Finger On The Button
Bobby Bare Lyrics


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I have appointed me the captain of my destiny
And proclaimed myself the pilot of my soul
But my mind remains uneasy cause the rest of me
Depends on someone I don't even know

May the man who has his finger on the button have a lovely day today
Hope nothing hangs him up or ticks him off or bums him out in any way
Lord help him keep his cool cause he could pull the final curtain on my play
May the man who has his finger on the button have a lovely day today

I can recall when only God could start the world anew
He who left his babies wasted on the shore
But now that man could have the last word if he wanted to
God ain't such a bad dude anymore

May the man who has his finger on the button have a lovely night tonight
Hope he's got himself a honey who knows what to do and I hope she does it right
And in my heart I know you won't go bananas and again he might
May the man who has his finger on the button have a lovely night tonight
May the man who has his finger





Send him over anything he wants give him a sixpack of beer
Give him my old lady my girl friend

Overall Meaning

The song "Finger On The Button" by Bobby Bare conceptualizes a world where man has the power to control his destiny, with the power to end the world being within his reach. The lyrics suggest a certain uneasy resignation to this idea, as the singer acknowledges that despite his desire to be in control of his life, the fate of the entire world is ultimately in the hands of someone he doesn't know. This idea is further played out with references to God and how man has gained the ability to have the last word if he wanted to.


The chorus of the song invokes a sense of humor and irony, as the singer hopes that the man with the finger on the button has a "lovely day" or a "lovely night" depending on the lines. The lyrics contain an element of sarcasm as the singer acknowledges the ludicrousness of the situation and highlights the irony that the fate of humanity depends on mere human whims. The singer also wishes for the man to keep his cool, suggesting that the burden of human fate can be overwhelming and precarious.


Overall, "Finger On The Button" is a poignant commentary on the idea of human control and the implications of that control on the rest of the world. The lyrics suggest a certain unease and irony in light of this idea, highlighting the absurdity of the situation while also acknowledging the grave responsibility that comes with it.


Line by Line Meaning

I have appointed me the captain of my destiny
I am in charge of my own life and making my own decisions.


And proclaimed myself the pilot of my soul
I am responsible for determining the course of my life and guiding myself along that path.


But my mind remains uneasy cause the rest of me
Despite my confidence in myself, I am still anxious because there are external factors that I cannot control.


Depends on someone I don't even know
My fate is ultimately in the hands of someone I have never met and have no influence over.


May the man who has his finger on the button have a lovely day today
I hope the person who holds the power to end the world has a peaceful and enjoyable day.


Hope nothing hangs him up or ticks him off or bums him out in any way
I hope that nothing causes this person to become upset or angry, as they have the ability to destroy everything.


Lord help him keep his cool cause he could pull the final curtain on my play
I pray that this person remains level-headed and does not make a decision that results in the end of humanity.


I can recall when only God could start the world anew
In the past, the power to create or destroy the world was believed to be in the hands of a higher power.


He who left his babies wasted on the shore
This higher power was sometimes seen as cruel, allowing innocent people to suffer.


But now that man could have the last word if he wanted to
Now, human beings have the power to end the world, which is a monumental responsibility.


God ain't such a bad dude anymore
The power dynamics have shifted, and prior beliefs about the morality of a higher power controlling the world have changed.


May the man who has his finger on the button have a lovely night tonight
I hope that the person who holds the fate of the world in their hands has a peaceful and restful night.


Hope he's got himself a honey who knows what to do and I hope she does it right
I hope this person has a partner who is capable of providing the support they need to make wise decisions.


And in my heart I know you won't go bananas and again he might
Although I trust that this person will make responsible choices, I acknowledge that anything is possible given the weight of their power.


May the man who has his finger on the button have a lovely night tonight
Once again, I hope that the person with the power to end the world has a peaceful and restful night.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILKERSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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