Good is a strong advocate for human rights, and is affiliated with Amnesty International.
He has also released a book entitled "At Last There Is Nothing Left to Say," consisting of a series of blog entries and manifestos he posted on Matthew Good Band's website before the band disbanded. As well as being a testament to why he continues to have a solid and devoted fan-base, the work showcases Matt's unique perspective, and the creative mind that is the source of his success.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 2002
Poor Man's Grey
Matthew Good Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shout New York, shout LA
Today we take the White House
And paint it poor man's gray
From London to Damascus
Cry Freetown in Marseilles
Today we take the blue sky
And paint it poor man's gray
There's heart and then there's hate
If one of them is inside of you
The other one it ain't
From the alleys on the East side
Where the train it throws the weight
Brother take that cheeky smile
And paint it poor man's gray
From Berlin to Havana
From Beijing to Bombay
Today we take the blue sky
And paint it poor man's gray
The lyrics of Poor Man's Grey, written by Matthew Good, speak to the stark contrast between different parts of the world and the struggle of individuals to rise above poverty and inequality. The song opens with a call for national unity, shouting out major cities across the United States and claiming that today is the day that the White House will be painted "poor man's gray." This sets the stage for the song's larger message, which is that poverty and inequality exist across the world and are not confined to a single nation or region.
In the second verse, the focus shifts to geographic regions beyond the US, with references to London, Damascus, and Freetown in Marseilles. The message here is that poverty and inequality exist beyond the borders of the United States and are a global issue. The chorus repeats the idea that the blue sky should be painted "poor man's gray," suggesting that the natural beauty of the world is marred by the presence of poverty and inequality.
The lyrics of Poor Man's Grey are a call to action to address these issues and to recognize that they are part of a larger global problem. The song suggests that the solution lies in recognizing that there is both heart and hate within each individual and that the key to addressing these issues is to cultivate more love in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
From Chicago to Miami
We're talking about all of America, north to south.
Shout New York, shout LA
The two biggest, most famous cities representing America
Today we take the White House
We're taking over the government
And paint it poor man's gray
And we're going to make our own mark on it. We don't need fancy gold or bright colors.
From London to Damascus
Now we're talking globally.
Cry Freetown in Marseilles
Even if you don't understand these places, you can feel the emotion.
Today we take the blue sky
We're making this world ours.
And paint it poor man's gray
Our struggles and hardships are just as valuable--if not more so--than anything else.
My mama she done told me
This is wisdom passed down from one generation to the next.
There's heart and then there's hate
You have to choose what kind of person you want to be.
If one of them is inside of you
It's a constant struggle to maintain the right attitude and outlook.
The other one it ain't
But it's worth it to keep trying.
From the alleys on the East side
Now we're getting specific--these are real, physical places.
Where the train it throws the weight
We're talking about hard work and heavy lifting.
Brother take that cheeky smile
This could be interpreted as sarcasm--you can't just smile and ignore the world's problems.
And paint it poor man's gray
We have to recognize reality, and live in it with dignity and pride.
From Berlin to Havana
We're moving on to other countries and continents.
From Beijing to Bombay
The entire world is our subject here.
Today we take the blue sky
We're not just taking over land and buildings, but the intangible things too--like freedom.
And paint it poor man's gray
And we'll do it all in our own way--without needing anyone else's permission or approval.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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