Local Natives Advocate for a Broken Glass Ceiling (even though it's too late)

The song "Fountain of Youth" by Local Natives in their most recent album Sunlit Youth was inspired by the past election and the present issues in politics. The band is not as well known as most indie rock bands, but they have made an album that touches not only on political issues but interpersonal relationships and the complicated layers each person has. 

One of the lyrics of the song that struck me when I first heard it was: 

I have waited so long, Mrs. President

This song came out before Trump was elected as president. The band wanted to talk about how the aims of many politicians are to truly make the lives of everyone in the nation better, and that the glance at social progress that was Hilary Clinton was intoxicating. This song was the first time I heard "Mrs. President", and I remember how happy it made me. 

Matriarchs and Teddy Boys play in houses on the lake
How can we quit drugs if you're gonna watch like that?
Give me five good reasons you trust us with our future

There are a lot of dimensions and hidden definitions in each word that is used here. A matriarch is a woman who is in charge of a family, and Teddy Boys are a certain type of man typically having traditional views. In the next line, there are historical references to the war on drugs and how the youth have had to move on from the past. Adding on to that, there is an uncertainty coming from the future generation in terms of where they are going and where they need to be. To be able to jump through time in three lines is kind of surreal to listen to, and even cooler to read after the fact. 

Another line that stuck with me was:

I think we better listen to these kids
I can't keep pretending that I'm still asleep

By mentioning that people need to listen to the younger generation and take their ideas into consideration, it brings up some self confidence in me and others who listen to the song because it shows that people care about what we have to say. The next line talks about how people cannot be politically dormant anymore, and that half of the country should not be the average amount of people that vote like it has been for awhile. An engaged society is a winning society. 

We can do whatever we want
We can say whatever we mean
We can do whatever we want
We can say whatever we mean

With these last 4 lines, I leave you with the thought that even though this song was created before Trump was elected, we still have power despite the feeling of powerlessness. Growing up in a time like this is extremely important and a pivotal moment in history. The people sitting next to you in class are going to be the people that change the way we use energy, change the way we think about international policy, and change the interactions we have with people who are different from us. We are eighteen or are going to be eighteen soon enough, which means we will be able to vote. Make sure you use that to revise the environment you continue to grow up in.