Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers
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| “Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers” | |||||
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| Single by Primus from the album Sailing the Seas of Cheese |
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| Released | 1991 | ||||
| Genre | Alternative rock Funk metal Alternative Metal |
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| Length | 5:19 | ||||
| Label | Interscope Records | ||||
| Writer(s) | Claypool/LaLonde/Alexander | ||||
| Producer | Primus | ||||
| Primus singles chronology | |||||
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"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 leaves plenty of ambiguity in its lyrics. However, many have speculated the song is about truck drivers and "blue-collar workers" using 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 to the crowd by saying "Sorry, I had to do it" and returning to the song.
[edit] Lyrics
I've seen them out at Soco
They're pounding sixteen penny nails
The truckers on the interstate
Have been known to ride the rails
The sweat is beating on the brow
Can't keep these fellas down
'Cause those damned blue-collared tweekers
Are runnin' this here town
I knew a man who hung drywall
He hung it mighty quick
A trip or two to the blue room
Would help him do the trick
His foreman would pat him on the back
Whenever he would come around
'Cause these dammed blue-collar tweekers
Are beloved in this here town
Now the union boys are there
To protect us from all the corporate type
While curious George's drug patrol
Is out here hunting snipe
Now they try to tell me different
But you know I ain't no clown
'Cause those damned blue collar tweekers
Are the backbone of this town
Now the flame that burns twice as bright
Burns only half as long
My eyes are growing weary
As I finalize this song
So sit back and have a cup of joe
And watch the wheels go round
'Cause those damned blue collar tweekers
Have always run this town!
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