Discover the story of the song > Prime Time – Don McLean

The protagonist sings about life in America, where violence and apathy are commonplace. He witnessed an elderly woman being assaulted by a group of youths, with no one willing to help her. The song addresses a variety of mundane issues, such as toiletries and democracy, juxtaposed with the dark reality of a society that glorifies death and destruction. The lyrics suggest that this is the American way of life and that, even though there are other options (such as Mexico or Canada), there seems to be no escape.