The Presidents of the United States of America, commonly referred to as sim… Read Full Bio ↴The Presidents of the United States of America, commonly referred to as simply The Presidents or PUSA is a Grammy-nominated American alternative rock band. The band formed in Seattle, USA, in 1993. The three-piece currently comprises vocalist and "basitarist" Chris Ballew, drummer and vocalist Jason Finn and "guitbassist"/vocalist Andrew McKeag. Long time "guitbassist" and vocalist Dave Dederer departed the band in 2004, after 11 years. They have released five studio albums since forming in 1993. Their whimsy electric live performances have maintained loyal fans for some time.

The band released their self-titled first album in March 1995 via PopLlama Records. After they garnered massive acclaim, Columbia Records quickly signed them. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and has shipped over three million copies. The RIAA has certified it as triple platinum. Songs "Peaches", "Kitty", "Lump", and "Dune Buggy" received major airplay.

Their 1996 follow-up album, "II", did not reach the same acclaim, though it reached the top forty on the Billboard 2000. Single "Mach 5" also garnered some airplay. The band then fell of the radar for many listeners, dropped by their major label. However, their albums of the new millennium, 'Freaked Out and Small' followed by 'Love Everybody' and 'These Are the Good Times People' (released in 2000, 2004, and 2008, respectively), picked up positive critical reviews, such as from the All Music Guide. Although their touring schedule became more sporadic into the 00s and 10s, they continue to perform and satisfy audiences with their off-beat humor and catchy hooks.

Let's Lynch the Landlord
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The landlord's here to visit
They're blasting disco down below
Sez, I'm doubling up the rent
Cause the building's condemned
You're gonna help me buy City Hall

But we can, you know we can
But we can, you know we can

Let's lynch the landlord
Let's lynch the landlord
Let's lynch the landlord man

I tell them "turn on the water"
I tell em "turn on the heat"
Tells me "all you ever do is complain" yeah
Then they search the place when I'm not home

But we can, you know we can
But we can, you know we can
Let's lynch the landlord
Let's lynch the landlord
Let's lynch the landlord man

There's rats chewin' up the kitchen
Roaches up to my knees
Turn the oven on, it smells like Dachau, yeah
Til the rain pours thru the ceiling

But we can, you know we can
But we can, you know we can
Let's lynch the landlord
Let's lynch the landlord

Let's lynch the landlord man
Let's lynch the landlord man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to this song by The Presidents of the United States of America, titled "Let's Lynch the Landlord," are a scathing critique of absentee landlords who fail to maintain their properties and exploit their tenants. The song portrays the singer as a long-suffering tenant who is subjected to unlivable conditions, including rats in the kitchen, roaches up to their knees and rain pouring through the ceiling. Meanwhile, the landlord is portrayed as callous and greedy, blasting disco music and doubling up the rent while the building is condemned.

The title of the song, "Let's Lynch the Landlord," is provocative and controversial, evoking the violent history of lynching in America. However, the song should not be taken literally as a call for violence against landlords. Rather, it should be understood as a protest against the injustices faced by many tenants who are at the mercy of their landlords. The song encourages solidarity among tenants and advocates for direct action to hold landlords accountable for their neglect.

Line by Line Meaning

The landlord's here to visit
The landlord has come to their residence.

They're blasting disco down below
There is loud disco music coming from the lower floor of the building.

Sez, I'm doubling up the rent
The landlord announces that they will be doubling the rent.

Cause the building's condemned
The landlord justifies the rent increase by claiming that the building is in poor condition.

You're gonna help me buy City Hall
The landlord implies that with all the rent money, they will gain political power.

But we can, you know we can
The singer and perhaps their neighbors feel empowered to take action against the landlord.

Let's lynch the landlord
The singer suggests violent action against the landlord.

Let's lynch the landlord man
The singer repeats and emphasizes the call to violence.

I tell them 'turn on the water'
The artist requests that the landlord provides necessary utilities.

I tell em 'turn on the heat'
The artist requests that the landlord provides necessary utilities.

Tells me 'all you ever do is complain' yeah
The landlord dismisses the singer's requests and complaints.

Then they search the place when I'm not home
The landlord violates the artist's privacy by searching their residence.

There's rats chewin' up the kitchen
The singer's residence is infested with rats.

Roaches up to my knees
The singer's residence is infested with roaches.

Turn the oven on, it smells like Dachau, yeah
The singer compares the foul smell of their oven to the smell of concentration camps during the Holocaust.

Til the rain pours thru the ceiling
The artist's residence is in such poor condition that it cannot withstand rain.

Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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