Jimmy Carter
Electric Six Lyrics
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Like any idea that never had a chance of going anywhere
This is who you are
Hey celebrity who drives off a bridge in a car
Your beautiful body filling up with water
Like Harry Truman dropping bombs out of the air
Like any self-respecting multi-billionaire
Five dancing teenage boys who sing their way into our hearts
Backstreets back alright
And there's a toxic cloud hanging over her
And there's white noise on the screen
And there's a man in a hotel room assaulting the maid who just came to clean
Up the mess
Backstreets back alright
Like Ronald Reagan falling asleep for ever more
Dreaming of horses and dreaming of nuclear war
This is where we are tonight
Everybody under surveillance from a satellite
You could be the first one on your block to die
And there's a plague of locusts upon us
And there's a nightmare in the swarm
And there's a lion out in the desert slouching towards Bethlehem to be born, again
Backstreets back alright, alright.
The song "Jimmy Carter" by Electric Six is a satirical take on the state of society and its various flaws. The first verse of the song states that people tend to follow ideas that are destined to fail, like Jimmy Carter's policy of wearing electric underwear, which never caught on. The song implies that people in general tend to fall for things that are useless and nonsensical. The verse then links to a celebrity driving off a bridge, drowning in their car, making a clever reference to Mary Jo Kopechne, a woman who died in a car crash with senator Ted Kennedy.
The second verse talks about how people in power tend to drop bombs, like Harry Truman or billionaires, which is another reference to current events. The verse also mentions "Backstreet Boys", a popular boy band of the 90s, mocking the cult-like appeal and the emotional attachment to their music. The chorus talks about a toxic cloud, white noise, and assault, symbolizing the common problems in society, which we tend to ignore. It is followed by the second verse that talks about Ronald Reagan, who dreamed of horses and nuclear war. It implies that even politicians tend to have dark desires, and how our lives are constantly under surveillance. The song ends with a reference to the Bible, where a lion is mentioned as the first of the four horsemen, a symbol of destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Like Jimmy Carter like, electric underwear
Comparing a person to a product that is unconventional and does not gain popularity
Like any idea that never had a chance of going anywhere
Comparing a person to an unsuccessful idea due to lack of potential or support
This is who you are
Emphasizing and reinforcing the identity of the person being compared
Hey celebrity who drives off a bridge in a car
Reference to a famous person who tragically died and the irony of their fame juxtaposed with their untimely death
Your beautiful body filling up with water
Graphic imagery of the tragic death of the referenced celebrity, in this case Mary Jo Kopechne who died in a car accident involving Senator Ted Kennedy
Like Harry Truman dropping bombs out of the air
Comparison of a person to a contentious historical figure notorious for their actions
Like any self-respecting multi-billionaire
Comparing a person to an elite subset of society with wealth and power
Five dancing teenage boys who sing their way into our hearts
Reference to a boy band that captured the hearts of many fans despite lacking true musical talent
Backstreets back alright
Repetition of a well-known catchphrase of the boy band vocalizing their return
And there's a toxic cloud hanging over her
Description of a physical and metaphorical environment that poses a threat to a person
And there's white noise on the screen
Reference to technical difficulties or interference that disrupts communication or broadcast
And there's a man in a hotel room assaulting the maid who just came to clean
Gripping description of an act of sexual assault and a victim who is vulnerable and powerless
Up the mess
Simplistic description of the aftermath of a violent and traumatic act
Like Ronald Reagan falling asleep for ever more
Comparison of a person to a former president regarded for his conservative and controversial policies
Dreaming of horses and dreaming of nuclear war
Description of the death of a former president and referencing the irony of his peaceful demeanor compared to his active role in the perpetuation of war
This is where we are tonight
Statement regarding the current state of society and the world
Everybody under surveillance from a satellite
Reference to the loss of privacy and the omnipresent surveillance that pervades contemporary society
You could be the first one on your block to die
Invocation of the potential for imminent danger or death lurking around the corner
And there's a plague of locusts upon us
Mention of a devastating natural disaster and its impact on society
And there's a nightmare in the swarm
Description of the horror and terror of the natural disaster
And there's a lion out in the desert slouching towards Bethlehem to be born, again
Reference to a biblical prophecy and a warning of impending doom and destruction
Backstreets back alright, alright.
Repeating the refrain of the song and offering a message of hope or solidarity in the face of turmoil and disaster
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SPENCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AWSOMEPOSSUM16
Such a shame that Señor Smoke got such poor reception in the UK. It's really a good album.
jack308mac
AWSOMEPOSSUM16 so true, I remember my friend got a copy when it came out on amazon for 99p, and it was a weird promo edition with no case and a skull on the cover.... I think they're bigger in England than they are in the USA, they seem to tour hear most years, I wonder if you will see this comment, 4 years later!
Ace OfJase
Agreed 100%
Robert Friel
Time of post, I've listened to only this and the songs before this on the album. And I already love it.
Justice Webb
It's a really, really great rock album, a classic
Robert Friel
I don't listen to a whole lot of full albums, so in some perspective, this is one of my favorite albums of all time.
toboggan007
They have the pulse.
blastedgoat
this song changed my life today. just like when i heard every other E6 song. everything dick says seems so profound, Backstreet's back, all right!
Nikos Psaroudakis
Sometimes, listening to this brings me goosebumps.
And I am not even American.
Sometimes I think that Electric Six would be one of Frank Zappa's fav bands to listen to for fun.
phizzler5051
man. good fuckin call. only thing is that its just a band and not an orchestra