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.
Tiki God
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had a girl and she did me wrong
I didn't let that kinda shit go on too long
Split the clouds and divided the sea
Showed that evil girl how nasty the tiki God could be
She didn't call no more nor bother me
My little tiki god made sure I'd live in peace
One day I read they found a body in the river
I got a Tiki God... Saves me... I got a Tiki God
Yeah!
Bobby Brady found the idol in the rubble
Had no idea it would cause so much trouble
When Greg tried to throw it back in the ocean
There was a rumble, an awful commotion
Don't ask me how, but the tiki found Bobby
He thought the idol was some Hawaiian hobby
Turned out the god was mean and vicious
Didn't respond to Bobby's 3 wishes
He had a Tiki God... Saves him... He had a Tiki God
Na na na na na na [Repeat x 7]
So when you're caught up in an evil plot
Your life's in danger and you can hear the shot
Your head is spinning and your fading fast
How long do you think this kinda fun can last
Your luck will change with a simple motion
I found my idol in a bottle in the ocean
He splits the clouds and divides the sea
And shows those evil guys how nasty those tiki gods can be, all right
He had a Tiki God... Saves him... He had a Tiki God
Yeah
Yeah
All right
In The Presidents of the United States of America's song "Tiki God," the singer talks about an ex-girlfriend who did him wrong. He didn't let her hurt him for too long before he turned to his trusty Tiki God to seek revenge. The Tiki God is a Hawaiian idol that comes to life and takes action to protect the performer. The singer credits his Tiki God with making sure he lives in peace after the ex-girlfriend stopped calling and bothering him.
Later in the song, the singer tells a story about Bobby Brady from The Brady Bunch finding the same Tiki God, which caused him trouble. When Brady tried to throw it back into the ocean, there was a rumble and an awful commotion, and Bobby soon discovers the god was mean and vicious, and didn't respond to Bobby's three wishes. The Tiki God becomes a parallel to the idea of karma or an eye for an eye.
The song concludes with the idea that when you're caught up in an evil plot or your life is in danger, the Tiki God can save you. With the simple motion of finding the idol in a bottle in the ocean, the singer splits clouds and divides the seas to show those evil guys how nasty these Tiki Gods can be.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey!
Introducing the concept of the song with a casual greeting
Had a girl and she did me wrong
Referring to a past romantic relationship that went awry
I didn't let that kinda shit go on too long
Deciding to take action and prevent the negative situation from continuing
Split the clouds and divided the sea
Metaphorically describing summoning the power of the Tiki God
Showed that evil girl how nasty the tiki God could be
Using the Tiki God to get revenge on the person who wronged him
She didn't call no more nor bother me
The Tiki God's intervention allowed for a peaceful resolution and ended contact with the individual who caused harm
My little tiki god made sure I'd live in peace
Expressing gratitude for the Tiki God's protection and ensuring a tranquil life
One day I read they found a body in the river
Describing an unrelated event that could cause fear or anxiety
Tiki God, why you make me shake, you make me shiver, all right
Asking the Tiki God why they sometimes cause fear or unease
I got a Tiki God... Saves me... I got a Tiki God
Reiterating the singer's gratitude and reliance on the Tiki God for protection
Bobby Brady found the idol in the rubble
Referencing a character from a TV show who discovers the Tiki God idol
Had no idea it would cause so much trouble
Foreshadowing some negative effects of the Tiki God's power
When Greg tried to throw it back in the ocean
Another character tries to dispose of the Tiki God idol
There was a rumble, an awful commotion
Describing the result of attempting to get rid of the Tiki God
Don't ask me how, but the tiki found Bobby
The Tiki God tracks down Bobby, its new owner
He thought the idol was some Hawaiian hobby
Bobby underestimates the Tiki God's power and significance
Turned out the god was mean and vicious
The Tiki God can be dangerous and cause harm
Didn't respond to Bobby's 3 wishes
The Tiki God's power is not always benevolent and does not follow typical wish-granting stereotypes
Na na na na na na [Repeat x 7]
Repeating a catchy, vocally-driven melody for the chorus
So when you're caught up in an evil plot
Advising listeners to use the power of the Tiki God to combat negative circumstances
Your life's in danger and you can hear the shot
Describing a crisis scenario where someone is under attack
Your head is spinning and your fading fast
Emphasizing the urgency and intensity of the situation
How long do you think this kinda fun can last
Questioning how long someone can survive under these extreme circumstances
Your luck will change with a simple motion
Encouraging listeners to take action to improve their situation, invoking the Tiki God's power
I found my idol in a bottle in the ocean
Describing how the singer acquired their own Tiki God idol
And shows those evil guys how nasty those tiki gods can be, all right
Using the Tiki God to exact revenge or punish those who cause harm
He had a Tiki God... Saves him... He had a Tiki God
Repeating the chorus to remind listeners of the power and significance of the Tiki God
Yeah
A casual vocal exclamation to end the song
All right
Finishing off the song with another casual vocal phrase
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER WELDON BALLEW, DAVID MICHAEL DEDERER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind