Lunchbox (song)

"Lunchbox"
Single by Marilyn Manson
from the album Portrait of an American Family
B-side	"Down in the Park"
Released	February 6, 1995
Format	CD single / Digital download
Recorded	1993-1994
Genre	Industrial rock, alternative metal, alternative rock
Length	4:34
Label	Nothing / Interscope
Marilyn Manson singles chronology
"Get Your Gunn" (1994) "Lunchbox" (1995) "Dope Hat" (1995)
Music sample "Lunchbox"

"Lunchbox" is the second single from Marilyn Manson's debut album, Portrait of an American Family.

In the credits of CD booklet from the Portrait of an American Family album, "Lunchbox" contains elements from the song "Fire" by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.

Inspired by a piece of Florida legislation from 1972, which illegalized metal lunchboxes in schools due to children using them as weapons, the song references Manson as a youngster who is pushed around by bullies, waiting for the day he can "grow up to be a big rock & roll star". Manson stated the song was inspired by of one of his heroes, Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe.

The "Highschool Drop-outs" version is an edit which removes the profanity.

Music video

A music video was made for the song, directed by Richard Kern. This music video is one of four that displays Manson without makeup. It features the band playing in a skating rink, intertwined with footage of a boy being picked on by other kids until he snaps and becomes a rebel, cutting his hair and dreaming of being a rock star. The boy takes his lunchbox to the skating rink in the end of the video and gives it to Manson, who lights it on fire.

Formats and track listings

U.S. CD single

1. "Lunchbox" - 4:34
2. "Next Motherfucker" (Remix) - 4:48
3. "Down in the Park" (Gary Numan cover) - 5:01
4. "Brown Bag" (Remix) - 6:19
5. "Metal" (Remix) - 5:25
6. "Lunchbox" (Highschool Drop-outs) - 4:35

U.S. promotional CD single

1. "Lunchbox" (High School Dropouts) - 4:39
2. "Lunchbox" - 4:34
3. "Down in the Park" - 5:01

References