Rip to American Dream

Amari Stucking

Mrs lomibao

English Composition I 121-2lc-2lR

26, Sepemtber 2016

                                “R.I.P to the American Dream “

It is said that every song has a story to tell. Music is a reflection of the world we live in. Some songs with the catchiest tunes can hold such deeper meanings. Such as the case in “American Dream” is by an American singing and rap duo Malcom Kelly and Tony Oller, otherwise known as MKTO. The two use the song’s lyrics and references to another song, to show how the American dream cause people to lose sight of the true intentions while chasing the things they believe will get them it. They also explore the idea of what happened to the traditional American Dream.

The song starts with the lyrics “We broke down/ trying to leave town/ flying down the road to change /We were born to run, Cali here we come/escape from nowhere U.S.A.”  In these set of lyrics the duo shows their distaste for where they live now. It does not fit there ideal of what their life should be like.  They call the town or city they live in now “Nowhere, U.S” it shows that they can’t make it a place no one knows about, hence their leaving to California. The song goes on to say “Say goodbye to white picket fences /Say hello to palm trees and Benzes/They say you gotta fall to have it all/ We don't want two kids and a wife/ I don't want a job, I just want a life/ Sometimes the underdogs rise, and the mighty fall”. The bridge of the song says that people don’t want a “white picket fence” they want more materialistic and luxuries things like a “Benzes” or Mercedes Benz.  They wanted to be surrounded by such thing Palm Trees, which are symbols of relaxation or “the good life” The world has shifted to no longer being satisfied with what they need, but more of what they want.  They then go on to say that people don’t want kids and a spouse, they don’t even want a job. This highlights they want to reap the benefits of a good life , without putting in any of the hard work. The younger generation is now steering away from the stereotypical "American Family" and in doing so they are also steering away from the typical American dream.  

The song puts more into the American dream, by referencing John Mellencamp’s song “Jack and Diane”. “Jack and Diane’ is about the nostalgia of youth and how growing up changes you. In MKTO’s they song references by saying “This ain’t the same summer song that you used to know/Cause Jack left Diane thirty years ago “This is a song that isn't an older view of the American Dream, or even the nostalgia of youth like John Mellencamps’ song, its turned into a fantasy that is now much harder to obtain. The reference to Jack and Diane is also showing how divorce rates are growing and it’s not truly unusual.