Drive-By Truckers - What It Means Lyrics






He was running down the street
When they shot him in his tracks
About the only thing agreed upon
Is he ain't coming back
There won't be any trial
So the air it won't be cleared
There's just two sides calling names
Out of anger out of fear
If you say it wasn't racial
When they shot him in his tracks
Well I guess that means that you ain't black
It means that you ain't black
I mean Barack Obama won
And you can choose where to eat
But you don't see too many white kids
Lying bleeding on the street

In some town in Missouri
But it could be anywhere
It could be right here on Ruth Street
In fact it's happened here
And it happened where you're sitting
Wherever that might be
And it happened last weekend
And it will happen again next week
And when they turned him over
They were surprised there was no gun
I mean he must have done something
Or else why would he have run
And they'll spin it for the anchors
On the television screen
So we can shrug and let it happen
Without asking what it means

What it means?
What it means?

Then I guess there was protesting
And some looting in some stores
And someone was reminded that
They ain't called colored folks no more
I mean we try to be politically
Correct when we call names
But what's the point of post-racial
When old prejudice remains?
And that guy who killed that kid
Down in Florida standing ground
Is free to beat up on his girlfriend
And wave his brand new gun around
While some kid is dead and buried
And laying in the ground
With a pocket full of skittles

What it means?
What it means?

Astrophysics at our fingertips
And we're standing at the summit
And some man with a joystick
Lands a rocket on a comet
We're living in an age
Where limitations are forgotten
The outer edges move and dazzle us
But the core is something rotten
And we're standing on the precipice
Of prejudice and fear
We trust science just as long
As it tells us what we want to hear
We want our truths all fair and balanced
As long as our notions lie within it
There's no sunlight in our ass'
And our heads are stuck up in it
And our heroes may be rapists
Who watch us while we dream
But don't look to me for answers
Cuz I don't know what it means

What it means?
What it means?





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Drive-By Truckers What It Means Comments
  1. a.... a....

    I am sorry but I am from Europe and I dont understand... this black kid was not a victim. He was the agressor, that is what the judge said. So what is going on here? Why do you sympathase with him?

    a.... a....

    Yes, you don't understand.

  2. C.... #....

    Too bad you guys didn't write a song about the police torture/murder of Kelly Thomas in 2011 but then Kelly was White so a song about him would be socially unacceptable and anyway how could you virtue signal with that?
    Better play it safe, right?

  3. K.... P....

    "We're standing on the precipice of prejudice and fear." said DBT, in August of 2016. Damn if that aint it.

  4. M.... P....

    Unfortunately, this song will be relevant 100 hears from now.

    M.... P....

    When Whites have finally been exterminated but still blamed for everything. Yes we know.

  5. D.... P....

    Songs like this are why I quit going to see DBT shows and buying all their stuff. Sure, you can have your own political opinion. But I don't pay my entertainers to lecture me on their opinions. I would think they would understand that. Must not need the money. And to Patterson: Man, nothing more pitiful than a knee-jerk reactionary spewing the same ol' nonsense you can hear at Ted's Kickin' Chicken. I know underneath those XXL flannel shirts you're wearing you envision yourself as one of those enlightened types. But man, if you possessed an ounce of objectivity you might just write a song telling the other half of the story. But seeing as you are many many years away from properly understanding that half, maybe it's best you stick to playing Beverly Hillbilly Hipster.

  6. E.... W....

    Incredible job, guys.

  7. M.... M....

    They really went SJW with this shit. Just lost their way. Too much soy in the little bubble they live in these days

    M.... M....

    Wow. Just wow.

  8. H.... S....

    thank you for voicing not only yours but other people's opinions.

  9. J.... H....

    I love this band but this song is one sided political bull shit.

  10. S.... M....

    This song made me cry, very powerful. 💙

  11. A.... W....

    Incase you have not heard Nashville still sucks.

  12. S.... B....

    .................nuff said. 😎👍

  13. D.... H....

    Just heard this today, I have rarely heard such concise thought in a song. 'pocket full of skittles' broke my heart too!

  14. S.... R....

    too bad they had to make such a nice song and fill it with anti-cop rhetoric.
    The facts remain, travon martin and michael brown where thugs and got what was coming to them.

  15. d.... ....

    More proof that idiots can learn to play guitars and make words rhyme but still be patsies. The DBT are useful idiots in a world they're not aware of.

    d.... ....

    The same could be said about u

  16. D.... B....

    Great song

  17. S.... R....

    too liberal for my taste, nice tune tho

    S.... R....

