G.O.P.
Beth Hart Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Silver blue hair & a cane in her hand
living to die in the promised land
handing out flyers for the coming of Christ
she says raise from the fire for eternal life
or they'll
take your mind & they'll strip your faith
& they'll starve you with nothin' that you already ate
& they'll compliment just to break you down
Spin you in circles runnin' round & round
Good Ole People live
Good Ole People
coke bottle glasses & a smile on his face
He stands on the comer screamin' don't mix the race
commanding all the children to confess all their sins
then he beats his wife with a bottle of Gin
& they'll
whip your mind just to strip your faith
counterfeit people comin' to dominate
& they'll get you high just to greet you down
Spin you in circles movin' round & round
Good Ole People live
Good Ole People give




But Good Ole People can't drive
& maybe that's why Good Ole People die

Overall Meaning

The song G.O.P. by Beth Hart is a commentary on the many hypocrisies and contradictions found in society, particularly in regards to faith and politics. The lyrics describe, in detail, two individuals who seemingly have a strong faith and belief system, but who ultimately fall short in their actions and treatment of others.


The first verse describes an elderly woman with "silver blue hair & a cane in her hand" who is passing out flyers for the "coming of Christ." She warns people that if they don't follow her message, they will be stripped of their faith and starved. However, the message in the song is that these warnings ultimately do more harm than good, as they create anxiety and fear rather than genuine hope and faith.


The second verse introduces a man with a "smile on his face" who is preaching against the mixing of races and commanding children to confess their sins. The hypocrisy in this character is that he beats his wife with a bottle of gin, which is the exact opposite of his supposed message of love and forgiveness. The song concludes by stating that "Good Ole People can't drive" and perhaps that is why they die - suggesting that the true downfall of these characters is their inability to navigate life with integrity and dignity.


Overall, the song G.O.P. is a scathing critique of those who espouse certain beliefs but who do not practice them in their daily lives. It is a call to action for people to strive for authenticity and compassion, rather than getting bogged down in empty slogans and hollow promises.


Line by Line Meaning

Silver blue hair & a cane in her hand
Describing an old woman, probably physically weak due to her need for a cane, but strong in faith and belief.


living to die in the promised land
She is counting on an eternal life after death, that she believes is promised to her by God.


handing out flyers for the coming of Christ
She is trying to spread the word about Christianity and the second coming of Christ.


she says raise from the fire for eternal life
Raising from the fire could be a metaphor for surviving the hardships in life or the apocalypse, and attaining eternal life by being a good Christian.


take your mind & they'll strip your faith
They will challenge your beliefs and try to convert you. They will make you question what you believe in and doubt your faith.


& they'll starve you with nothin' that you already ate
They will manipulate you by taking away what you already have, creating an illusion of scarcity.


& they'll compliment just to break you down
They will use flattery to lure you in, and then break you down emotionally.


Spin you in circles runnin' round & round
They will confuse you and make you feel lost, going around in circles without knowing where to go.


Good Ole People live
Emphasizing the idea of Good Ole People, who live by their faith and beliefs.


Good Ole People
Referring to people who hold on to traditional beliefs and values, usually conservative and centered around religion.


coke bottle glasses & a smile on his face
Describing a man with poor eyesight and a friendly demeanor, masking the darker side of his personality.


He stands on the comer screamin' don't mix the race
This man is a racist who is preaching hatred and segregation, encouraging people not to mix with those of different skin color.


commanding all the children to confess all their sins
He is forcing children to confess their sins in front of others, which is a form of emotional abuse and manipulation.


then he beats his wife with a bottle of Gin
This man is not as good-natured as he appears, using alcohol as a weapon and abusing his wife.


counterfeit people comin' to dominate
Referring to people who pretend to be something they're not, and want to control and dominate others.


& they'll get you high just to greet you down
Using drugs or other artificial ways to create a temporary high or happiness, but leaving you even more miserable in the end.


Spin you in circles movin' round & round
Similar to the previous line, they will make you feel lost and confused, without a clear direction in life.


Good Ole People live
Reiterating the idea of Good Ole People and their way of living.


Good Ole People give
Good Ole People are generous and giving, living by the values of kindness and charity.


But Good Ole People can't drive
A jab at the stereotype that older people are not good drivers, but also implying that Good Ole People may not be able to move forward with the times and adapt to modern changes.


& maybe that's why Good Ole People die
Implying that not being able to adapt to new ideas and ways of living can lead to stagnation and ultimately, death.




Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

utbabee

Thanks for posting all of these videos from Rockpalast 2011. Great quality!!

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