Alien
Ian S. Lyrics

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I packed my bags - in the land of rags
'Cause I don't believe in them dimmo drags
Don't want to vote for the left wing - don't want to vote for the right
I gotta have both-to make me fly

Just a whitey from Blighty - heading out west
Got my little green card an' my bulletproof vest
Goin' to old tube city - where the buzz is the best

On down the line (down the line) down the line (down the line)

Well I was born (on the line) an' I was raised (on the line)
I was schooled (on the line) an' I was fazed (on the line)
An' I was used (on the line) an' I was dazed (on the line)
Just had to split (off the line) 'cause I was crazed (off the line)

An' I remember all the good times - me 'n Miller enjoyed
Up and down the M1 in some luminous yo-yo toy
But the future has to change - and to change I've got to destroy
Oh look out Lennon here I come - land ahoy-hoy-hoy

All American Alien Boy All American Alien Boy
Don't look down put your feet on the ground don't drown in the big aquarium
Don't walk slow - put on a big show - shove your meat down vegetarians
Don't get slugged, get mugged, get bugged, or they'll sling you in the jug
Shove you under some rug, give you some drug - pull out the plug and then...

And they're telling me this hamburger's cheaper than the other
An' this television's cheaper than the other
And they're selling me hotdogs cheaper than the other
An' these pizzas cheaper than the other
And I don't understand all this - I'm just an All American Alien Boy

An' they're telling me rifles are shot in Connecticut
They're telling me pistols are shot in Westchester
You can get a Saturday Night Special on Flatbush, on the Bowery, or the Bronx

Or on 42nd Street - And I don't understand all this - being an All American Alien Boy
I've got sodium nitrate rotting in my guts
My head's full of ulcers I got lungs full of butts
My heart wants a transplant - it thinks that I'm nuts
My logic won't open - my eyes won't shut
An' I'm beginning to dig all this - being an All American Alien Boy

And your women are always right (alright)
They always know so much more
'Cause the women came from heaven
An' the men came outta some store
An' they don't know who they are and they don't know what they're for

I'm an All American Alien Boy - look out Mary Tyler Moore
All American Alien Boy

Ten Bears, Two Bears, Standing Bear, Plenty Bear,
Old Bear, Brave Bear, Hollow Horn Bear
Silver Knife, Spotted Tail, Yellow Hand, Red Cloud,
Red Fox, Red Horse, Black Kettle,
White Ghost, White Bull, White Thunder, White Hog,
hold on a minute gotta frog in my throat
Cochise, Alchise, Roman Nose, Geronimo - hold on a minute - more to go
Sitting Bull, Tall Bull, Crazy Horse and Short Bull,
Low Dog, Red Dog, Yellow Wolf, Low Wolf
Loco, Victorio, Chato, Little Crow, Dead Eyes, Jak, Taza an' Colorow

My mouth's exploding that's enough of this noise
I guess we're all - All American Alien Boys.

Overall Meaning

The song "Alien" by Ian S. talks about the feeling of not fitting in, being an outsider or an "alien" in a society that does not seem to cater to your beliefs or culture. The first stanza mentions packing bags in a "land of rags," suggesting a place of poverty or distress. The following lines express a disinterest in left or right-wing politics, but rather a desire for freedom and balance. The second stanza describes the character as a "whitey from Blighty," who obtains a green card and bulletproof vest, preparing himself for an adventure in "Tube City," a reference to the London underground.

The following stanzas touch on experiences of growing up and realizing that everything around them is changing, and that in order to keep up with the times, they must adapt and change too, even if it means leaving familiar things behind. The chorus repeats the phrase "All American Alien Boy," suggesting that while the singer may not fit in with American culture, they have embraced it and made it a part of their identity. The final stanzas address the singer's feelings of alienation, as they struggle with health issues like ulcers and smoking, and still fail to understand certain aspects of American culture, such as the availability of guns and the constant push for consumerism.