    Lementing the deaths of innocent children is "too liberal"??????????? Good to know.

  18. Q.... ....

    Anyway, what this means is... i cant really work the next couple of days at least, outside of my home doing what i normally do... but to be honest... i dont really give two nickels about that.. literally.... you know why?

  19. T.... B....

    Cause or print of goddamn animals I cannot do anything for themselves other than a lick off the balls of English

  20. T.... B....

    Name one Black Country or one brown countries that has successsocial success academy and order none !!!!!!!

    T.... B....

    Is there an English translation of that comment available?

  21. T.... B....

    My mistake. Eat show

  22. T.... B....

    I was a fan for 10 yr but fuccccck offf pos

  23. G.... K....

    Essa música é muito foda!!!!

  24. D.... ....

    Best band in America today, simple really.

  25. D.... ....

    I'm necked in the tub.

  26. U.... J....

    Trerrible.

  27. J.... B....

    I just want to say thank you to the DBT fans ( the people commenting on here ) . Before i started reading the comments i truly thought that they were going to go the other way . Humanity is not dead and you guys give me hope that one day we won't have to deal with racism and bigotry . Peace !!! ✌

  28. G.... O....

    DBT is one of those courageous bands, very Southern, but unafraid to offer insightful criticism to America. I saw them in Oxford MS and Mike Cooley told some idiot to put away his Rebel flag or he would shove it up his ass. ONLY a brave Southerner can get away with that. Typically, those would be fightin’ words in my neck of the woods.. I’ve seen them five or six times since then, and met most of the band, in Florence AL. I’m a fan. Good people, with a message.

  29. J.... ....

    I hope this band is band is paying royalties to Steve Earle. Also, this Country is so far from white and black! The far left seems to be stuck in the sixties. Wake up its 2018.

  30. D.... W....

    Joan Baez was hated by many, too, for taking a stand. So was Dr. King. So was Peter, Paul, and Mary. God bless the Truckers for having the guts to go beyond today's vacuous pop.

  31. M.... ....

    "First step in solving a problem is recognizing there is one."

    M.... ....

    Yeah and finally you end up without a father and a government that does care as long as your unborn but doesn't care at all after. Great!
    I can almost smell the "positive male influence" of republicans. I'm sure Barron Trump will be a respectful human beeing one day, given his most respectful father (he has the worlds greatest respect! Believe me!)

    So, you actually want to discuss the real issues or do you just want to keep blaming Obama and the democrats for every bad thing that ever came to you?

    M.... ....

    Redd Pille Zimmerman was not “Authority”. He was the true “thug”

  32. J.... ....

    If you are a celebrity and want to make money why bother with the actual facts

  33. K.... W....

    Dank u wel DriveByTruckersVEVO

  34. S.... B....

    How the fuck does this song have only 300k views. Meanwhile "gucci gang" has like 100 mill. That's some horse shit. The lyrics in this song are incredible.

  35. S.... K....

    Amazing song/music/lyrics/album. One of the best tracks I've ever heard. keep the truth rolling guys.

  36. J.... J....

    sad but it has a good beat. Seems has a 1990's sound to me! This is the only song i know of theirs. Great music is dead since around 2010! I am 1990's kid music!

  37. b.... c....

    I will be the first to admit, I formed opinions when the Trayvon shooting happened. I have never been a racist but This song deeply challenged my thinking. Isn't that what great art is supposed to do?

  38. A.... M....

    You guys are amazing as always

  39. E.... K....

    Outstanding! I've only known the DBT songs by Jason Isbell and now I'm digging all of it.

  40. b.... c....

    I love it. Much love for people that have the ability to look at things from a compassionate heart

  41. R.... W....

    This made me cry...

  42. j.... A....

    Truth AND talented. What some see as a threat.

  43. D.... C....

    Call me crazy, but i dissagree with the narrative of this song and yet still like the music and love the band. Who would've thought it possible!?

    D.... C....

    Well, I guess that means that you ain't black; it means that you ain't black.

    D.... C....

    Ooga booga

    D.... C....

    @@Jackbooted Thugs

    Sooooo....only Blacks should be outraged?!

    I'm not Hispanic, but I indeed DISAGREE with Dump's racist words about them.

    I'm not Native "American"....but I support their quest to have racist caricatures of them removed from athletic teams' names and logos, etc.

    D.... C....

    @John Lindsay Mr Lindsay, I'm repeating lyrics in the song.

    D.... C....

