In 1976, he achieved a national breakout with the studio album Night Moves. On his studio albums, he also worked extensively with the Alabama-based Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, which appeared on several of Seger's best-selling singles and albums.
Seger's first marriage in 1968 lasted for "one day short of a year". He had a long-term relationship with Jan Dinsdale from 1972 until 1983. In 1987, he married actress Annette Sinclair and they divorced one year later. He married Juanita Dorricott in 1993, in a small private setting at The Village Club, in Bloomfield Hills; they have two children. Seger lives mainly at his home in Orchard Lake Village, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. He owns a condo in Naples, Florida.
Politically, Seger has characterized himself as a centrist: "[I'm] right down the middle", he remarked. He supported Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. He tackled antiestablishment themes in early songs such as "2+2=?" (1968) and "U.M.C. (Upper Middle Class)" (1974), according to Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press. On his 2014 album Ride Out, he addressed topics such as gun violence, and wrote "It's Your World" about climate change. On the subject, he said, "There are a lot of culprits in climate change, and everybody's responsible, myself included. Nobody gets a free pass on this one. We've got to change our ways and change them fast.
A roots rocker with a classic raspy, shouting voice, Seger wrote and recorded songs that deal with love, women and blue-collar themes and is an example of heartland rock. Seger has recorded many hits, including "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man", "Night Moves", "Turn the Page", "Still the Same", "We've Got Tonight", "Against the Wind", "You'll Accomp'ny Me", "Shame on the Moon", "Like a Rock", and "Shakedown", which was written for Beverly Hills Cop II (1987). Seger also co-wrote the Eagles' number-one hit "Heartache Tonight", and his iconic recording of "Old Time Rock and Roll" was named one of the Songs of the Century in 2001.
With a career spanning six decades, Seger continues to perform and record today. Seger was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012. Seger was named Billboard's 2015 Legend of Live honoree at the 12th annual Billboard Touring Conference & Awards, held November 18–19 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.
Seger was known as one of the last holdouts regarding making his catalog available for digital download and streaming. However, as of 2017, much of his work is available.
Two Plus Two Equals What
Bob Seger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but I'm old enough to kill
I don't wanna kill nobody
but I must if you so will
And if I raise my hand in question
you just say that I'm a fool
Cause I got the gall to ask you
Can you maybe change the rules
Ask what answer can I find, I ain't sayin' I'm a genius
2+2 is on my mind
Well I knew a guy in high school
just an average friendly guy
And he had himself a girlfriend
and you made them say goodbye
Now he's buried in the mud
over foreign jungle land
And his girl just sits and cries
she just doesn't understand
So you say he died for freedom
well if he died to save your lies
Go ahead and call me yellow
2+2 is on my mind
All I know is that I'm young and your rules they are old
If I've got to kill to live
then there's something left untold
I'm no statesman I'm no general
I'm no kid I'll never be
It's the rules not the soldier
that I find the real enemy
I'm no prophet I'm no rebel
I'm just asking you why
I just want a simple answer
why it is I've got to die
I'm a simple minded guy
2+2 is on my mind
The song "Two Plus Two Equals What" by Bob Seger is a protest song that questions the establishment and their rules. It speaks about a young man who is old enough to kill but does not want to unless it's necessary. He questions the norms and limitations set by the veterans and the government, asking for a change in the policies. He is labeled as an upstart and a fool, but he is determined to find an answer to his questions. The lyrics suggest that the Vietnam War had taken a toll on people's lives, and the young generation was confused and agitated with the system.
The song brings out the frustration of the young people of that era who were drafted to fight in the war. They were not given a choice but to follow orders and comply with the rules. People who refused to fight were viewed as cowards, and those who fought were viewed as heroes. Bob Seger manages to capture the dilemma of young soldiers who are not clear about their purpose in the war, but still, have to kill to stay alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes it's true I am a young man
I am admitting that I am a young person
but I'm old enough to kill
Despite my age, I am legally old enough to take someone's life.
I don't wanna kill nobody
I have no desire to take anyone's life.
but I must if you so will
However, if it is required of me, I will do it.
And if I raise my hand in question
If I ask a question,
you just say that I'm a fool
I am met with derision and scorn
Cause I got the gall to ask you
Because I have the nerve to ask
Can you maybe change the rules
If there's any possibility that the rules can be altered
can you stand and call me upstart
Would you have the audacity to accuse me of being rebellious
Ask what answer can I find, I ain't sayin' I'm a genius
I am not claiming to be a brilliant mind, just asking for an explanation.
2+2 is on my mind
I am preoccupied with simple questions, such as basic arithmetic.
