Story Behind The Song

The story goes... My booking agent thought it would be a good idea to do a good-will tour/USO tour to Afghanistan in the wake of the events of 9/11 (remember when "the war" was in Afghanistan?). While the Afghani people didn't necessarily care for the music, they were great fans of the Hershey chocolate bars we had in plenty. Thus we enjoyed great renown throughout the region, not for our "universal language of music," but for the delicious, chocolatey treasures we had in our possession.

Song Description

The story goes... My booking agent thought it would be a good idea to do a good-will tour/USO tour to Afghanistan in the wake of the events of 9/11 (remember when "the war" was in Afghanistan?). While the Afghani people didn't necessarily care for the music, they were great fans of the Hershey chocolate bars we had in plenty. Thus we enjoyed great renown throughout the region, not for our "universal language of music," but for the delicious, chocolatey treasures we had in our possession.

Lyrics

Kandahar
©Renaissance Boy Recordings

I sat at aeroport preparing for a concert over sea
I thought about the way we fight today and how we define free
I got a lot of looks from well-dressed crooks who didn't like my style
They all reminded me that we should be more open to that mile
Spent in another's shoes; my Kangaroos are comfortable and that's
About as different to their loafers as a turban to a hat

My booking agent was an average man strung out on Demerol
He took Wellbutrin pills to make him happier and liked by all
He thought that I should do a tour to unite all of mankind
But now I fear somehow the drugs had hollowed out a good man's mind

I'm leaving on a jet-plane; don't know if I'll be back again.

The jet touched down just fine
A stitch in time saved 93 for me
The people on the plane could not explain the fact that they would be
Likely to take my life if I did not remain a quiet man
But sometimes I must sing
I'm sorry, sir, that's just the way I am

Before the war were they inclined to say they did not like my songs?
You'd think an Arab on an aeroplane would want to hum along
You'd think an Arab in an arid land would want to have a drink
A cocktail in a bar perhaps a jar of water from the sink

I ate a candybar in Kandahar
A super-star like me can't be concerned about the things they shout
That's not my cup of tea
And on another day they might not say such hurtful, hateful things
But now I fear somehow the crowd's too loud to really hear me sing

Yeah, yeah, yeah

I ate a candybar in Kandahar then got back on the plane
I kind of liked it there; the crisp, dry air was good for my back pain
And if I ever go again, my friend, to visit in the sand
I'll take a candybar 'cause you're a star with chocolate in your hand
Yeah you're a star with chocolate bars in hand in that Afghanistan

I ate a candybar in Kandahar a super-star like me
Can't be concerned about the things they shout
When throwing things at me
And on another day they might not say such hurtful, hateful things
But now I fear somehow the crowd's too loud to really hear me sing

Yeah, yeah, yeah

I sat at aeroport preparing for a concert over sea