Yo George
Tori Amos Lyrics


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I salute to you Commander
And I sneeze
Cause I have now
An allergy
To your policies it seems

Where have we gone wrong America?
Mr. Lincoln we can't seem
To find you anywhere out of the millions
From the deserts
To the mountains
Over prairies
To the shores
Is this just the madness of King George
Yo George
Is this just the madness of King George
Yo George




Well you have the whole nation
On all fours

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tori Amos's song Yo George can be interpreted as a political commentary on the state of America during the presidency of George W. Bush. The salute to the commander, while commonly used towards the President, is immediately followed by a sneeze that suggests an allergic reaction to the policies. The lyrics ask where America has gone wrong and questions the absence of leaders like Mr. Lincoln during a time of crisis. The imagery used in the second stanza paints a picture of a nation that has been brought to its knees, with people across the country suffering as a result of the policies enacted by the government.


The chorus of the song, "Is this just the madness of King George, Yo George," is a pointed reference to the behavior of George III, who suffered from a mental illness that has been debated by historians. His "madness" resulted in the loss of the American colonies and the founding of the United States. The song suggests that George W. Bush's policies and actions are similarly misguided and that the nation is suffering as a result. The final line, "Well you have the whole nation on all fours," is a stark image of a country that has been reduced to a state of subservience and submission.


Line by Line Meaning

I salute to you Commander
I acknowledge your position of power and leadership


And I sneeze
But I physically react negatively due to my disagreement with your actions


Cause I have now, An allergy, To your policies it seems
I have developed strong aversion towards your political principles and decisions


Where have we gone wrong America?
I question the current state of our nation and what led us to this point


Mr. Lincoln we can't seem, To find you anywhere out of the millions
I fear that we have lost our way, even with the guidance and wisdom of great leaders like Lincoln


From the deserts, To the mountains, Over prairies, To the shores
I reflect on the vastness of our country and how its people and landscapes are affected by your policies


Is this just the madness of King George, Yo George
I ask if your actions are a result of your irrationality and instability as a leader


Well you have the whole nation, On all fours
I observe that your leadership has caused the citizens of this country to be subservient and powerless before you




Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: TORI ELLEN AMOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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