March March
The Chicks Lyrics


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March, march to my own drum
March, march to my own drum
Hey, hey, I'm an army of one
Oh, I'm an army of one
March, march to my own drum
March, march to my own drum
Hey, hey, I'm an army of one
Oh, I'm an army of one

Brenda's packing heat 'cause she don't like Mondays
Underpaid teacher policing the hallways
Print yourself a weapon and take it to the gun range
(Ah, cut the shit)
(You ain't goin' to the gun range)

Standing with Emma and our sons and daughters
Watchin' our youth have to solve our problems
I'll follow them so who's comin' with me
(Half of you love me)
(Half already hate me)

March, march to my own drum
March, march to my own drum
Hey, hey, I'm an army of one
Oh, I'm an army of one
March, march to my own drum
March, march to my own drum
Hey, hey, I'm an army of one
Oh, I'm an army of one

Tell the ol' boys in the white bread lobby
What they can and can't do with their bodies
Temperatures are rising, cities are sinkin'
(Ah, cut the shit)
(You know your city is sinkin')
Lies are truth and truth is fiction
Everybody's talkin'
Who's gonna listen?
What the hell happened in Helsinki?

March, march to my own drum
March, march to my own drum
Hey, hey, I'm an army of one
Oh, I'm an army of one
March, march to my own drum
March, march to my own drum




Hey, hey, I'm an army of one
Oh, I'm an army of one

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Chicks' song "March March" convey a sense of empowerment, individuality, and social commentary. The repeated line "March, march to my own drum" emphasizes the idea of marching to the beat of one's own drum, symbolizing independence and not conforming to societal expectations. It serves as a call for self-expression and standing up for one's beliefs.


The song addresses various issues and challenges in society. The reference to Brenda packing heat because she doesn't like Mondays suggests the frustration and violence that can occur in mundane and oppressive environments. The underpaid teacher policing the hallways highlights the struggles faced by educators who are expected to maintain order with inadequate resources.


The lyrics also touch on the topic of gun control, criticizing the idea of printing weapons and promoting responsible gun ownership instead. The mention of standing with Emma, referring to Emma González, a survivor of the Parkland school shooting, and the notion of watching the youth solve the problems highlights the importance of young activists and their ability to create change.


The song further addresses the influence of powerful lobbyists, particularly those in the "white bread lobby," and challenges their control over decisions related to reproductive rights. It points out the urgency of climate change with the metaphor of sinking cities and rising temperatures. The mention of Helsinki alludes to the controversial meeting between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018, questioning the outcome and implications of that event.


Overall, "March March" encourages individualism, challenges societal norms, and highlights the need for change and activism in various aspects of society.


Line by Line Meaning

March, march to my own drum
I'm following my own path and not conforming to others' expectations or opinions.


Hey, hey, I'm an army of one
I am strong and independent, capable of standing up for myself and making a difference.


Brenda's packing heat 'cause she don't like Mondays
Brenda, feeling frustrated and powerless, carries a weapon as a means of protection and defiance against a system that oppresses her.


Underpaid teacher policing the hallways
Teachers, who are undervalued and underpaid, are expected to handle the burdens and responsibilities of maintaining order and discipline in schools.


Print yourself a weapon and take it to the gun range
Instead of resorting to violence, find alternative ways to express your frustrations and seek empowerment through self-reliance.


(Ah, cut the shit)
Don't deceive or fool yourself any longer.


(You ain't goin' to the gun range)
You won't find a solution or true empowerment by resorting to violent means.


Standing with Emma and our sons and daughters
Joining forces with other like-minded individuals, including young people like Emma González, who are passionate about creating positive change and solving societal issues.


Watchin' our youth have to solve our problems
Acknowledging the irony that the younger generation is left to clean up the mess and tackle the problems created by previous generations.


I'll follow them so who's comin' with me
I am inspired by the determination and activism of the younger generation and I am ready to join their cause. Will anyone else join me?


(Half of you love me)
Some people support and appreciate my perspective, actions, and the changes I advocate for.


(Half already hate me)
However, there are others who strongly dislike or oppose me because of my beliefs and actions.


Tell the ol' boys in the white bread lobby
Addressing the influential and predominantly male groups that hold power and influence, often representing conservative or traditional values.


What they can and can't do with their bodies
Asserting the right for individuals, especially women, to have autonomy and make decisions regarding their own bodies without external interference.


Temperatures are rising, cities are sinkin'
The world is facing dire consequences due to climate change, including rising temperatures and the threat of cities being submerged.


(Ah, cut the shit)
Stop denying or downplaying the severity of the situation.


(You know your city is sinkin')
You are well aware that the city and society you live in are facing imminent disaster.


Lies are truth and truth is fiction
In a world of misinformation and manipulation, lies are continually presented as the truth, while actual facts and reality are dismissed and labeled as fiction.


Everybody's talkin'
There is excessive conversation and noise, but little listening or genuine understanding.


Who's gonna listen?
Questioning whether there are people willing to truly listen and understand the problems and concerns being raised.


What the hell happened in Helsinki?
Expressing frustration and confusion over the events or decisions that took place in Helsinki, possibly referring to a particular political situation.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dan Wilson, Emily Strayer, Ian Kirkpatrick, Jack Antonoff, Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Ross Golan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Articulated Kat

Since you specifically brought it up, I wondered if you'd mind weighing in on something I've wondered (as someone who was definitely in their demo). And I promise, I'm not asking you to answer "on behalf of black people." I'm just looking for your personal opinion, from someone likely to have one on this topic.

Would it bother you at all if they played songs like this, or Bishop Briggs' "White Flag," at protests or events that were about BLM or other issues specifically affecting black people? Or do you think it would be better to stick to similarly-themed songs by black artists, of which there are obviously plenty to choose from?



Though, feel free to ignore this altogether if you don't want to deal with the snotty backlash to whatever your answer would be. :) I wish I had people in my life I could ask, but my issues of social isolation began well before Covid. I went from an isolated single mom to an isolated, disabled community college student to an isolated, disabled university student. And while I've made some great acquaintances in the last 10 years, making new friendships (of any demo) has been trickier. Which doubly sucks because my major is Communications in Public Policy and Advocacy, and about the only time I have a diverse group of people around me to discuss complex topics is in class.

Regardless of whether or not you choose to respond, I hope you have a lovely day. :D



All comments from YouTube:

Tikki

These women were willing to put their whole careers on the line back in 2003 to stand up for what they believe in. This isn't a publicity stunt. Thank you all for taking a stand as you always have. You have our support!

Jennifer Harden

TOTALLY & COMPLETELY!!

Sonny McDowell

Damn straight. Brave ladies.

Paul Wernquist

More importantly than standing up for something that they believed in, they stood up for what was right even though it was not popular.

Jess Mac

Perfectly said!

Em V

Absolutely- I’ve always respected them for being true to their own values and not bending to pressure to be like others in their genre

63 More Replies...

I Denham

FUCKING YES. These incredible women have been a part of my life since I was a baby. They are true pioneers of not giving af, straying from the norm, and never backing down from a fight.

That One Book Nerd

This song is so powerful. It hits so many issues like racism, women’s rights, and climate change. The names at the end are what truly hit hard. So many people and that doesn’t even scratch the surface. My studio is using this as the opening to my dance show and I am so excited to use this song. My studio has a lot of different races and we love using songs like this

Love2005

And also stricter gun also and school shootings too

1 More Replies...

MsV 2u

I'm a Black woman of a certain age. I propbably was never in their demo. This was the most powerful video/music I've heard/seen in a while. Thank you Chicks, for your music, your bravery, and flearless advocacy. You have a new fan!
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

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