Well I knew a guy in high school
I have a personal story I want to share.
just an average friendly guy
This person was unremarkable but likable.
And he had himself a girlfriend
He had a romantic partner.
and you made them say goodbye
A third party caused the couple to separate.
Now he's buried in the mud
The man in my story died in battle.
over foreign jungle land
He was fighting in a distant, unknown land.
And his girl just sits and cries
His loved one is mourning.
she just doesn't understand
She is having a difficult time making sense of the situation.
So you say he died for freedom
The official line is that he perished in the name of freedom.
well if he died to save your lies
However, I suspect he may have actually died for a false cause.
Go ahead and call me yellow
You can accuse me of cowardice if you like.
2+2 is on my mind
My mind is consumed by simple questions, such as basic arithmetic.
All I know is that I'm young and your rules they are old
I am aware that I may not fully understand the older generation's way of thinking.
If I've got to kill to live
If it is necessary for me to take someone's life in order to survive,
then there's something left untold
Then there must be something I am not being told.
I'm no statesman I'm no general
I am not a politician or a military leader.
I'm no kid I'll never be
Despite my youth, I am not a child and never will be.
It's the rules not the soldier
I believe it is the regulations themselves, and not the individual soldier, that are the real problem.
that I find the real enemy
The true enemy, as far as I'm concerned, is the system.
I'm no prophet I'm no rebel
I don't see myself as a visionary or a disruptor.
I'm just asking you why
All I'm doing is asking a simple question.
I just want a simple answer
I am seeking a straightforward explanation.
why it is I've got to die
I would like to know why I might be called upon to sacrifice my life.
I'm a simple minded guy
I am uncomplicated and easy to understand.
2+2 is on my mind
My mind is occupied by simple questions, such as basic arithmetic.
Contributed by Katherine L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@edwinlipowski8598
But I must if you so will
And if I raise my hand in question
You just say that I'm a fool
Cause I got the gall to ask you
Can you maybe change the rules
Can you stand and call me upstart
Ask what answer can I find
I ain't sayin' I'm a genius
2+2 is on my mind
2+2 is on my mind
Well I knew a guy in high school
Just an average friendly guy
And he had himself a girlfriend
And you made them say goodbye
Now he's buried in the mud
Over foreign jungle land
And his girl just sits and cries
She just doesn't understand
So you say he died for freedom
Well if he died to save your lies
Go ahead and call me yellow
2+2 is on my mind
2+2 is on my mind
All I know is that I'm young
And your rules they are old
If I've got to kill to live
Then there's something left untold
I'm no statesman I'm no general
I'm no kid I'll never be
It's the rules not the soldier
That I find the real enemy
I'm no prophet I'm no rebel
I'm just asking you why
I just want a simple answer
Why it is I've got to die
I'm a simple minded guy
2+2 is on my mind
2+2 is on my mind
2+2 is on my mind
@johndriscoll1969
One of bob's best and one of the most thought provoking anti war messages of the 60's
@johnnyblade5711
Always liked some of his old tunes, but was it. When i came across this video, whole new respect for the man. What a voice, what a performance, as raw as it gets. He jammed sang from his soul, what can I say, young Bob, your the man
@ronbo11
This is the first time I've ever heard this track I've heard so much about it and always regretted that Seger won't allow his early work to be re-released. Songs like this are excellent examples of that amazing Motor City Soul/Rock style. Just a technical question, was this transferred from vinyl and "cleaned up" because I never knew of a digital version of this song or the album it came from? Thanks for getting this up on the 'tube!
@kharmstrong
Great song! I can't believe you posted this song! I've lived in the U.S. for 51 years and I've never met anyone outside of Michigan or northern Ohio that ever heard of it. I grew up in the Pontiac Mich. area during the 60's and 70's it brings back a lot of great memories. Thanks for posting it!
@formercanadiancitizen4756
Hey, next door in Canada we were digging tooooooo ;)
@utnanwp
I can’t find this song on Apple Music. I am from Michigan too but I thought everyone had listened to this one. Classic.
@formercanadiancitizen4756
@Natalie W. Putnam some say it’s been suppressed by you know who…
@samhain4539
You still here brother?
@planetclownfishbrain7052
found this song in 82. Didn't stop me from enlisting USMC infantry. 20 glorious years of losing wars and getting paid. Imma hero... kinda. At least I didn't shoot camels on purpose.
@flacoconut
This has been one of my favorite songs since high school. Unfortunately, if you change the words "buried in the mud in a foreign jungle land" to buried in the sand in a foreign desert land, nothing changes.