“Blimp Rock excel in an area that few bands can get away with; pop or rock music with witty lyrics that straddle the line between sharply witty and outright comedy. Acts like Christian Hansen and The Burning Hell have both done this well, and Blimp Rock can count itself safely within their ranks. After all, how many bands could make a song about Lake Ontario lifeguards be entertaining?” -- Gray Owl Point
“Swampy, bong-littered grooves and slick, silvery guitar lines pepper the entirety of the album – a warm welcome for the summer to come and a sinful array of festivities. It’s a spoonful of Southern Ontario shtick that’s sure to please even the more cynical connoisseurs of scrappy garage rock.” – Beatroute
If My Friends Ran The Government
Blimp Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tax adults who are mean and know better, kindly suggest they write apology letters
If my friends did governing, they'd teach kids international financing
Help economics make sense to us all, then quietly destroy it and they'll somehow move on
And when the fat cats come a stumblin' through
My friends will hear them our and make sure they're wrong
Cause their rewarding good behaviour giving baked good to strangers, sharing beers, having times
If my friends ran the House of Commons you could say goodbye to all your car problems
Split the St. Lawrence down the 401, drift at your own pace to your destination
If my friends ran the cabinet, they'd institute the proper kind of Parliament
Bootsy Collins and that fuzzy bass, you know they'd funk away excessive waste
And when the fat cats come a stumblin' through
My friends will hear them our and make sure they're wrong
Cause their rewarding good behaviour giving baked good to strangers, sharing beers, having times
If my friends ran the government I just might call their country mine
If my friends ran the government they'd forget the ballots and vote with a pie
Let in all with open hearts, and they'd knit newcomers cozy scarves
If my friends ran the government, they'd teach all the babies conflict resolution
And they will grow up kindest of them all, and then my friends' government will finally fall
In these lyrics, Blimp Rock imagines a world in which their friends are in charge of the government. The first verse suggests that if their friends were governing, they would prioritize rewarding good behavior and happiness. They would impose taxes on adults who are mean and encourage them to apologize. Additionally, they would teach children about international financing and make economics more understandable for everyone. However, they would also aim to destroy the current economic system and move on to something new.
The second verse focuses on the House of Commons and the cabinet. If Blimp Rock's friends were in charge, they would solve car problems and improve transportation by splitting the St. Lawrence River along the 401 highway, allowing individuals to drift at their own pace to their destination. They would also establish a unique parliament, taking inspiration from funk musician Bootsy Collins and his distinctive bass style, with the aim of reducing wastefulness and inefficiency.
The chorus emphasizes the contrast between their friends' government and the current state of affairs. While the fat cats (representing the rich and powerful) stumble through their own misguided actions, Blimp Rock's friends would listen to them and ensure they are held accountable. Their government would reward good behavior, such as giving baked goods to strangers and enjoying times together. This ideal government is so appealing to the singer that they would even consider calling that country their own.
Continuing with the theme of welcoming and empathy, the third verse expresses that if their friends ran the government, they wouldn't rely on traditional voting methods. Instead, decisions would be made symbolically, such as voting with a pie. They would also demonstrate openness and kindness by welcoming newcomers and knitting them cozy scarves. In this government, even conflict resolution would be taught to babies, with the expectation that they would grow up to be the kindest generation yet. The final line implies that despite its success, this ideal government would eventually fall.
Overall, Blimp Rock's lyrics paint a picture of an alternative government led by their friends, who prioritize kindness, happiness, and inclusivity. While it presents an idealistic and whimsical vision, it also highlights the flaws and shortcomings of the current political system.
Line by Line Meaning
If my friends ran the government, they'd reward good bellies and laughing fits
If my friends were in charge of governance, they would prioritize and acknowledge the importance of happiness and contentment.
Tax adults who are mean and know better, kindly suggest they write apology letters
They would impose taxes on adults who display unkind behavior and encourage them to reflect on their actions and apologize.
If my friends did governing, they'd teach kids international financing
In their approach to governance, they would ensure that children are educated about global finance and economics.
Help economics make sense to us all, then quietly destroy it and they'll somehow move on
They would strive to simplify economic concepts for everyone's understanding but ultimately aim to deconstruct and rebuild the existing economic systems.
And when the fat cats come a stumblin' through
My friends will hear them out and make sure they're wrong
When influential and wealthy individuals try to exert their power, my friends would listen to their arguments but ensure that their ideas and actions are proven to be flawed.
Cause their rewarding good behavior giving baked goods to strangers, sharing beers, having times
Because my friends believe in incentivizing positive behavior through acts of kindness, such as sharing homemade treats and drinks to create a pleasant atmosphere.
If my friends ran the government I just might call their country mine
If my friends were in charge of the government, I would feel a strong sense of belonging and connection to their country.
If my friends ran the House of Commons you could say goodbye to all your car problems
If my friends had control over the House of Commons, they would resolve all car-related issues and ensure a hassle-free transportation experience for everyone.
Split the St. Lawrence down the 401, drift at your own pace to your destination
They would metaphorically divide the St. Lawrence River, a major waterway in Canada, along the 401 highway, allowing people to peacefully travel at their own speed.
If my friends ran the cabinet, they'd institute the proper kind of Parliament
If my friends were in charge of the cabinet, they would establish a well-functioning and efficient Parliament that operates in a manner consistent with good governance.
Bootsy Collins and that fuzzy bass, you know they'd funk away excessive waste
They would use the groovy music of Bootsy Collins and the distinct sound of a fuzzy bass to eliminate unnecessary and wasteful practices.
If my friends ran the government, they'd forget the ballots and vote with a pie
In their alternative approach to voting, my friends would abandon traditional ballots and instead use pie as a symbolic representation of inclusivity and unity.
Let in all with open hearts, and they'd knit newcomers cozy scarves
They would welcome and embrace newcomers with open hearts, showing them warmth and care by personally crafting cozy scarves for them.
If my friends ran the government, they'd teach all the babies conflict resolution
They would prioritize teaching conflict resolution skills to infants and young children, aiming to cultivate a generation capable of peacefully resolving disputes.
And they will grow up kindest of them all, and then my friends' government will finally fall
As a result of their nurturing and compassionate approach, the future generation would grow up to be the kindest of all, leading to the natural dissolution of my friends' government.
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Peter Demakos
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind