Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Primus | ||
| from the album Sailing the Seas of Cheese | ||
| Released | 1992 | |
| Genre | Alternative rock Funk metal Alternative Metal |
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| Length | 5:19 | |
| Label | Interscope Records | |
| Writer(s) | Claypool/LaLonde/Alexander | |
| Producer(s) | Primus | |
| Primus singles chronology | ||
| Tommy the Cat 1991 |
Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers 1992 |
Making Plans For Nigel 1992 |
"Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers" is the third single off Primus's 1991 album Sailing the Seas of Cheese. Unlike its preceding singles "Jerry Was a Racecar Driver" and "Tommy the Cat," "Those...Tweekers" did not feature an accompanying video. The song opens with Larry LaLonde on guitar and a reserved bassline from Les Claypool, from there alternating between his trademark slap bass and a quiet section for the vocals.
The song's narrative describes several different trades that the town's blue collar tweekers engage in, but like many of the other story-telling songs in Primus's catalogue, lacks any clear, single meaning and leaving plenty of ambiguity in its lyrics. However, many have speculated the song is about truck drivers abusing methamphetamines.
The band's Woodstock 1994 performance of the song was particularly notable, with Claypool beginning a bass rendition of the Star Spangled Banner in homage to Jimi Hendrix's guitar performance of the national anthem decades before, but eventually apologizing and returning to the song after failing to find the right chord.
