Lone Star Song

Album: Mighty Joe Moon (1994)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Grant Lee Phillips once said that he originally intended the song to be about conspiracy theories concerning the assassination of John F. Kennedy, but he got a little carried away with the events of the Waco Siege and the song evolved. A lot of the lyrics can be interpreted as both:

    "They had him nailed up to a T with a T for Texas."
    - JFK was the first Roman Catholic US president. He was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
    - David Koresh was believed by his followers to be the second coming of Christ, therefore being revered as the human embodiment of the Messiah.

    "His disciples with artillery they held the fort inside."
    - The "disciples with artillery" are JFK's secret service agents. Right after JFK was shot, one of them jumped onto the limousine and tried to regain control of the "fort inside."
    - Koresh's "disciples" firmly believed that Koresh was the second coming of Jesus Christ, and therefore believed that God was speaking through him. God wanted them to stay in the compound, so they stayed to defend the 'fort? with ample ammunition.

    "And by the time the story broke down at Dealey Plaza."
    - JFK was shot in Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, where "our story broke."
    - The first message from Koresh is relayed over KRLD Radio in Dallas on February 28, 1993, the day the compound was first raided by the ATF.

    "We'd already covered the smoke, read the TV guide."
    - It seems that just as soon as these incidents occurred, the media had already broadcasted "smoke," or disasters, across the nation, on TVs, radios, newspapers, etc. So all one had to do was "read the TV guide." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Lia - Beverly, MA

Comments: 2

  • Paul from Americait's about the raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco TX that ended in a fiery blaze killing everybody inside, men women and 25 children because Ma Reno (like gangster, Ma Barker) came collecting that pound of flesh for the Feds
  • Michela from BbThe entire song is about Texas (The Lone Star state) and the dark halo of mystery surrounding it, from Kennedy to Koresh. Any idea on who the "angel in mid-flight" is?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian OrchestraSongwriter Interviews

Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.