Over the Border
GP & The Episodes Lyrics
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I'm ridin' on a road that stretches Over the border to America
Over the border to America
I got nothin' but lonesome time A backyard and a religious shrine
There must be something better over there
Over the border to America
One for them and baby one for you
One for the rich one for the poverty stricken
One for the healthy and one for the sick and
One for the tortured and one for the slave
One they tell you when they put you in your grave
One for the businessman with someone else's money
One for the beggar with nothing in his belly
We got one room to live in wife, child and man
Not much bigger than an ice cream van
Sometimes we walk a mile and stand and stare
Over the border to America
I stood and watched as the wall came down
Heard the freedom bell begin to sound
Watched the hammer as it hit the ground
Saw the sickle spinning round and round
Now don't make us out to be peons or fools
We're into Zeppelin and Paula Abdul
Now we're all gonna live in that cultural mecca
Order everyone a triple decker
We're gonna buy a thousand pair of nylons
Come and live on Staten Island
Oh Liberty let me walk in there
Where law and justice are always fair
There's only one place to get your share
Over the border to America
Over the border to America
The lyrics of GP & The Episodes' song "Over the Border in America" portray a sense of curiosity, longing, and hopelessness. The singer is riding on a road that stretches over the border to America, leaving behind a life that is not fulfilling. The man is smoking, and the dog is stretching, while the woman is working, and a kid is kvetching. This description highlights the everyday life of people living in an impoverished or unhappy situation. The singer desires a better life and hopes to find it over the border. He notes that there are many versions of the honest truth, depending on the situation in which an individual finds themselves. There is one truth for the rich, one for the poor, one for the healthy, one for the sick, one for the tortured, and one for the slave. The lyrics suggest that the truth someone is given depends on their social and economic status. The singer believes that there must be something better over the border to America, where people are treated equally regardless of their background.
The lyrics further describe the singer's life as one with nothing but lonesome time, a backyard, and a religious shrine, indicating that they lack opportunities and are somewhat isolated from the world. They only have one room for their family, and this space is tiny, not much bigger than an ice cream van, emphasizing the cramped living conditions they face. The singer reflects that sometimes, they walk a mile and stand and stare over the border, as if they are trying to see what could be their future. The lyrics suggest there is nothing for them locally, and their future could only be possible in America. The lyrics indicate that the singer believes everyone deserves equality and justice, and they hope to find a place where these values are upheld.
Line by Line Meaning
A man smokes and a dog stretches
A man is smoking and a dog is stretching.
A woman works and a kid kvetches
A woman is working while a child is complaining.
I'm ridin' on a road that stretches
I am riding on a long road.
Over the border to America
I am traveling towards the American border.
I got nothin' but lonesome time
I have nothing but time to be lonely.
A backyard and a religious shrine
I only have a backyard and a religious shrine.
There must be something better over there
I believe there is something better on the other side.
There's a lot of versions of the honest truth
There are many interpretations of the truth.
One for them and baby one for you
People have different versions of the truth depending on their social status.
One for the rich one for the poverty stricken
People interpret the truth differently based on their financial wellbeing.
One for the healthy and one for the sick and
The truth varies based on one's physical health.
One for the tortured and one for the slave
The truth can differ depending on one's past experiences.
One they tell you when they put you in your grave
Some people only learn the truth once they are already dead.
One for the businessman with someone else's money
People with access to other people's money view the truth differently.
One for the beggar with nothing in his belly
Those who are poverty-stricken have their own interpretation of the truth.
We got one room to live in wife, child and man
We have only one room where the three of us live together.
Not much bigger than an ice cream van
Our living space is small, comparable to an ice cream truck.
Sometimes we walk a mile and stand and stare
We sometimes take walks just to look around.
I stood and watched as the wall came down
I witnessed the fall of a wall.
Heard the freedom bell begin to sound
I heard the sound of a bell ringing for freedom.
Watched the hammer as it hit the ground
I saw a hammer hitting the ground.
Saw the sickle spinning round and round
I saw a sickle spinning endlessly.
Now don't make us out to be peons or fools
Please do not label us as powerless or foolish.
We're into Zeppelin and Paula Abdul
We enjoy different types of music.
Now we're all gonna live in that cultural mecca
We are going to live in a culturally rich place.
Order everyone a triple decker
We will order everyone a three-layered sandwich.
We're gonna buy a thousand pair of nylons
We are going to purchase many pairs of stockings.
Come and live on Staten Island
Let's come and live on Staten Island.
Oh Liberty let me walk in there
I want to walk into a place of liberty.
Where law and justice are always fair
I want to be where justice and the law are always impartial.
There's only one place to get your share
The only place to get what you deserve is over the American border.
Over the border to America
The journey is leading me to America's border.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MelioraCogito
Circum Soilder
Unfortunately the US already tried that... it was called the War of 1812.
The Americans invaded Canada, pillaged our farms, burned our crops and sacked and burned our [then] capital York (now called Toronto).
Americans did all that thinking that the large number of new Canadians who were former colonists of the thirteen colonies and who still had family on the US side of the border, would willing join the US forces (now burning and pillaging their farms) in rebellion against the British crown.
You really have to wonder about American logic sometimes... they invaded a country claiming 'we're here to free you from your colonial overlords' while US troops kill, rape, pillaged and burned our farms, and they were surprised we didn't en masse join them in rebellion against those who were defending us? You'd think we were ungrateful or somethin'.
[note to wood-be US invaders, you want to win the hearts and minds of a population in a nation you just invaded? Don't embark on a campaign of terror! You'll only piss off the locals.]
Nope, Canada and the USA should remain separate. Up here, we're too "liberal" for Americans ... and I mean 'liberal" in both the classical and modern sense.
@blacktesseract3798
And than there is Europe where you live in Luxemburg, work in Germany, went to school in Belgium, have a boyfriend in France and visit your parents every week in the Netherlands...
@spartanx9293
Sounds complicated
@davidjorden2433
Sounds accurate
@gabrielabatista6016
That happens (a bit) in some Brazil borders, people live in one country, go to the school or work in other country because the frontier is in the middle of the city, and no one cares much about it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@tylerstagge7465
I’m from Ohio, went to school in Indiana, and work in Michigan. Except for the common language, it’s not that different
@MrMega1423
@@tylerstagge7465 Ohio, Indiana and Michigan aren't 3 separate nations, though.
@livinginthenow
I, with my Canadian father and American mother, am living proof that the "no touching zone" thing doesn't always work.
@cakemanjefferson9893
I'm assuming this means your parents are now in prison. On each side of the border
@monty4336
Your parents were touching each others zones all along. 😆
@livinginthenow
@@cakemanjefferson9893 No. They've been on the lam for decades, though, living in fear that they'd be turned in to the authorities by neighbors or coworkers, yet still hoping to live as their authentic selves once again... 😥😥😥