    @Jackbooted Thugs
    It also applies to Chanhatten's "but i dissagree with the narrative of this song."

  44. T.... ....

    Why did he run? did he have reason?

  45. R.... M....

    Oh this is so beautiful and so relevant to the political climate in Amerika.

  46. f.... m....

    Hey Patterson, your left shoulder is bleeding.....don't lean so much. Loved you guys, attended countless shows till this album. I'm done. Getting to political is a death sentence, brace yourself. That's what it means..... to me.

    f.... m....

    They ALMOST called this album anti American band. STFU leave the liberal crap at the house.

    f.... m....

    They were political on “The Dirty South” 15 years ago what the hell are you talking about. This isn’t a new attitude from Patterson and shouldn’t come as a shock.

  47. o.... ....

    Fuck you!!! mAGA...Greetings from Slovenia, Europe!

  48. J.... H....

    I love DBT but this is a bunch of pro BLM political bull shit. thanks for feeding into the racial divide in this country assholes.

  49. D.... H....

    I can tell you what it means - but it's likely your mind has been solidly invaded already ?

  50. B.... C....

    I love this song. It says so much of what I want to say about prejudice and ignorance, contrasted with our achievements. It makes me want to weep angry tears.

  51. B.... H....

    This song is so much more than itself. Congrats DBT!

  52. A.... H....

    New fan after hearing the song on All Songs Considered. SO powerful, made me start tearing up on the tram to work.

  53. M.... B....

    I'm not obviously part of their demographic, but this is an incredible song. Maybe one of the best I've heard in a very long time. It's very moving. I hope millions of people get to hear it.

    M.... B....

    Demographic, shemographic. If you're human, you're part of the DBT demographic.

    M.... B....

    Hopefully....millions won't vote for hate in 2020.

  54. J.... J....

    good song

  55. R.... S....

    Wow ! Truth with a Southern accent. Love it!

    R.... S....

    Rest in Peace Trayvon

  56. E.... J....

    The first side is great. The second side might just be their finest work. I look forward to the next album.

  57. H.... ....

    Great message and music

  58. J.... G....

    The most poignant, important song I've heard in years.

    J.... G....

    Jimmy Joe what song are you listening to?

  59. Z.... Z....

    Black lives matter. ...But near the end I'm pretty sure they're talkin' about Bill Cosby on the other hand. ~ 4:57.

  60. J.... T....

    First good hearted folky country music since Woody Guthrie. Wish there were more.

  61. O.... B....

    George Zimmerman should have been fried. On the 911 tapes they told him to stay clear of Martin, that officials were almost there. Suddenly, that's when he was supposed to have been attacked. Plus, he clearly gets racial in his conversation. The boy had a right to be there, and even if not, Zimmerman had no authority. However, on the subject at hand, its been proven there are more cases of blacks being shot for legit reasons, than not. Michael Brown for instance. The BLM movement used the hands up, don't shoot saying and it went all over the country, protesters breaking laws, looting, destroying property, etc. When the truth came out, he had stolen from a store, then attacked  Wilson when all he had done was suggested they walk on the side and not the middle of the road. He then charged the officer so he shot him. This was looked at by professionals who testified they had an opinion his arms were not up, and black eye witnesses that stated he had attacked Wilson, trying to steal his gun, then when the officer demanded him to stop, he cussed him, then turned and was charging him. This is what happens when you react without knowing facts, and BLM looked rather stupid imitating a wannabe gangsta that got just what he deserved. The crap with cops is simple, don't break laws. But even if you didn't, knowing how they are, why would you resist arrest? Its not debatable, they are taking you I, dead or alive. Racism has come a long way, I mean when's the last lynching you heard of white on black? Hatred is hatred, and its still an act of vengeance, fear, and retaliation because of slavery bred still today in blacks, but I feel more of the race has let it go and does the best they can. I don't see cops picking on blacks. I see high amounts of drug abuse and retaliation when caught. We all have choice, and opportunity, its up to us how we use that....

  62. J.... D....

    Great record... took balls... salute guys, just made a fan out of me

    J.... D....

    It doesn't take 'balls' to recite this narrative. This is the mainstream thought process on the current political ecosystem. It would take 'balls' for them to actually tell the truth. That Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown were criminals and the MSM cherry picked those stories and relentlessly pushed it's narrative to manipulate the masses. THAT would have been ballsy.

  63. J.... C....

    What a great song.

  64. J.... T....

    I am old and I can not believe that we still need protests songs to think we have a consuos that is messed up. We seem to going so backwards in time.The US was never a bright bulb yet to be mindless is very sad.

