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 o' joe
And watch the wheels go round
'Cause those damned blue-collar tweekers
Have always run this town

Overall Meaning

The song "Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers" by Primus is a tribute to the hard-working menial jobs in society. The song opens with a description of people pounding sixteen penny nails and truckers on the interstate who ride the rails. The lyrics indicate that these folks are not put down by the work they do; instead, they are a strong part of the town's backbone. They may take breaks from time to time, but they always jump back into their livelihood.

Another verse describes a man who hangs drywall, and taking trips to the blue room (bathroom), most likely to do drugs, helps him work quicker. The foreman is happy with his work, so this man is beloved in this town. The song also mentions the curious George's drug patrol, which is hunting for drug users.

The song's final verse is about the ephemerality of life and getting tired. The song admonishes the listener to sit back and enjoy life while the blue-collar tweekers keep the town running. The song is arguably a call to society to appreciate hard labor.

Overall, the song is catchy, up-tempo, and full of descriptions of blue-collar workers who work hard and are incredibly committed to their vocations. The lyrics are not intended to pass judgement on people who work hard jobs or to suggest that they should be marginalized. Instead, it is an ode to those that society often overlooks.

Line by Line Meaning

I've seen them out at soco
I have seen the blue-collar tweekers at South Congress (soco) area.

They're pounding sixteen penny nails
The tweekers are actively engaged in manual work and pounding nails.

The truckers on the interstate Have been known to ride the rails
The truckers of the interstate sometimes opt for the railways as a means of transportation.

The sweat is beating on the brow Can't keep these fellas down
The tweekers are hardworking and dedicated, even though it's causing them visible physical distress.

'Cause those damned blue-collared tweekers Are runnin' this here town
The tweekers are the ones who are keeping the town running properly through their work ethic.

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
The singer knows a person who could perform drywall in record time with the aid of stimulants.

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
The foreman was loyal to his employee who was a well-liked tweeker in the 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
The union is battling corporations while drug enforcement authorities are struggling against drug offenses and usage.

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
People may disagree, but the artist is convinced that the tweekers keep the town functional.

Now the flame that burns twice as bright Burns only half as long My eyes are growing weary As I finalize this song
The tweekers' excessive work ethic and drug usage will ultimately lead to a burnout, and the artist is tired.

So sit back and have a cup o' joe And watch the wheels go round 'Cause those damned blue-collar tweekers Have always run this town
The singer invites everyone to relax, watch the blue-collar tweekers at work, and acknowledge that they have always been the driving force of the town.

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: LES CLAYPOOL, REID L. III LALONDE, TIMOTHY W. ALEXANDER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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