Peaches by The Presidents of the United States of America

Album: The Presidents of the United States of America (1995)

Charted: 8 29

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First theory: It's just a song about how peaches are great. Perhaps a little commentary about how natural peaches are better then canned stuff.

Second theory: It's about women's private parts and cunnilingus.

The Presidents Of The United States Of America also have a song called "Kitty," which is about a cat (or is it?). They insist these songs - which they're well aware are full of double meanings - are about the literal explanations.
In a Songfacts interview with Presidents lead singer Chris Ballew, he told the story behind this song. "The key line, 'Moving to the country, going to eat a lot of peaches,' I overheard a homeless man who was walking by the bus stop where I was waiting for a bus," he said. "He was saying it under his breath over and over again: 'I'm moving to the country, I'm gonna eat a lot of peaches.' And I thought, 'That's interesting. I've never heard a homeless guy talk about his future and peaches and the country like that.'

I was on my way to my girlfriend's house and I didn't have a guitar there but the phrase stuck with me. I later got home and put it to a little music. All I had was that, then I was trying to be Nirvana in the verse, gnarly and growly.

So I had a verse and a chorus, and the verses were about how I had taken some hallucinogenic drugs and gone to a girl's house that I had a crush on. I was intending to tell her how I felt but she wasn't home, so I sat in her yard under a peach tree, having a psychedelic experience smashing peaches in my fist, literally like I say in the song, and watching the juice dribble and watching the ants run around. She never showed up, so I never got to tell her, but I bottled it and turned it into that song."
"Peaches" was written by the three band members: Chris Ballew, Dave Dederer, and Jason Finn. Dederer came up with the part that closes out the song:

Millions of peaches
Peaches for me
Millions of peaches
Peaches for free

"The song sounds like two different songs," Ballew told Songfacts. "It's got my verse/chorus/verse/chorus, and then Dave's end part."

"I love that that song was so popular because it really was a collaborative thing," he added. "Dave and I depended on each other to make that song work. Growing up as I did in the shadow of Lennon and McCartney, I thought it was cool that we had that collaboration."
The Presidents Of The United States Of America were one of the many Seattle bands signed to a major label when grunge hit. Unlike most of these bands, they panned out, selling over 3 million copies of their debut album on Columbia Records.

Their first single was "Lump," which got a lot of airplay and some spins on MTV. "Kitty" followed, then "Peaches." The album was released in July 1995, and the band promoted it relentlessly, making the rounds on radio stations in the mornings while they toured. "Peaches" reached its chart peak in April 1996; they put out their next album, II, in November.

That album didn't produce any substantial hits but still sold 500,000 copies. By this time, the band was burned out, and in early 1998, they called it quits. They reunited from time to time, and lead singer Chris Ballew found an audience as Caspar Babypants, a maker of music for kids. From 1997–2004, their cover of "Cleveland Rocks" was the theme song to The Drew Carey Show.
The band name is ironic, meant to contrast their lo-fi sound with the gravitas of the highest political office in their home country. It ended up being a great marketing tool, especially on Presidents' Day. On that holiday in 1996 (February 19, 1996) MTV aired a 30-minute concert of the band performing from Mount Rushmore.
The music video was directed by Roman Coppola, son of The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola. Most of it is just the band performing in an orchard, but it takes a hard turn when a group of ninjas show up and attack them. According to Ballew, Coppola had been watching ninja movies and was keen to shoot a fight sequence.
The peach was a symbol of immortality to the ancient Chinese. They placed bowls of peaches in the tombs of close family members to prevent the bodies from decaying. Giving the fruit as a gift was a sign of friendship. (From the book Food for Thought: Extraordinary Little Chronicles of the World by Ed Pearce)

Comments: 37

Tony Jackson from MaineI can't escape that this song was inspired by John Prine... if it's not, it's uncanny. John sang these words in the song Spanish Pipedream:

"Blow up your TV
Throw away your paper
Go to the country
Build you a home
Plant a little garden
Eat a lot of peaches
Try an' find Jesus on your own"

When POTUS' sings this song, they say:

"Movin' to the country
Gonna eat a lot of peaches
Movin' to the country
Gonna eat me a lot of peaches
Movin' to the country
Gonna eat a lot of peaches
Movin' to the country
I'm gonna eat a lot of peaches"

