Back to the States

I wrote this while spending a semester in Quito, Ecuador fall of 2000. This was my first trip abroad (driving through Canada at age six doesn't count) and I struggled with missing the U.S. while simultaneously being very angry about U.S. foreign policy, the basic tension of this song. The chord structure is definitely influenced by local music. While I conceived of the song as being in 3/4 a music major pointed out that it's actually in 6/8--so I wrote it in one of my favorite time signatures without trying!

We've got Coke, McDonalds and Nike
Gap and Brittany Spears
It's like everything I wanted to leave behind
all followed me here

Chorus:
I'm going back, back to The States
oh that place every good pinko hates
I'm going back to where I belong.
Home to that land of Woody Guthrie's great song.

There's nothing like having someone you love let you down
to make you feel so blue.
America, land where my fathers died
that's how I feel about you.

Chorus

Oh, my uncle Sam
they say he's mighty grand
but it makes me feel ashamed to think
of all the blood that's on his hands.

Chorus

Regarding the American people
I once heard someone say
"never underestimate
their stupidity."
But as good advice as that may be
I love them anyway.

Chorus