Blog #5 - Pink

by Michele Schwamberger

The song, Dear Mr. President, featuring the Indigo Girls, was released in 2006 on Pink’s I’m Not Dead Album. I found this sound by looking on the web at Pink’s albums and read the lyrics and thought, “wow, what a song!” I have heard a few of Pink’s songs before, so I was a little familiar with her work. “Let’s pretend we’re just two people and you’re not better than me” really brings out the gender inequality. Even though Pink is a female celebrity, she still feels like the President is better than her. This could be viewed two ways -- one view because he is male and another view because he is President of the United States. I think Pink focuses on so many social concerns in this song that a lot of us have had to or even are still dealing with. “How can you say no child is left behind” and “We’re not dumb and we’re not blind.” The war in Iraq doesn’t seem to have an end in sight which she expresses, “How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye” and Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away.” I like how she expresses hard work, “Let me tell you bout hard work” “Minimum wage with a baby on the way” “Let me tell you bout hard work.” I think all of these quotes address a lot of issues in our everyday lives. People deal with situations in different ways, and I think this song is a great way to deal with these particular problems.
I do think that this song makes me feel empowered as a human. It reminds me of the Constitution – free speech. I think that when a celebrity brings these everyday issues of humans to light – it gets the word out to all.
I also agree that more songs like this would get the word out about many issues, including feminism. I think education is the key to dealing with issues and feminism and most people enjoy music and would probably listen to music before opening a book.
I think Pink expressed many concerns that a lot of people have to deal with in this song and she did a great job.

Here are the lyrics to the song:

Dear Mr. President
Come take a walk with me
Let's pretend we're just two people and
You're not better than me
I'd like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly

What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep
What do you feel when you look in the mirror
Are you proud

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eye
And tell me why

Dear Mr. President
Were you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
How can you say
No child is left behind
We're not dumb and we're not blind
They're all sitting in your cells
While you pay the road to hell

What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eye

Let me tell you bout hard work
Minimum wage with a baby on the way
Let me tell you bout hard work
Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away
Let me tell you bout hard work
Building a bed out of a cardboard box
Let me tell you bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
You don't know nothing bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
Oh

How do you sleep at night
How do you walk with your head held high
Dear Mr. President
You'd never take a walk with me
Would you

http://www.lyricsandsongs.com/song/651512.html