Pedro the Lion is an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. David Bazan … Read Full Bio ↴Pedro the Lion is an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. David Bazan formed the band in 1995 and represented its main creative force, backed by a varying rotation of collaborating musicians. After a shifting lineup, Pedro the Lion finally eventually became a one-man outfit. That man is David Bazan. A Seattle native, Bazan cut his teeth playing in hardcore bands before forming Pedro in 1995, taking the band's name from a character he made up for a possible children's book. Under the moniker of Pedro the Lion, Bazan creates melodic pop in the vein of Bedhead, Hayden, and Sebadoh, with a lyrical focus on relationships -- with both other people and God.

A Simple Plan
Pedro the Lion Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The plants and the factories are perfectly run
The workers and bosses are living as one
People are equal people are good
People are working as hard as they should be
It's food for my family and clothes for my kids
The class war is over and everyone wins
It's such a simple plan
To take it like a man

But I'm not sure I can
We fought for a decade corruption and greed
It gave me a purpose a reason to breathe
But now that it's over now that we've won
It's back to my bedroom alone with a shot gun

To think of my family no longer compels me
With all things in common they'll manage without me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Pedro the Lion's song A Simple Plan describe a utopian society where employees and employers work together in harmony. The factories and plants are perfectly run and everyone is equal and good. The singer expresses gratitude towards this society for providing for their family by giving them access to food and clothing. However, the singer is conflicted because their purpose, which was fighting for justice and fairness, has been satisfied, and they are now forced to return to their mundane life. In the final verse, the singer considers taking their own life since their family no longer inspires them.

The song could be interpreted in a number of ways, but it ultimately questions whether the ideal utopian community is all it's cracked up to be. It questions how much of our purpose and identity is tied to our struggle against inequality and injustice. The song suggests that even after we have achieved our goals, we may find ourselves empty and lost.

Line by Line Meaning

The plants and the factories are perfectly run
The manufacturing industry is operating smoothly

The workers and bosses are living as one
There is harmony in the workplace between laborers and executives

People are equal people are good
There is a positive and egalitarian attitude among the population

People are working as hard as they should be
The workforce is productive and diligent

It's food for my family and clothes for my kids
The job provides for basic necessities like sustenance and clothing

The class war is over and everyone wins
Socioeconomic disparities have been eliminated and everyone is benefiting

It's such a simple plan
The society's functioning is uncomplicated and effective

To take it like a man
To be able to handle challenges with fortitude and resilience

But I'm not sure I can
The artist is uncertain if they can live up to society's expectations

We fought for a decade corruption and greed
There was a sustained effort to combat corruption and greed in society

It gave me a purpose a reason to breathe
The singer found a sense of purpose and direction in this fight

But now that it's over now that we've won
The objective has been achieved and the struggle is now finished

It's back to my bedroom alone with a shot gun
Despite societal progress, the singer still feels isolated and unsafe

To think of my family no longer compels me
The obligation to provide for one's loved ones is no longer a motivating factor

With all things in common they'll manage without me
Since there is no longer any societal or economic inequality, the singer's family will be fine without them

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID SHANNON BAZAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@charlesbrowningii9475

11y↑9

The song is about a man whose entire life was defined by political struggle and now that his side won he no longer has anything to live for. It's pointing out that victory doesn't always mean happiness and raises the question of whether we've come to define ourselves by our struggles themselves or by the desired outcome(s) of those struggles.

@aaronking2000

6y↑6

Such a sad song. It makes me pretty emotional whenever I listen to it. One of the most accurate portrayals of being suicidal, in my opinion.

@EmbarrassingMySister

11y↑2

it doesn't matter what your perception of this song is, just acknowledge its beauty and creativity

@autoscopy

13y↑1

"Now I have a simpler plan. " This guy is soulcrushing.

@amandavivian2627

19w

congrats on not getting it taken down

@everennui1

14y↑2

"The class war is over, and everyone wins." love it!

@sinr1one

27w

"! 1,2,3,4, ROOOOL Me over I wanna wave at the kids..."

@lisalisagogo1888

8y↑2

david bazen and propagandhi should make a co-album

@Luktus8

12y↑4

i think he is merely making a comment that people cant live with perfection as they are, i dont think he is commenting on a political parties lines, just that we need disfunction, disquiet, agony, pain, purpose, we strive against these things and its at those points the very worst points that we become the truly great humans we can be, but when everything is easy or perfect we lose the desire to be, to work, to strive, to live.

