These are the kind of performers who only read their lines in the script without giving any thought to the entire screenplay. Those are the exact people Prine calls to the carpet with this song. He's poking hypocrites who don't mind being hypocrites until someone calls them a hypocrite without ever using the word. Every shot he throws is directed at the soul but I'd imagine plenty of allegations of low blows.
Some protest songs take a little time or the connecting of dots before the listener understands the subject matter, but that's not the case here. Prine put it right in the title, blatantly challenging people who know the difference between nationalism and patriotism about as well as they know the difference between being religious and being a good person. He cut through all the useless junk around war, political disjuncture and religion to make a very simple point. I think that fits into one of Einstein's definitions of genius.
“Won’t drive 25 minutes to come see you,” I lived that one.
But they support the troops!
These are the kind of performers who only read their lines in the script without giving any thought to the entire screenplay. Those are the exact people Prine calls to the carpet with this song. He's poking hypocrites who don't mind being hypocrites until someone calls them a hypocrite without ever using the word. Every shot he throws is directed at the soul but I'd imagine plenty of allegations of low blows.
Some protest songs take a little time or the connecting of dots before the listener understands the subject matter, but that's not the case here. Prine put it right in the title, blatantly challenging people who know the difference between nationalism and patriotism about as well as they know the difference between being religious and being a good person. He cut through all the useless junk around war, political disjuncture and religion to make a very simple point. I think that fits into one of Einstein's definitions of genius.