Political Science

Album: Sail Away (1972)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song runs to a mere two minutes and three seconds, but how long does it take to tell somebody to blow up the world?

    Also known as "Political Science (Let's Drop The Big One)" or simply "Let's Drop The Big One", Americans who have studied their country's foreign policy might indeed ask themselves if in certain cases it might not indeed be better to drop the big one, or simply to abandon some nations to their own devices.

    Of course, since Newman wrote this song, there has been a lot of water under a lot of political bridges, and the situation has grown even worse, but in many ways the United States is a far bigger enigma than the old Soviet Union ever was, inspiring love and hate, contempt and admiration in equal measure, often with the same people.

    "Political Science" is one of Newman's most popular songs, especially with American audiences. It was produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England
  • By 1974, Randy Newman was a bit irritated with critics and journalists who didn't get the irony in his songs. A frustrated Newman told NME that year: "I had it with 'Political Science' when someone read this song all about bombing Paris and London and turning Australia into an American amusement park, and wrote: 'I do hope it's not serious.' They actually said that."

    Newman added: "Do I look like the sort of guy to bomb London, import black slaves to America, tickle people for kicks or think that all that the Chinese do is eat rice all day?"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A Timeline

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A TimelineSong Writing

Untangling the events that led to the "Stairway To Heaven" lawsuit.

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!