What does the song "Arizona" mean lyrically?

[Mrs.P]

This song pops into my head all of the time. I think I just like the melody of it a lot. It's written by Mark Lindsay and Billboarded in 1969.

Does anyone know what the lyrics mean? I don't really understand them.

 

[Punchy]

Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders?

I went to high school with his niece, but have no idea about the song, sorry

 

[Mrs.P]

Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders?

That's the one. Neat.

 

[John Watt]

Mark Lindsay, Paul Revere and the Raiders, didn't get the respect they deserve for social commentary.
While a few bands used first nations as a symbol, Paul Revere and the Raiders sang about them.

 

[Denverdave]

I remember the song....just looked up the lyrics online since I didn't remember the verses at all (just the chorus).

If I had to render a guess it seems like the song is about a young hippie-ish girl that everyone makes fun of her because of how she acts. But the singer likes her as she is and wants her to take off with him.

But I could be wrong...

 

[Tralfaz]

But I could be wrong...

I get the impression that he thinks she's naive, views the world through rose-colored glasses ("rainbow shades"), and she'd be better off seeing the world for what it is and getting rid of the hippie apparel. On the other hand, he's okay with her staying the way she is, and he will tell her things she wants to hear as long as he can have sex with her.

 

[Gary Blanchard]

Lesson One - in the 60's, lyrics were expected to be deep and mysterious. Thus Bob Dylan was able to have a musical career. If the lyrics made sense then the writer was obviously shallow.

After refreshing my mind, it seems that Mark was telling her not to be a hippie and to go his way, which is to wear a revolutionary war outfit instead of those crazy hippie clothes.

 

[Mrs.P]

Ah, that explains it all.

 

[B Valley]

Actually, that wasn't meant to be heard outside of the state. Its actual meaning is part of the package you receive when you become a registered voter here. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what it really means, or I will have to kill you.

 

[DdBob]

it means if you are not of light skin color show us your green card :rim:

 

[parrotheada1a]

Hmmmm.... I kinda have a different idea. Mebbe the girl is running away from an Indian reservation.