Give It Back to the Indians

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a wry retelling of Peter Minuit's infamous purchase of Manhattan for "twenty-six dollars." This historical setup quickly twists, revealing the "poor red man" actually "knew poor Pete was skinned." The city's current state, the narrator laments, is beyond repair, leading to a desperate, sarcastic plea. The central tension lies in this historical irony: what was once considered a steal now feels like a burden. The narrator describes a New York where "Broadway's turning into Coney" and "Champagne Charlie's drinking gin," painting a picture of decline and lost grandeur. This "new and phony" reality contrasts sharply with any romanticized past, suggesting a profound disillusionment with urban development. The craft shines in its pointed imagery and clever wordplay. Phrases like "Dodging buses keeps you thin" and "Father Knick has lost his knickers" humorously underscore the city's chaotic and undignified state. The bridge cleverly uses colors – "Reds on the boxes made for soap," "Whites on Fifth Avenue," "Blues down in Wall Street losing hope" – to paint a vivid, class-conscious picture of widespread urban malaise, culminating in the sarcastic "Big bargain today." Ultimately, these lyrics are effective because they fuse historical revisionism with sharp, contemporary critique. The repeated, almost exasperated cry to "Give it back to the Indians" isn't a literal policy suggestion, but a hyperbolic expression of frustration. It's a cutting commentary on how perceived progress can lead to unforeseen problems, suggesting that perhaps the original inhabitants understood the true value – or lack thereof – of the bustling island all along.