
We gotta see some office boys there jumpin' for joy
Tell old Mr. Ahern "Calm down a while
You know, that's the only way the center is ever going to get better"

So, let's rock, rock, rock-a nonstop tonight
Uh-huh, at the government center
Make those secretaries feel better
When they put the stamps on the letter

We're gonna make-make them feel better
Oh, look out

Overall Meaning

The Modern Lovers' song, "Government Center", is a satirical take on the bureaucratic system and the daily grind of office work. The song's lyrics depict the singers as being office workers who are determined to rock the government center and make the secretaries feel better about their work. The song's opening lines talk about how they have a lot of hard work to do and how they need to rock the government center to make things better. The "secretaries" who put the stamps on the letter represent the workers who are hidden in the background and are often overworked and underpaid.


As the song progresses, the singers continue to stress the importance of making the workers feel better by rocking the government center. They describe the center's great desks and chairs and emphasize that they need to make the secretaries happy by putting on a good show. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "make those secretaries feel better" over and over again, adding to the satirical tone of the song.


The song ends with the singers insisting that they will not stop until they see the secretaries smile and the office boys jumping for joy. They encourage Mr. Ahern to calm down and note that this is the only way the center will get better. The final lines of the song call for the band to rock non-stop until they make the workers feel better.


Line by Line Meaning

Well we've got a lot, a lot, a lot of hard work today
We have a lot of hard work to do today.


We got to rock at the government center
We need to play music at the government center.


To make the secretaries feel better
Our goal is to improve the mood of the secretaries.


When they put the stamps on the letter
Specifically, we want to improve the mood of the secretaries when they stamp letters.


And they got a lot a lot a lot of great desks and chairs, uh-huh
The government center has a lot of great furniture.


We gotta make those secretaries feel better
It's important to improve the mood of the secretaries.


Where they put the stamps on the letter
Because that's where they spend a lot of their time working.


We got to rock, to rock, to rock nonstop tonight, uh-huh
We need to play music nonstop tonight.


At the government center
Specifically, at the government center.


Make those secretaries feel better
Our main goal is to improve the mood of the secretaries.


When they put the stamps on the ledgers
Specifically, when they stamp the ledgers.


Won't stop until we see secretaries smile
We won't stop playing music until we see the secretaries smile.


We gotta see some office boys there jumpin' for joy
We want to make the office boys happy too.


Tell old Mr. Ahern "Calm down a while
We want Mr. Ahern, who may be upset or anxious, to calm down.


You know, that's the only way the center is ever going to get better"
We believe that improving the mood at the center is the key to making it a better place.


So, let's rock, rock, rock-a nonstop tonight
Let's keep playing music nonstop tonight.


Uh-huh, at the government center
Specifically, at the government center.


Make those secretaries feel better
Our main goal is still to improve the mood of the secretaries.


When they put the stamps on the letter
Because that's when they seem to need it most.


We're gonna make-make them feel better
Reiterated statement of our main goal.


Oh, look out
Warning to be ready because we are coming to play music.




Lyrics Β© Wixen Music Publishing, MODERN LOVE SONGS
Written by: Jonathan Michael Richman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@cronotrigger1363

Whos here cause of American Dad? Lol

@kelechi_77

when was this used in american dad??

@cronotrigger1363

@Kalehead new season 17.

@bretterin11

I am

@jessiethomson8464

"You are here.. And soooo, am I!"

@CastDown

Meeeeee

4 More Replies...

@davewright9692

i spent hours on autobahns in the 80s listening to this album

@taracallaghan377

I always request this song on my local independent radio station KNON 89.3 when I have to go to the government center!❀

@taracallaghan377

I went today!

@oilwellholdings3301

Masterpiece!!! 1970`s Rock For Ever!!!

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