Alcatraz
Idle Race Lyrics


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Reservation air free
White guy burn his history
Got to sign a contact with Metro Goldwyn-Mayer
See him in his war paint
Toy, toy with his grease paint
Riding on a pony that they made from wool and wire
See him dressed as Hawkeye
In the cat cave you'll try
Victim were the only with his pigtails in his pocket
He can do the war dance, his Watusi's the chance
Dancing in the disco with a copy camera crew

Leave your half and send me
Go and join a tenny
Find yourself a teepee on Alcatraz

Reservation air free
White guy burn his history
Got to sign a contact with Metro Goldwyn-Mayer
See him in his war paint
Toy, toy with his grease paint
Riding on a pony that they made from wool and wire

Leave your half and send me




Go and join a tenny
Find yourself a teepee on Alcatraz

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Idle Race’s “Alcatraz” touch on themes of identity, cultural appropriation, and historical erasure. The song describes a white man, possibly an actor, who is portraying Native American culture in a stereotypical and performative way, with his “war paint” and “grease paint”. He is also shown “riding on a pony that they made from wool and wire” which is a nod to the lack of authenticity in his portrayal. The lyrics are critical of this behavior, as the Native American culture is being reduced to a mere costume while disregarding its rich history and struggles. The song also mentions a contract with Metro Goldwyn-Mayer, a major Hollywood studio, which highlights the entertainment industry’s contribution to perpetuating harmful stereotypes and erasing cultural identity.


The lyrics “Reservation air free/ White guy burn his history” suggest that the white man is trying to distance himself from his own history and culture, and instead adopting a false identity. The lines “Victim were the only with his pigtails in his pocket/ He can do the war dance, his Watusi's the chance” showcase that while the white man performs in his false identity, the true victims are those who face the real hardships and discrimination that comes with being Native American. The song ends with a suggestion to “Leave your half and send me/ Go and join a tenny/ Find yourself a teepee on Alcatraz”, implying that the white man should find a way to authentically connect with his own culture instead of appropriating another’s.


Line by Line Meaning

Reservation air free
Native American reservations should be free and not controlled by the government


White guy burn his history
Caucasian people have destroyed or ignored Native American history and culture


Got to sign a contact with Metro Goldwyn-Mayer
To succeed in Hollywood, an artist must conform to the expectations of powerful studios


See him in his war paint
Native American ceremonial attire that symbolizes power and bravery


Toy, toy with his grease paint
Playing with makeup, possibly to conceal one's true identity or intention


Riding on a pony that they made from wool and wire
Mocking Native American culture with a fake horse made from materials not found in nature


See him dressed as Hawkeye
Pretending to be a white savior like the fictional character Hawkeye from Last of the Mohicans


In the cat cave you'll try
Someone may attempt to enter the sacred cave of the Mountain Lion, a powerful Native American symbol


Victim were the only with his pigtails in his pocket
The only person who suffered a loss or injustice is the one who keeps evidence of it hidden away


He can do the war dance, his Watusi's the chance
The person is able to mimic and appropriate Native American dances such as the War Dance and the Watusi, which is disrespectful and insensitive


Dancing in the disco with a copy camera crew
Exploiting and sensationalizing Native American culture for entertainment and profit


Leave your half and send me
Abandon your share of responsibility or resources and give them to the artist


Go and join a tenny
Go and live in a tenement or other impoverished housing


Find yourself a teepee on Alcatraz
Join the Native American occupation of Alcatraz Island in protest of government policies




Contributed by Elijah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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