Hi everyone,

I just wanted to ask if "Presidential Rag" was written about Johnson or Nixon, becaus in my opinion, it would fit both of 'em.

Since I'm too young to remember either of 'em, it would be nice if I'd get an answer from a person who knows it.

Greetings

Yogibear

It's about Tricky Dick, but clearly it fits many other of our illustrious leaders.


mikey

yup, tricky dick. but it may have been written about dubya 20 years before it was needed. Since Arlo does live in celery time, who knows?

Good to see the younger folks liking the song. It's good education for those who weren't around then. Welcome to the site...

Thanks for your answers!

But there are some aspects I still don't really understand.

I've done some research about Nixon, and still haven't found out what could be meant by the following lines of the lyrics:

- "You said you didn't know, that the cats with the birds were there"

At first I thought it was about the Watergate cover up, but since cats and birds are a synonym for killing each other I dropped that thought...

- "You said you were lied to"

By whom?
Does this relate to a Nixon Quote?

-"been fooled again by your friends across the sea"

Does he mean China and Russia, since he was the first one visiting them?

-"fooled again by your people here at home"

Does this relate to anything specific, like the "Bamboo HQ" that didn't exist?

-"For handing out authority to men who were insane"

Anyone in specific, like Kissinger?

-"You say its all fixed up now, you've got new guys on the line"

Specific Quote?
To which issue is the "all fixed up now" related? Thought that it was about Watergate as well, but wasn't too sure, because there was a lot that Dick did wrong.



I'm very sorry for bothering you with all these questions, and would be really thankful if you could help broadening my horizon.


Grettings

Yogi

change the word you hear as birds to bugs and all is clear