"Hotdogs and Hamburgers" is a song by John Cougar Mellencamp, also known as John Mellencamp. The lyrics depict a narrative about a young man driving along Route 66 and encountering a Native American girl. The song explores themes of cultural appropriation, the history of Native Americans, and the consequences of the actions of the white settlers. At the beginning of the song, the protagonist meets a Native American girl and tries to take advantage of her. However, she rejects his advances, recognizing that he is trying to use her like the pilgrims used the Native Americans in the past. As they continue their journey together, the protagonist feels honored to be around her and starts to understand the sadness and pain she carries due to the history of the Indian nations. The girl tells stories of how their lives were stolen by the white settlers. Although she develops some kind of liking towards the protagonist, she cannot fully trust him because of his identity as a white man. The song then shifts to the protagonist dropping the girl off with an old Indian man at a railroad crossing in Texas. The Indian man sees through the protagonist's intentions and dislikes him for perpetuating the actions of the white settlers. This encounter makes the protagonist feel ashamed of his actions and the real history of how the west was won. In the end, the protagonist drives to Los Angeles and asks for forgiveness from a higher power, acknowledging the wrongs done to the Native Americans. The chorus of the song emphasizes the individual choices we all have to make between right and wrong, and holding onto our beliefs or giving up. "Hotdogs and Hamburgers" is a reflection on the injustices committed against Native Americans in the past, serving as a reminder to acknowledge and learn from our history and strive for understanding and reconciliation between cultures.
