A Nostradamic Consideration of the 1988 Song "Kiss me, Son of God" by They Might Be Giants*

*(because I've been informed by my loving family that no one wants to spend the afternoon listening to me tune my piano)

I used some of my Father's Day "do whatever you want" time to reacquaint myself with a TMBG album I really liked. And this song came up, which I haven't thought of in years.

Most of the discussion around "Kiss me, Son of God" has been speculation about whether or not the song was really about some specific political figure or just some hyperbolic archetype.  I've never explored any such discussion, but am now unable to keep myself from overlaying these lyrics over our current American, let's say... "situation".

And a hearty "vaya con Dios" to everyone who is now bailing.  I get it.  I really do.

Verse 1

I built a little empire out of some crazy garbage

Called the blood of the exploited working class

[Trump's real estate carer has been characterized by refusing to honor contracts of those he's hired -- particularly in construction and maintenance.]

But they've overcome their shyness

Now they're calling me Your Highness

[His support remains strong among working class voters]

And a world screams, "Kiss me, Son of God"

Verse 2 

I destroyed a bond of friendship and respect

Between the only people left who'd even look me in the eye

[The most loyal of the Trump loyalists, Michael Cohen, is drowning in legal fees that might, one would think, be paid by the multi-billionaire to whom he has pledged his unflagging loyalty.]

Now I laugh and make a fortune

Off the same ones that I tortured

[I fairness, I see no direct financial connection between Trump's self-enrichment and his advocacy for torture -- which persists in the face of all evidence that it is useless in the cause of information gathering. Those two despicable things exist independent of each other.]

And a world screams, "Kiss me, Son of God"

Bridge

I look like Jesus, so they say

[Surprisingly, given his history and contemporary public behavior, Trump captured the support of the Christian Evangelicals.]

But Mr. Jesus is very far away

[In practice, Trump's policies, which include the separation of tiny kids from their refugee parents and denying amnesty to victims of domestic abuse and gang violence, are so far removed from the most basic core principles of Christianity as to imply that Christian supporters of these practices do not have so much as a single clue as to what they've been pretending to believe for all this time.] 

Now you're the only one here who can tell me if it's true

["You're the only one" because the President has no faith in science or any written document that was not created for the express purpose of massaging his fragile fucking ego.]

That you love me and I love me

[*the author makes the "well obviously" gesture*]

Refrain

I built a little empire out of some crazy garbage

Called the blood of the exploited working class

[To underline what was previously stated, consider that he was sued for nonpayment by the USA Freedom Kids -- the little dancing girls from his campaign appearances. Like... come on!]

But they've overcome their shyness

[According the the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, racially motivated hate crimes tripled on November 9th, 2016]

Now they're calling me Your Highness

[Of Kim Jung Un: "He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same." Source: Fox & Friends.]

And a world screams, "Kiss me, Son of God"

[Enjoy the rallies -- buy a hat!]

Yes, the world screams, "Kiss me, Son of God"

[There's no rush... most of the floor space the Trump Presidential Library will be a Gift Shop.]

Songwriters: John Flansburgh / John Linnell / John C. Flansburgh / John S. Linnell

Kiss Me, Son of God lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc