The Feast and the Famine
Foo Fighters Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

That night they were burning for truth
Down on the corner of 14th and U
They took your soul and they took you for fools
Took all the windows from prisons and schools
Now what's a poor man left to do?

One heart now broken in two
You start untying the hands of the youth
New kids hear the sound of the drumming
Mother Nature your summer is coming
Yesterday and today
Revolution on its way

Amen
It was the feast and the famine
Amen
It was the feast and the famine
Feast and the famine

Crossroads with nothing to lose
Out of the basement and in to the news
Come change, now shit getting heavy
Salvation at the ready
You look when I walked by
Still screaming 'til I die
You can't find peace if you can't find a home
You can't survive as an island alone
Black heart with a gaping wound
Put back together by a troubled groove
Check yourself
Wreck your brains
Where is that P.M.A.?

Amen
It was the feast and the famine
Amen
It was the feast and the famine
Feast and the famine

Hey, where is the monument?
To the dreams we forget?
We need a monument
And change will come
Yeah change will come
Is there anybody there? (anybody there?)
Anybody there? (anybody there?)
There?

Amen
It was the feast and the famine
Amen
It was the feast and the famine
Feast and the famine

Amen
Where is the monument?
To the dreams we forget?
Amen
We need a monument
And change will come
Is there anybody there? (anybody there?)




Anybody there? (anybody there?)
There?

Overall Meaning

The song "The Feast and the Famine" by Foo Fighters is a nod to punk rock, and to the band's connection to Washington, D.C. It speaks about social, economic, and environmental issues, with the band making references to revolution, poverty, inequality, and the need for change. The song opens with a reference to protests that took place in Union Square, New York City, in November 2011, during which activists burned an effigy on a lamp post. The lyrics then take on a more general tone and speak about the need for revolution and change, using the metaphor of a feast and famine. The song's message is a call to action and a reminder that change is possible, but it requires effort and participation.


The song was inspired by the time that the band spent in D.C. recording their eighth album, Sonic Highways. While in D.C., the band researched the city's history and interviewed local musicians to learn more about its music scene. The song's lyrics reflect the frustration and anger that many people in D.C. feel about the political situation in their city and the country at large.


Line by Line Meaning

That night they were burning for truth
There was a fervent desire for the truth on that particular night.


Down on the corner of 14th and U
The location where the passion for truth was present is at the intersection of 14th and U.


They took your soul and they took you for fools
The people who should protect your soul and intellect took advantage of you instead.


Took all the windows from prisons and schools
The institutions that should provide hope and opportunity had all access closed, leaving people hopeless.


Now what's a poor man left to do?
The impoverished population is left with no options in this situation.


One heart now broken in two
One person is now torn and shattered due to these difficult circumstances.


You start untying the hands of the youth
You provide freedom to the younger generation to make change.


New kids hear the sound of the drumming
The new generation is inspired and ready to bring change.


Mother Nature your Summer is coming
The world is changing, and a new era is fast approaching.


Yesterday and today
This has been an ongoing issue.


Revolution on its way
Change is about to take place.


Amen
So be it.


It was The Feast and the Famine
This time period was defined by extremes of abundance and scarcity.


Feast and the Famine
This duality of extremes was characteristic of the time.


Crossroads with nothing to lose
At a crucial juncture in time with no options available.


Out of the basement and in to the news
Rising from obscurity to make headlines.


Come change, now shit getting heavy
Change is necessary because things are becoming serious and unbearable.


Salvation at the ready
The solution is ready to be implemented.


You look when I walked by
People pay attention when you are present.


Still screaming 'til I die
Will continue fighting for change until the end.


You can't find peace if you can't find a home
The lack of a stable environment makes it impossible to find peace.


You can't survive as an island alone
Isolation leads to destruction.


Black heart with a gaping wound
A person with a wounded and broken heart that is now hardened over time.


Put back together by a troubled groove
The solution to this suffering is still difficult and complex.


Check yourself
Take a look at your actions and beliefs.


Wreck your brains
Push your mind to its limit to find a solution.


Where is that P.M.A.?
Where is the positive mental attitude that is needed to bring about change?


Hey, where is the monument?
Where is the symbol of our lost hopes and dreams?


To the dreams we forget?
To all those dreams that fell by the wayside?


We need a monument
We need a memorial to remind us of what we've lost.


And change will come
There is still hope for the future.


Yeah change will come
Positive transformation is inevitable.


Is there anybody there? (Anybody there?)
Is there anyone listening and paying attention to the struggles of the people?


Anybody there? (Anybody there?)
Will anyone make a change?


There?
Will anyone answer the call to action and help?


Amen
So be it.


Where is the monument?
Where is the symbol of our lost hopes and dreams?


Amen
So be it.


We need a monument
We need a memorial to remind us of what we've lost.


And change will come
There is still hope for the future.


Is there anybody there? (Anybody there?)
Is there anyone listening and paying attention to the struggles of the people?


Anybody there? (Anybody there?)
Will anyone make a change?


There?
Will anyone answer the call to action and help?




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Chris Shiflett, David Grohl, Georg Ruthenberg, Nate Mendel, Oliver Taylor Hawkins

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

ChordHouse

This is a fucking kick ass song!!!

Marcus Vinnas

+Ivan González agree 1000000%

M S

A rock masterpiece. Kurt would be so proud.

A Fire Inside

Who's Kurt?

Emily Putnam

A Fire Inside you must have a sad sad life XD

4 More Replies...

Alan Peláez

Now I realize that Sonic Highways was truly a masterpiece

b l

of course but wasting lights better

Daniela Carrera

Foo fighters is like wine, it gets better and better through years!

Ethanolus

+daniela carrera Glad to read this! Everyone is always nagging on this album, but I absolutely love it. The docu was great as well.

Trent Weems

They're more like cheese. They are better earlier.

More Comments

More Versions