What It Means

Album: American Band (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Truckers reflect here on recent shootings of African-American men by police. Vocalist Patterson Hood doesn't pull any punches referencing in his lyrics the 2012 death of Trayvon Martin and the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson. "'What It Means'" is a song I wrote a couple of years ago protesting the Ferguson decision and the Trayvon Martin killing," explained Hood to Rolling Stone. "Unfortunately, the song is still timely today. I hope and pray that one day it won't be."

Comments: 3

  • Truenorth from CanadaGreat song, by a great band. I'm glad they're wrote it and wish more bands would have the guts to take a stand. Well done!
  • Mark From Connecticut from Durham I love this song and am very pleased the band is getting more political. They call it like it is. If the bigots don’t like it, too damn bad. Thank mike and Patterson and the rest
  • Marc from CaliforniaI’m a big fan of DBT, however this song (what it means) is not only factually incorrect, but also a crap song.
    The Shooting at hand was justified after Holder and Obama investigated it.
    The shooting in Florida was also justified and the shooter was Hispanic not White.
    Seems like DBT have lost their way and become brainwashed by Marxist Ideology and pushing more division of oppressed vs oppressor. They seem to have started Virtue Signaling their phony Social Justice causes since their move to Oregon.
    Maybe they should write a song about Antifa being real life Fascist and promoting Communism, which by the way has killed 100 million plus people.
    DBT need to get back to their Southern roots.
    I definitely won’t be buying music off this album.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

In The Cards

In The CardsSong Writing

Songwriters have used cards and card games to make sense of heartache, togetherness, and even Gonorrhea.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Rock Revenge Songs

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?