@odelay17

9y↑4

I love to ponder this song. I definitely agree, this song really doesn't strike a political chord to me whatsoever, that is way too shortsighted, to me it's a much deeper meaning. I think the point is the artificial meaning we give our lives through things like politics, work, or even the duty to provide for our family. If all things were never a problem ever again, what meaning is left to life? Again this is a struggle with religion theme, common with PTL. Religion often attempts to provide personal meaning. Some people are so wrapped up in their ultimately arbitrary life events, they forget to stop and find a powerful meaning and purpose in life.

@MaruskaIvanovska

12y↑1

this song has nothing to do with politics. anyone who's ever worked in a factory knows what this song is about.

@slowmotionbro

12y

could someone upload simple economics?

@autoscopy

13y

@feedkillchain Saa!

@feedkillchain

13y

@loversdie Ep.

@arnebachmann5450

2y↑3

Its not a political statment per se (i.e. about Socialism) but an existential statement about how we might fill the void of our life sometimes with for example political struggles (you could add: chasing after a career etc.) and the worst thing happening to us is that we reach our goals and fulfill our dreams. Because then we are confronted with the existial dread. So maybe we start our culture wars, our ambitions etc. only to prevent our confrontation with this emptiness. And maybe thats why there cant be an harmonious society because we are in ourselves creatures of struggle, of antagonism. And to make any kind of mature politics (left wing or right wing doesnt matter) is to concede that we never achieve a perfect society and to be mindful of our tendency to turn our political struggles into a goal in itself instead of a means to achieve an defined end.

@TheCactusjack1

14y↑2

wow, its a great tune. I'm not sure what his meaning is though. Is he saying that socialism is good or bad? I mean, once the goal is achieved and "everyone wins", he feels like blowing his brains out. I love the song but find it hard to listen to because its sooooooooooo so sad. Its like the struggle is all that keeps us going and once its over and there is equality then all motivation is lost. Seems like he's saying there can be no utopia, no human happiness. I fear that he is right.

@Kinksayshi

13y

@boldstandard lol'd

@boldstandard

13y↑4

This is pretty good for a Coldplay song

@JaydonWalter

Oh really?????? Lol

@edenartgardenamusementmuse7253

43w

😂😂😂

@shaunag446

32w

i snorted

@mithrandir117

5y↑1

I don’t think the politics are the point... at all. I think this song is about those who deal with severe depression, but are generally high functioning. The politics are just a metaphor for whatever obligation the subject feels like they have to push through... eventually, the sense of duty that keeps you moving, and keeps you here, get swallowed up by the despair, when it wins. The song’s subject could have won or lost in his contest for what he thought was right for the factory workers... it’s immaterial. His feelings of duty (to do anything) are massacred, and he wants out, as he gets defeated by the depression he’s fought off until then. “It’s such a simple plan, to take it like a man... but I’m not sure I can... I have a simpler plan.” There’s nothing to “take” in a political victory. That’s not the issue. “To think of my family, NO LONGER COMPELS ME...” It’s about not being able to push anymore, and he thinks that they’ll manage anyway. It’s entirely about depression and suicide. He says, also, that “Now that it’s over, now that we’ve won, I STILL sit in my bedroom, alone with a shotgun.” He just can’t do it anymore.

@ElihuKattan

10y

second best political song ever....First: "Cygnet Committee" - David Bowie
Both songs are along the same lines too.

@Themaneman464

12y

@TheCactusjack1 I feel once communism were to be achieved, whoever had fought so hard for it would not want to kill themselves. The act of maintaining it then comes into action which im sure many of the revolutionaries would be proud to be a part of. And the rest would live their normal lives in the society they fought so hard for. This guy is a great musician, but i think hes pretty wrong in assuming that the revolutionaries would seek to kill themselves.

@soldatheero

hah not a single dislike yet eh

@schmange19

11y

This song is definitely about socialism.

@carmenbondra657

That is why he says "Im not sure I can" deal w/commies or economic greed,and ends w/ "I have a SIMPLER plan" meaning anything but the above,taking it like a man...............