After three albums, 4 years, and hundreds of gigs, Public Property has esta… Read Full Bio ↴After three albums, 4 years, and hundreds of gigs, Public Property has established itself as one of America's top touring reggae bands. Started in 2003 by the Hawaii born and bred frontman Dave Bess, the band seamlessly jumps from roots reggae to gospel reggae, ska to hip-hop infused funk, to rock and back to reggae, all the while keepin' the dance floor hot and the booties shakin'. Add female vocalists, a ukulele, and a controversial and urgent message, it's no wonder this band has risen so quickly in the U.S. reggae and jam scenes as one of the top nationally touring reggae acts. You'd be hard pressed to find a more confrontational and outspoken band that sounds this fun. And rarely has a uke been so seditious. Of the people, by the people, and for all the people, Public Property will spread its message across the country in 2008, touring to Hawaii, the west coast, east coast, mountain states, and visiting several festivals throughout summer.
-from the artists' MySpace page

Power Trip
Public Property Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hm, Hm, Hm
Oh there he goes, he's gonna walk into a power trip and let's hope he falls
Oh how he talks, he's gonna talk my head off, he said you got to fight war with war
And in this world, the country on top, will always point the finger
Police the world, and we're never ever ever gonna look ourselves in the mirror
(chorus):
Well I love my country yeah, well I love my country yeah, yeah, yeah
But I just can't turn my head, from all the bad things that we did, did, did

Well I love my country yeah, well I love my country yeah, yeah, yeah
But I just can't turn my head, from all the bad things that we did, did, did
And a good friend he once said, "Well I love this place cause I feel safe"
And a good friend he once said, "Well I love this place cause I feel safe"
(verse)
freedom comes at a price, it's called the blood of our neighbors
freedom comes at a price, it's called the blood of our soldiers
(chorus)
freedom comes at a price, it's called the blood of our soldiers
freedom comes at a price, it's called the blood of our neighbors
hm, hm, hm

And a good friend he once said, "Well I love this place cause I feel safe,"
And a good friend he once said, "Well I love this place cause I feel safe."

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Power Trip" by Public Property dive deep into the concept of patriotism, violence, and the price of freedom. The beginning of the song talks about a person who is obsessed with power and his desire to engage in a power trip. The singer hopes that this person falls and does not succeed. The lyrics also talk about how people justify violence by saying that you have to fight war with war. The singer emphasizes the concept of finger-pointing, where countries blame each other, but no one takes accountability for their actions.

The chorus of the song expresses the love for one's country but also the realization that bad things have been done. The lyrics highlight the struggles of trying to reconcile one's love for their country with the wrongs that it has committed, making it challenging to turn a blind eye. The stanza about the blood of soldiers and neighbors provides a sobering reminder that freedom comes at a cost that's paid by soldiers and ordinary people,

Overall, "Power Trip" is a poignant commentary on the pitfalls of patriotism, power, and war. It highlights the fact that people can be blinded by their love for their country and ignore the atrocities committed in the name of nationalism.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh there he goes, he's gonna walk into a power trip and let's hope he falls
He is about to enter a situation where he will abuse his power and hopefully face consequences for it.

Oh how he talks, he's gonna talk my head off, he said you got to fight war with war
He is very persistent in his beliefs that violence is the only way to fight back.

And in this world, the country on top, will always point the finger
The most powerful country will often blame others for their problems or actions.

Police the world, and we're never ever ever gonna look ourselves in the mirror
By exerting control over other countries, we distract ourselves from addressing our own issues and faults.

Well I love my country yeah, well I love my country yeah, yeah, yeah
The artist has a deep love for their country, even with its flaws.

But I just can't turn my head, from all the bad things that we did, did, did
Despite their love, they cannot ignore the terrible actions their country has committed or is currently committing.

freedom comes at a price, it's called the blood of our neighbors
The freedom that citizens enjoy in their country comes at the cost of the lives of people in other countries.

freedom comes at a price, it's called the blood of our soldiers
The soldiers who fight for their country's freedom pay with their own blood.

And a good friend he once said, "Well I love this place cause I feel safe"
The artist remembers a friend who loves their country because they feel protected.

Contributed by Logan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS