No One Tells the President What to Do
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen Lyrics
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It's a job that's caught my eye.
I know I'd enjoy being President
And here's the reason why.
No one tells the President how to dress.
No one bugs him if his oval office is a mess.
No one tells him when it's time to mow the White House lawn.
No one tells the President not to slouch.
No one says, "Don't put you feet on Mr. Lincoln's couch."
No one tells him "Company's here. Use your fork and spoon"
Unless they want to be the next Ambassador to the moon.
Chorus
No one tells the President,
No one tells the President,
No one tells the President what to do.
No one tells the President not to run.
No one says, "There's no dessert until that speech is done"
No one says, "The Press is coming. Clean behind your ears"
Unless they want to have a "time out" for the next four years.
Chorus
She'll change all the rules.
The kids'll run the schools
She'll be on the side of girls and boys.
She'll fix all the laws.
She'll be like Santa Claus
And her cabinets will overflow with toys.
No one tells the President how to speak.
(Parent: Ashley!)
No one says "You can't be on TV for one whole week."
(Parent: Time to eat!)
So when I've had enough of "Time to eat" and "Where've you been"
I'm headin' down to Washington to get myself sworn in.
'Cause no one tells the President
(Parent: Mary-Kate!)
No one tells the President,
(Come on!)
No one tells the President what to do.
(Time to wash up)
No one tells the President,
No one tells the President,
No one tells the President what to do.
(I'm gonna count to three.)
No one tells the President,
(One...)
No one tells the President,
(Two...)
No one tells the President what to do.
(Two and a half...)
No one tells the President,
(Girls!)
No one tells the President,
(I mean that!)
No one tells the President what to do.
(Now!)
Coming! See you on Election Day.
The song No One Tells the President What to Do by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen is a humorous take on what being President must be like. The song describes the joys of being President, such as not having to worry about your appearance or cleanliness. The song lists many things that are off-limits to those who dare to tell the President what to do, including telling the President how to dress, how to speak, and even how to run. The song then goes on to describe what the Olsen twins believe would happen if they were President. The kids would run the schools and there would be overflowing toy cabinets in the White House.
Overall, the message of the song seems to be an upbeat and playful one. It celebrates the power and autonomy that comes with being the leader of the free world. The message is also a subtle criticism of the way in which authority is often wielded in society. The song suggests that those at the top should be left to do their job without interference from those below.
Interestingly, this song was recorded by the Olsen Twins back in the late 1990s, but it never appeared on any of their albums. Instead, it was only released as a promotional single. Additionally, the song was written by Casey Kelly, one of Nashville's top songwriters. This stands in contrast to the rest of the Olsen Twins' discography, which is primarily made up of pop tunes written by professional songwriters.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday I'd like to be President.
I aspire to become the President of the country someday.
It's a job that's caught my eye.
I find the job of President fascinating.
I know I'd enjoy being President
I am confident that I would enjoy serving as the President.
And here's the reason why.
Let me tell you why I feel that way.
No one tells the President how to dress.
The President has complete freedom to choose his own attire.
No one bugs him if his oval office is a mess.
The President has the luxury to keep his workspace as cluttered or clean as he likes.
No one tells him when it's time to mow the White House lawn.
The President is not expected to mow the lawn, and no one can force him to do so.
And if anybody tried to you can be they'd soon be gone.
Anyone who attempts to boss the President around risks severe consequences, like losing their job.
No one tells the President not to slouch.
The President can sit however he likes without being reprimanded for his posture.
No one says, 'Don't put you feet on Mr. Lincoln's couch.'
The President is entitled to rest his feet wherever he likes, including on valuable furniture like Mr. Lincoln's couch.
No one tells him, 'Company's here. Use your fork and spoon'.
The President can eat however he likes, even if it violates formal dining etiquette.
Unless they want to be the next Ambassador to the moon.
Anyone who tries to correct the President's table manners is unlikely to keep his or her job for long.
Chorus
Refrain
No one tells the President not to run.
The President has the freedom to run, or not run, for re-election.
No one says, 'There's no dessert until that speech is done.'
The President can eat dessert whenever he likes, even if he hasn't finished a speech or task.
No one says, 'The Press is coming. Clean behind your ears.'
The President has no obligation to groom himself for the press.
Unless they want to have a 'time out' for the next four years.
Any staffer who bothers the President with these details risks losing their job for a substantial period.
Chorus
Refrain
She'll change all the rules.
I will modify the rules to my liking once I become President.
The kids'll run the schools.
I will give children more control over their own education when I become President.
She'll be on the side of girls and boys.
I will be an advocate for both girls and boys when I take office.
She'll fix all the laws.
I will remedy all laws which impede the goals and welfare of the American people.
She'll be like Santa Claus.
I will be viewed like Santa Claus, by providing desired policies and benefits to the American people.
And her cabinets will overflow with toys.
My Cabinets (also known as Presidential departments) will have an abundance of valuable provisions.
No one tells the President how to speak.
The President has complete linguistic freedom during speeches and other appearances.
(Parent: Ashley!)
The singer is being corrected by their parent for making too much noise.
No one says 'You can't be on TV for one whole week.'
The President can appear on television anytime he wants to.
(Parent: Time to eat!)
The artist is being informed that it is time to have a meal by their parent.
So when I've had enough of 'Time to eat' and 'Where've you been', I'm headin' down to Washington to get myself sworn in.
The artist is frustrated with being told what to do and decides to become President to become the one doing the telling.
No one tells the President,
The President cannot be told what to do by anyone, no matter their position or title.
(Parent: Mary-Kate!)
The singer's parent is calling them by their name to get their attention.
(Come on!)
The artist is urging someone, possibly their parent or someone present, to follow them.
No one tells the President what to do.
The President is free to make his or her own decisions and act on them.
(Time to wash up)
The parent is telling the artist that it is time to wash up for dinner.
(I'm gonna count to three.)
The parent warns the singer that if he or she does not comply, the parent will begin to count to three.
(One...)
The parent begins to count to three.
(Two...)
The parent continues the count to three.
(Two and a half...)
The parent counts to a point closer to three to encourage the singer to comply.
(Girls!)
The parent is addressing the singer and possibly other siblings, who are all female.
(I mean that!)
The parent emphasizes that his or her orders are serious and need to be followed.
(Now!)
The parent expects the artist to follow his or her orders immediately.
Coming! See you on Election Day.
The singer is enthusiastic about running for President and looks forward to seeing the listener on Election Day.
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