Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of societal outcasts and disillusioned figures, described as misfits and drifters who are "lashed to the mast or drunk on the past." There's a sense of them congregating in taverns, perhaps seeking solace or connection with "mail ordered brides" who are presented with a striking, almost surreal image of standing "like flamingos." This initial scene establishes a tone of isolation and a slightly off-kilter reality for these characters. The core tension seems to stem from a perceived failure or corruption within a larger system, suggested by the lines "maybe it's true that they're greedy / That's probably why every thing's gone awry." The narrator questions the certainty of purity and divine proximity, noting "they couldn't be sure / That the whole world was pure / And that heaven was just an ocean away." This doubt casts a shadow over any grander ideals, hinting at a disillusionment that permeates the characters' world. The imagery shifts to a domestic setting, where "the house was too big" and sons and daughters are given "oversized quarters." This suggests a spacious but perhaps emotionally vacant environment. The sons are depicted as "stealing / That red, white, and blue feelings," implying a hollow or appropriated sense of patriotism, while daughters are left to look "at the ceiling or kneeling," suggesting a passive or perhaps spiritual yearning. The cynical observation that "there's a patriot born everyday" further underscores a potential superficiality in nationalistic sentiment. The final stanza delivers a sharp, dismissive command: "And you give them a boat / And say here off you go / And don't you come back / Until I say so." This concluding sentiment is particularly potent, framing the narrator's (or a powerful figure's) control over these marginalized individuals. It implies a casting out, a conditional acceptance, and a stark power dynamic where return is entirely dependent on the whim of another. The repetition of "Until I say so" hammers home this absolute authority and the precarious position of those deemed "losers" and "misfits."