  65. f.... m....

    One of the best songs Bob Dylan never wrote.

  66. E.... J....

    Looking forward to the next social commentary by this great rock n roll band.

  67. r.... ....

    I'm glad they put the lyric on screen, because this band is all about the message that needs to be heard.

  68. K.... W....

    Bleeding heart idiots, so glad I didnt buy this CD. I bet they all live in all white gated communities.

    K.... W....

    4:45
    "We want our truth all fair and balanced as long as our notions lie within it
    There's no sunlight in our asses and our heads are stuck up in it"

    Thank you +Ken Ward for being a shining example of someone with their head stuck up their ass.

  69. C.... G....

    So perfect for how this World is going... I don't a fuck how many dicks dislikes this! Listen up!!!!

  70. W.... W....

    All you idiots who don't like this song either don't understand the band or are very prejudice is how I see it. Those are the only reasons I can see for not loving this song. It's a powerful song & to be honest I love te entire album. I think it's the best yet.

  71. c.... ....

    Wow, checking DBT off the list of bands I listen to now.

    c.... ....

    Lol then you never paid attention to their music in the first place.

    c.... ....

    Yeah, I never realized how fucking stupid they are. My bad.

    c.... ....

    I'm sure they'd prefer not to have a prejudiced piece of shit like you listening, anyway.

  72. S.... B....

    Who will write the songs when robots replace the culture of Truckers?

  73. J.... B....

    Oh hell yeah.

  74. S.... W....

    Nope, I was one of those white kids who was beaten lying on the streets. They almost beat me to death. Small town, and they didn't care. And yes I'm a vet with ptsd and was coaching gymnastics full time and none of that mattered. The police got there way because one broke their ankle while kicking me in the ribs and i got 6 months in jail. I don't by all of this cut and dry.

  75. t.... p....

    Great song.

  76. A.... H....

    wow. what a culmination of our societal fucked uppers.

  77. g.... ....

    DBT are the fucking realest, keep preaching goodness and truth you guys

  78. p.... s....

    Thank you. Kudos!

  79. T.... B....

    This is amazing.

  80. J.... M....

    well i guess i wont get into these guys. what a first song bummer

  81. E.... B....

    where have i been all this time?

  82. E.... B....

    HS why im a just listening to you guys?

  83. L.... t....

    Don't know much about this band, sounds like Bob Dylan from Alabama, I am out of here!

  84. T.... M....

    escalofriante lirica de esta bandota, gran álbum

  85. D.... A....

    George Zimmerman is a POS, that shot an unarmed kid and abuses women. He got the shit punched out of him at a Florida bar for bragging about it. He's shit, one day he'll be waving that gun around and someone else will 'stand their ground' and shoot his fat ass.

  86. L.... B....

    Thank you for writing this. Peace~

  87. K.... H....

    Beautiful song

  88. D.... P....

    Well I used to be a fan. This song is a Liberal POS.

    D.... P....

    Funny how we enjoy only what agrees with our own views...

    D.... P....

    Perfect example of the lyrics at 4:45

    If you "used to be a fan," how in the fucking world are you *just* realizing that they are liberal?

  89. d.... i....

    what it means in the case of if a man with a gun tells you to do something... do it. figure it out later

  90. C.... C....

    great song!

  91. B.... ....

    these incidents are by design. they are playing you America. a divided nation never rises against its owners.

  92. R.... M....

    stick to just making good music for everyone and stop with the preachy liberal bullshit

  93. s.... ....

    I'd never heard of these guys 5 minutes ago...I'm a fan already. Good on ya for speaking the truth.

  94. T.... M....

    DBT has turned into a bunch of whiny lib wack jobs. Always writing songs about idiots paying the consequences of their own stupid behavior

  95. T.... M....

    Obey the law and treat others how you would be treated and the chances of buying a bullet drop substantially

  96. b.... ....

    "But you don't see too many white kids lying bleeding in the street"

    Yeah maybe if you disregard the fact that more white Americans are killed by police than black Americans. Just ignore that little bit of reality and this song is great. Just because it doesn't blow up headlines doesn't mean it's not happening.

    b.... ....

    If you say it wasn't racial, it means that you ain't black.

  97. T.... C....

    It is sad 50+ years after the publication of "To kill the Mockingbird", "Blowin' in the wind" and even after the election of Barak Obama we are still singing the same song all over again; the race relationships have not improved much and we all are living in separated plantlet with difference version of the same story.