I can't see how this isn't related.
Brian from DcHuh, I always thought the words to the second bridge were
"squeezed your ripe little peach in my fist" and "make a little room for a man to hide."
...
I like my version better.
Ru Man Chu from UkThe song is about desire and disappointment. Success for the writer would be peaches and love and sex. Failure is rotten peaches and lonlines with only ants for company
George from Vancouver, CanadaHave you tried the Peach Pussé? (or is that PUSA?)
George from Vancouver, CanadaThis song raised much money to save Georgia's crop from the Peach Blight of 1996
Grady G from Clanton, Alabama I was in the military in '95, stationed in San Diego, when this song came out. I'm from Chilton County, Alabama; a county in the center of the state, famous it's peaches. Every year, on the 3rd week in June, we have a Peach Festival; Peach Parade, Peach Auction, Peach Pageant with a Peach Queen, Jr. Miss Peach, Little Miss Peach, etc. It was awesome growing up in a town famous for it's peaches. (I know they call Georgia the 'peach state' but I've actually seen 'Chilton County Peaches' for sale in GA!) Between the peaches, peach pies, peach cobbler, peach ice cream, Peach Queens, peach 'shine, and the bonfire parties way out in the center of one of our many, giant peach orchards, this song made me homesick for Sweet Home Alabama! Next time you're headed to the Gulf Coast on I-65 South, you'll pass Clanton's big peach water tower at the 212 mile marker. Stop in at the 205 and get a fresh basket of some of the world's finest; you may even see one our famous Peach Queens!
David from SeattleGuessing Ryan from Brunswick Me has never eaten an actual peach. They're delicious: you should try it some time.
Nikko from Portland, OregonSimple, it’s a double entendres. With both meanings intertwined. Very cleverly done.
Ericthebold from New York, NyI've always known peach to be a euphemism for a women's private parts. It has been used that way by other groups. Steve Miller sang, "I really love your peaches wanna shake your trees". The Allman Brothers had an album called Eat a Peach. The last verse of Peaches is as follows: I took a little nap where the roots all twist
Squished a rotten peach in my fist
And dreamed about you woman
I poked my finger down inside makin' a little room for a ant to hide
Nature's candy in my hand or can or a pie

How can an
yone think there's nothing sexual in that verse!?!
Chris from New York, NyIf you listen to enough PUSA tunes, you will realize that their song ideas and lyrics are pretty much based on stuff from the mentality of a little kid and how cool it can really be.
Megan from Stevenson, AlMe and my English teacher sang this all throughtout the summer of '06! lol I love this song!!!
Karl from Ingatestone, United Kingdomin a October 1998 episode of Nevermind The Buzzcocks, this song's music video gets discussed by 911's Jimmy Constable, Sean Hughes, and that awful berk Arthur Smith. love this song from the Presidents Of The USA
Didn't Arthur Smith have a bottle of wee thrown at him during a British comedy performance
Captain D from Cincinnati, OhI am a pervert so I thought it was sexual too :)
Melissa from Corapeake, OrI like this song,but not when my teacher sings it
he is the one who told me about it

-Melissa,Corapeake NC
Jimi from Osceola, Mothis song was written because the lead singer loved a girl and she moved away before he gotta say goodbye so he set under her peach tree and smashed peaches in his hand until he fell asleep i watched a interview on VH1 and he said that
Ryan from Brunswick, MeIf peaches were a metaphor for something sexual, it would be for a scrotum with balls. Because if peaches are similar to anything dirty, that's it.

But it's not. It's just a song about peaches. Really.
Wendy from Downingtown, PaOne of the members of the band had a serious crush on a girl. She had a peach tree in her yard. He got up the courage to go over to her house and tell her how he felt about her ... only - she wasn't home. Instead, he sat under the tree waiting for her to come home, squishing the peaches on the ground. He was humming the tune and writing lyrics that would later become this song. And, she never did find out how he felt about her! (As said on the VH1's "100 Greatest's Songs of the 90's")
Simon from Chattanooga , TnThe writer of the song said that he was waiting for a girl to confess his feelings to under a peach tree in her back yard. He had made up his mind to tell her, but when he showed up at her house, she wasn't there. He waited under her peach tree, "squeezing peaches." He never completed the confession. She never found out the inspiration, either.
Leah from Pittsfield, MaI agree with Jesus..I relate it to that front porch song...alot of their songs are about living the simple life, in the country. It's a simple song, and even if it does allude to sex, i think you guys are reaching way too far with the genitilia references. The main point of the song isn't sex
Scott from West Palm Beach, Fl... and ... The quote from the song "And dreamed about you, WOMAN" gives strong evidence to the meaning of him thinking of a woman in a sexual way. Also, if you think of the word "country" as two seperate words, and should give you and idea of what exactly it is that is growing on that tree. ;) Besides, this IS rock-n-roll which the words in themselves are derived from sex, so I don't see anymore issues here. LOL!
Scott from West Palm Beach, FlTo B. Fred from New York NY:" They come from a can, they were put there by a man in a factory downtown"... You'd be reaching pretty far to make a sexual metaphor out of that." ...