Line by Line Meaning

I packed my bags - in the land of rags
I left behind a poor place with limited resources and opportunities

'Cause I don't believe in them dimmo drags
I don't follow outdated traditions

Don't want to vote for the left wing - don't want to vote for the right
I don't want to be associated with just one political viewpoint

I gotta have both-to make me fly
I need the best of both worlds to be successful

Just a whitey from Blighty - heading out west
I am a white person from Britain going to the western United States

Got my little green card an' my bulletproof vest
I have my residency permit and protective gear

Goin' to old tube city - where the buzz is the best
I'm going to the city with a vibrant underground music scene

Well I was born (on the line) an' I was raised (on the line)
I was born and grew up in a place with strict conventional social norms

I was schooled (on the line) an' I was fazed (on the line)
My education was dominated by the same strict social norms that I grew up with

An' I was used (on the line) an' I was dazed (on the line)
I was exploited by the society's rigid rules and found myself in a confusing state

Just had to split (off the line) 'cause I was crazed (off the line)
I had to leave as the strict conventions and exploitation caused me to be mentally disturbed

An' I remember all the good times - me 'n Miller enjoyed
I reminisce about the good times I had with someone named Miller

Up and down the M1 in some luminous yo-yo toy
We drove a flashy car repeatedly along a specific British motorway

But the future has to change - and to change I've got to destroy
I want to break the traditions and express myself freely in a better future

Oh look out Lennon here I come - land ahoy-hoy-hoy
I'm inspired by John Lennon and excited for a new journey

Don't look down put your feet on the ground don't drown in the big aquarium
Be grounded, don't lose yourself in a big and chaotic world

Don't walk slow - put on a big show - shove your meat down vegetarians
Don't hesitate, show off and disregard other's beliefs

Don't get slugged, get mugged, get bugged, or they'll sling you in the jug
Don't get caught up in illegal activities or you'll be put in jail

Shove you under some rug, give you some drug - pull out the plug and then...
You might be silenced or even murdered if you get in trouble with the wrong people

And they're telling me this hamburger's cheaper than the other
Advertising tricks can convince people of false or half-truth ideas

An' this television's cheaper than the other
Cheap products may not always be good quality

And they're selling me hotdogs cheaper than the other
You may not know the true value of a product until you've tried a good one

And these pizzas cheaper than the other
Advertising can make people believe that cheap products are good

And I don't understand all this - I'm just an All American Alien Boy
I'm confused by this marketing and find myself strange in this new country and culture

An' they're telling me rifles are shot in Connecticut
The news is reporting on gun violence in Connecticut

They're telling me pistols are shot in Westchester
There's also gun violence reported in Westchester, New York

You can get a Saturday Night Special on Flatbush, on the Bowery, or the Bronx
You can buy cheap handguns at various places in New York City

Or on 42nd Street - And I don't understand all this - being an All American Alien Boy
42nd street is also known for being a rough area to buy weapons, but I find myself bewildered about the US's gun culture

I've got sodium nitrate rotting in my guts
I have health problems related to unhealthy eating habits

My head's full of ulcers I got lungs full of butts
My career pressured me to smoke and I am facing its consequences

My heart wants a transplant - it thinks that I'm nuts
I'm at risk for heart problems and considering surgery but others don't believe it's necessary

My logic won't open - my eyes won't shut
I'm finding it difficult to think clearly or rest well with all of my stress

An' I'm beginning to dig all this - being an All American Alien Boy
Despite these issues, I'm starting to understand the appeal of American culture

And your women are always right (alright)
Women are often seen as smarter or more insightful in American society

They always know so much more
Women tend to be listened to and valued here

'Cause the women came from heaven
Women are valued and praised in the US

An' the men came outta some store
Men are seen as cheap and disposable in American society

An' they don't know who they are and they don't know what they're for
Men are unable to live up to their fullest potential in America

Ten Bears, Two Bears, Standing Bear, Plenty Bear, Old Bear, Brave Bear, Hollow Horn Bear Silver Knife, Spotted Tail, Yellow Hand, Red Cloud, Red Fox, Red Horse, Black Kettle,
I'm listing off the names of famous Native American historical figures

White Ghost, White Bull, White Thunder, White Hog, hold on a minute gotta frog in my throat Cochise, Alchise, Roman Nose, Geronimo - hold on a minute - more to go Sitting Bull, Tall Bull, Crazy Horse and Short Bull,
I'm still naming indigenous people who matter to me, but I pause briefly due to a frog in my throat

Low Dog, Red Dog, Yellow Wolf, Low Wolf Loco, Victorio, Chato, Little Crow, Dead Eyes, Jak, Taza an' Colorow My mouth's exploding that's enough of this noise I guess we're all - All American Alien Boys.
I continue listing, but my mouth hurts and I eventually stop, concluding that we are all, in essence, outsiders in America.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAN HUNTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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