Song meaning of Alice's Restaurant Massacree by Arlo Guthrie
Song meaning for Alice's Restaurant Massacree by Arlo Guthrie
"Alice's Restaurant Massacree" by Arlo Guthrie is a satirical folk song that tells a humorous and absurd story about a Thanksgiving adventure gone wrong. The song begins with the catchy chorus, emphasizing the idea that you can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant. However, the song clarifies that Alice's Restaurant is not the name of the actual restaurant, but rather the name of the song itself.
The narrative unfolds as the protagonist and his friend visit Alice at her restaurant, which is actually a church belltower where she lives with her husband and dog. They discover a large amount of garbage in the belltower and decide to help Alice by taking it to the city dump. However, they find the dump closed on Thanksgiving, leading them to dump the garbage off a cliff instead.
Their actions are discovered when an envelope with the protagonist's name is found among the garbage. They are subsequently arrested by Officer Obie and taken to the police station. The song humorously describes the exaggerated police response to the "crime," with multiple officers and cop equipment involved. Eventually, they are fined and ordered to pick up the garbage they dumped.
The song then takes a turn as the protagonist discusses his experience with the draft. He recounts going for a physical examination and expressing violent and disturbing thoughts to the psychiatrist, which surprisingly leads to him being praised and accepted into the army. The song criticizes the absurdity of the system and the lack of moral judgment.
Towards the end, the song shifts back to the courtroom, where the protagonist is asked if he has rehabilitated himself. He responds with defiance, questioning the morality of being judged for littering while being asked to join the army. The song concludes with a call to action, suggesting that if people join together and sing the song, it could become a movement against war and injustice.
Overall, "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" is a clever and witty song that uses humor and satire to comment on societal issues such as bureaucracy, the draft, and blind justice. It showcases Arlo Guthrie's storytelling abilities and his ability to engage listeners with his unique perspective and lyrical style.
Funny song meaning for Alice's Restaurant Massacree by Arlo Guthrie
Oh boy, let's unpack the lyrical masterpiece that is "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" by Arlo Guthrie. So, apparently, Alice's Restaurant isn't actually the name of the restaurant, it's just the name of the song. Thanks for clearing that up, Arlo. Anyway, this song is basically a rollercoaster of events that starts with Arlo and his friend deciding to do a good deed by taking a ton of garbage to the dump. But guess what? The dump is closed on Thanksgiving! Oh, the devastation. So, in their infinite wisdom, they decide to dump their garbage on another pile of garbage because, you know, one big pile is better than two small ones. The night ends with a Thanksgiving dinner and a phone call from Officer Obie, who found a mysterious envelope under the garbage. Cue the hilarious back-and-forth between Arlo and Officer Obie, resulting in our hero being arrested and thrown into the back of a patrol car. And let's not forget Obie's concern about hangings, so he removes the toilet seat and toilet paper. Safety first, right? Alice eventually bails Arlo out of jail after some sassy words with Obie. Fast forward to court, where the judge couldn't care less about the twenty-seven pictures and arrows and just fines them fifty bucks. But hold on, there's more! Arlo takes us on a detour to talk about the draft, getting a physical examination, and his deep desire to kill... Yep, this song takes a dark turn. Eventually, our hero ends up on the infamous Group W bench, surrounded by some real characters, including father-rapers (yes, that's a term you never thought you'd hear in a song). The whole thing ends on a weird note with a mysterious piece of paper and Arlo's potential future as a war criminal. And just when you think it's over, he brings us back to the chorus with a call to join the Alice's Restaurant Anti-Massacree Movement. Sing it loud and proud, folks, and maybe one day we'll end war and stuff. Phew, Alice's Restaurant, you truly are a musical journey like no other.
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