Well, try this one: Females are born from a womb where a man impregnated her mother. Sorry, pretty simple ;) I am a huge fan of this band and yes, most of their songs have a somewhat sexual undertone. Bah, maybe it's just me, LOL!! You just have to put it together yourself and relate it to your own opinions! :)
Sierra from Sactown, Cai think that this song has a great beat, and stuff like that...and if you think that is the emaning keep it to your self...me and my freinds love singing to it
Leah from Humboldt, Iai like this song, whether it is about vaginas or peaches.

also, i like in the video when the ninjas come. it makes me laugh.
James from Wilson, NcOh and the comment about the band not being dirty, have you even heard "candy" it's about "girl candy" not "candy candy" COME ON "cotton candy thighs"?
James from Wilson, NcIt's not about actual peaches, they didn't write a song about peaches and it ACCIDENTALLY sounded like it was about lady parts.

They even intro it with "feel like makin' love" do people not want to accept that a bunch of stoners used a peach as a metaphor for naughty bits?
Sada from Cleveland, OhI think this song is just about peaches, the fruit. After all, this is the same band to write such silly songs as "Boll Weevil" and "Love Delicatessen". But I think they get a kick out of people thinking they mean something dirty...after all, in concert they often intro-ed "Peaches" with the Bad Company song "Feel Like Makin' Love".
Jennifer from Belfast, IrelandI think they just like to make up funky lyrics which could have double meanings. They mention peaches in a couple of songs. They also like to sing about froggies. Get a rude meaning out of that!
Brandon Schaafsma from Burgessville, Canadait's about the fruit. If you listen to the rest of the CD and everything by the presidents in particular you'll notice that they sing about simple weird quirky things like peaches, kitty's, befriending strippers, candy, postmen, tube amplifiers, and 10 million monkeys all picking up guitars - the band isn't dirty
Jesus from Halifax, Me"Peaches" by The Presidents of the United States of America is a simple song about the desire of the band to move out of the fast-track consumer-oriented society and rembrace natural, communal living. They want to "move into the country" where they can "eat alot of peaches", and not be disturbed by local authorities who harassed them over their frequent marijuana usage.

The message is subtle, but it is very clear. Peaches shouldn't come from a "can". They shouldn't be put their by a "man". The MAN works for the establishment. DAMN THE MAN!
Andy from Arlington, VaIn the video, the band is playing the song under a bunch of peach trees, when they are attacked by a group of ninjas (?!)
Fred from New York, Ny"They come from a can, they were put there by a man in a factory downtown"...

You'd be reaching pretty far to make a sexual metaphor out of that, B.
Rico from Melbourne, AustraliaPerhaps they were commenting on how loose chicks from the country are? perhaps Body is the best Presidents song... perhaps perhaps, great song none the less
Tim from Groningen, NetherlandsWhen you're listening to the whole album, you'll really begin to think this song is just about peaches and how the production of this fruit is working. Many other tracks on the album are similar to this, for example a song about a spider who takes a ride on a buggy... That's, I guess, what the Presidents stand for: simple music, simple lyrics, as is not uncommon in punkrock.
Ashley from Auckland, New Zealandi still reckon it's about the actual fruit, but that they are putting in all sorts of descriptions in it to make the listener think dirty instead of them just stating it, they are being cheeky.
B from Kolding, DenmarkThis is obviously NOT natural fruit we are talking here... it is...well... women's' private parts and cunnilingus... put in a very neat and nice way *sss* not meant neat and nice... he just likes P***Y... and it not because i want to be rude!
Ashley from Auckland, New Zealandi liked this song, i'm pretty sure it's just about peaches the fruit. It's not that complex, and if it is, i don't see the hidden meaning.
Jake from Sydney, AustraliaI thought he was saying he only knew of canned peaches.

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