You Are (The Government)

The lyrics criticize a society in which people are told to obey and accept official ideas of “progress.” The mood grows from frustration with being instructed and controlled to a warning that ordinary people are part of the system they criticize. The repeated “you are” statements make this responsibility feel direct, while the final claim, “I make a difference too,” adds a note of personal agency.

Several images suggest control and self-deception. A “puppet on the stool” can imply someone whose choices are directed by others, while a “black reflecting pool” may suggest a darkened or distorted view of society—or of oneself. “Old Glory,” a familiar name for the American flag, appears to represent national identity shaping people’s thoughts. The contrast between “eradicate” and “vindicate” also hints that harmful actions may be defended by calling them progress.

The song’s argument is forceful, but some phrases remain open to interpretation. “You are the government” may mean that citizens share responsibility for public power, rather than simply blaming distant leaders. “Jurisprudence,” “volition,” and “jurisdiction” connect people with law, choice, and authority, though the compressed wording is not a precise definition. The lyrics leave a tension between being shaped by the system and having the power to affect it.