The song "Good Life" by James McMurtry is a commentary on the American dream and the idea of what it means to lead a good life. The lyrics describe the narrator's life of material comfort and leisure, with two cars, a chainlink fence and insurance, but also a yearning for something more. The narrator reflects on the moments of enjoyment that he shares with his family at the lake, where they teach their children how to jump the wake. This scene contrasts with the loss that the narrator's grandfather experienced: losing all he had earned, and even his fingers in an accident. The chorus of the song seems to be a defense against any criticism that the narrator may face, insisting that he leads a good life and that any problems or complaints from others should be directed elsewhere. The line "Sell it all to the Japanese" suggests a turn to a kind of fatalistic resignation toward the American way of life. Overall, "Good Life" reveals a complex array of feelings around the American dream: complacency, anxiety, and maybe even regret.
