Shame Shame Shame
Steve Zahn & Friends Lyrics

Look, up in the sky
Acknowledging that the government is flying over New Orleans

It's a bird, it's a plane
Making a humorous reference to Superman whilst watching the government flyover

It's
Cutting off the previous line, foreshadowing the frustration to come

Oh hell yeah, I'm with you New Orleans
Showing solidarity with the people of New Orleans through the sarcasm in their tone

Bring this bird down 8000 feet
Demanding that the government face the reality on the ground by landing their plane

Let's have a little see
Mocking the government for their inadequate response

Oh no, oh no, that's not good at all
Expressing disappointment at the poor state of the city

Your city is wet, really wet
Commenting on the obvious but disastrous flooding

It must be twice as bad on the ground
Reflecting on the fact that the true effects of the flooding are worse on the ground

Twice as bad?
Questioning if the government understands the true extent of the situation

Twice as bad?
Reiterating the previous question as the government seems oblivious to the situation

You think?
Sarcastically asking if the government truly thinks they understand the situation

Shame, shame, shame on you now W
Placing blame on the President for the poor response to the disaster

Shame, shame, shame on you now W
Repeating the previous line to stress the disappointment with the President's actions

Shame, shame, shame what you have done
Condemning the government's actions during the disaster

We was on the ropes, we were down and out
Describing the dire state of the city after the disaster

You flew on over, never did come down
Criticizing the government for not physically visiting the affected areas in the aftermath of the disaster

Now Georgie I think it's all well and good for you
Addressing the President in a mocking tone

To do what you can for those wet colored folks
Using sarcasm to highlight the racial and economic disparities that the disaster exposed

I know you mean well but I was just over at the Astrodome
Calling out the shallowness of the government's response

Now ma, you know the Stros don't play there no more
Referencing the fact that the Astrodome is no longer in use for baseball

It ain't like we don't have room in Houston
Pointing out the inadequacy of using the Astrodome as a shelter instead of finding better accommodation

Yes, but it's still a lovely place and practically part of the neighborhood
Conveying the tone-deafness of the government's response

And most people are camped out like they are on the Fifty Yard Line
Highlighting the uncomfortable reality of people who were misplaced with no other options

And it's way nicer than where they were before the storm
Justifying the government's response without understanding the struggles of the affected people

So they're doing very well for themselves
Using sarcasm to mock the government's view on the situation

Okay yeah, that's kind of a cheap shot
Acknowledging that the previous statement was an insult

Except we didn't make most of that up
Stating that the previous conversation was based on factual information

Barbara Bush actually said some of that shit
Calling out Barbara Bush for her insensitive remarks

Now people can't get home, to go to and fro
Highlighting the difficulty that people who were misplaced have in returning to their homes

But you thinking we're fine on the Astrodome floor
Disagreeing with the government's belief that the Astrodome is an adequate solution

Shame, shame, shame on you there Barbara
Placing blame on Barbara Bush for her insensitive remarks

Shame, shame, shame on you now Barbara
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the disappointment with Barbara Bush's comments

Shame, shame, shame 'bout what you done
Condemning Barbara Bush's remarks during the disaster

Now we got the people of New Orleans living on Air Force bases
Highlighting the extreme displacement that the people of New Orleans faced

And in raggedy ass motels from Utah to Georgia
Describing the poor accommodation that the people of New Orleans were forced to live in

And people in Washington talking about keeping the housing projects closed
Pointing out the lack of concern shown by politicians in Washington

Yeah, that's right
Agreeing with the previously mentioned point

They don't want no more poor people coming back to New Orleans
Highlighting the economic and racial factors that contributed to the lack of government assistance

But I tell you why
Explaining the importance of the poor communities in New Orleans

New Orleans without poor people ain't New Orleans
Expressing the importance of preserving the cultural and societal fabric of New Orleans

Because it's the people without a pot to piss in
Highlighting the struggles faced by the poorest inhabitants of New Orleans

Who keep the beat and blow the horns and step in the streets
Emphasizing the role that the poorest members of New Orleans have in the city's character

And right now, y'all are stuck listening to this messed up white boy
Addressing the irony of having a privileged musician speaking out for the displaced people of New Orleans

Because whichever fourteen year old from Lafitte Projects is the next Smiley Lewis
Highlighting the potential that is being wasted due to the displacement of young and talented people

He's stuck out there in east bum fuck Texas
Describing the difficult situation that the displaced youth are currently facing

He can't get home, to sing this fucking song
Stressing the personal and societal loss due to the displacement of talented individuals from New Orleans

Shame, shame, shame on you now W
Returning to the original point of blaming the President and his administration for their inadequate response

Shame, shame, shame on you now W
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the disappointment with the President's actions

Shame, shame, shame 'bout what you done
Concluding the song by condemning the inadequate response by the government during the disaster

Woo!
Adding a final note of emphasis to the song