General Larry Platt has a 'Pants on the Ground' mission

General Larry Platt, better known as Pants on the Ground Guy, has rocketed to American Idol and Internet fame with one song and one message: Get yo pants off the ground! We spoke to Platt over the weekend and experienced his passion for proper-fitting pants as well as his knack for breaking into song.

Before you dismiss him as a fame stalker, here's something you should know about Platt, who turned 63 shortly after his Idol audition: He says he marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma. He never served in the military, but says he is a "general" of the civil rights movement. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he has been attacked by police dogs and suffered beatings in past civil rights efforts. He says he isn't afraid to stop guys in saggy britches and rap at them on the street.

Since his audition aired Wednesday, Pants on the Ground became one of the most-searched terms on Google and launched hundreds of Facebook pages, the largest with more than 500,000 fans. His song has been covered by Jimmy Fallon (as Neil Young), Witness guitarist Brandon Gray and countless wanna-bes.

All we can say is that Platt really, really wants to get his message out.

What did you think of Simon?

Well, I like him, I like Mary J. Blige, and Randy. When I said that this could be a major hit, like Marvin Gaye, I meant it. He knew what he was talking about, and I know I'm gonna make it. I know it. You know his songs?

Yes, absolutely.

Yes, and I do, too. I speak the truth. Simon will be seeing me again. I like Simon, and I know all three judges will be seeing me again.

If you could trade pants with anyone in Hollywood, who would it be?

If I could talk to people in the government to talk to people to stop having their pants on the ground and not embarrass the people of America with their pants on the ground, and I want a law against it. I want to make that law and be Obama. I want their pants off the ground. It's not respectful for their neighborhood. They should be put in jail, not a fine or probation. I want them in jail. If it is a fine, they just walk out of jail with their pants on the ground.

Do you have any other songs?

Yeah, I have Pants on the Ground and a song about tattoos. Pants on the Ground is what I like to sing all the time. It's all about respect, and if you don't have respect enough to buy a belt, you shouldn't be in public. You should be in jail. I would love to make an album. I want to make an album that would talk to people about respect. Martin Luther King didn't march with his pants on the ground, and neither should you.

What's worse? Pants on the ground or hat turned sideways?

The boys say you're looking good with your pants on the ground, when you come into jail with your pants on the ground you're gonna get a warrant. Walkin' around with your pants on the ground in the jailhouse. … Pants on the ground, pants on the ground, looking like a fool with your pants on the ground, with the gold in yo mouth, hat turned sideways, pants hit the ground, call yourself a cool cat, lookin' like a fool, walkin' downtown with yo pants on the ground, get 'em up, Hey, get your pants up, walkin', talkin' with your pants on the ground, get 'em up, Hey, get your pants off the ground, looking like a fool with your pants on the ground. … (Gen. Platt continued to sing his song for another minute or so.)

Rachel Lubitz is a senior at Countryside High School and music critic for tb-two*, a publication for high school students published by the St. Petersburg Times.