Meaning of "The World Isn't Fair" by Randy Newman

The song "The World Isn't Fair" by Randy Newman offers a critical commentary on the concepts of equality and class struggle. Through the narrative of Karl Marx's life and ideals, the lyrics depict a sense of disillusionment with the reality of the world. The speaker acknowledges Marx's noble intentions to build a just society without exploitation and discrimination, but paints a picture of a world where the gap between the wealthy elite and the struggling masses continues to widen. The portrayal of the inequality between the rich "add the poor holds a mirror to society's shortcomings in achieving equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. The reference to the speaker's encounter with a privileged family at a school event further emphasizes the disparity between social classes. By contrasting the grandeur of the wealthy elite with the struggles of the less fortunate, the song underscores the harsh truth that despite efforts towards progress and reform, the world remains inherently unfair and unequal, with the privileged few benefiting at the expense of the marginalized many.