Feed Me Jack were an Indie/Progressive Rock group from Santa Cruz, CA. The … Read Full Bio ↴Feed Me Jack were an Indie/Progressive Rock group from Santa Cruz, CA. The group was founded by members Sven Gamsky and Robert Ross, later introducing members Jake Thornton and Glenn Carson. Carson left the band in 2013 and Feed Me Jack was then comprised of members Sven Gamsky, Robert Ross, Jake Thornton, Eric Lawson, and Cameron Lampert. Throughout their 4-year career, Feed Me Jack have released a total of 1 LP, 2 EPs, and 1 cover album.

Written, recorded, and produced by Feed Me Jack in Oakland, CA
Drums were recorded at Tiny Telephone Studios with the magical wizard recording engineer Jacob Winik in San Francisco, CA
Mastered by Justin Weis at Trakworx Studio in South San Francisco, CA
credits
released January 14, 2016

Sven Gamsky - guitar, vocals
Cameron Lampert - bass, guitar, vocals
Eric Karl Lawson - drums, percussion
Robert Ross - guitar, vocals
Jake Thornton - rhodes, synths

Our wonderful guest musicians:
Elizabeth Goodrich - vocals
Nikki Mokover - saxophone
Shawheen Keyani - setar

Emergency
Feed Me Jack Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

under a los angeles heat lamp,
turn the earth into a convenience store,
treadmills full of cars and parking lots
the freeway never stops.

don't you know it was an emergency?
to burn the food to keep the scarcity?
they put a bullet in his head, in his head for me.

that's how freedom looks to me.

i know, i know,
the sun will never set,
i got a lot of lightbulbs.

i know, i know,
desire on the walls,
it drags us to the floor and out the door.

as soon as you cancel your plans to not get enough
you'll know that life shrinks and expands relative to love
and it's not an invisible hand if it's covered in blood
and counting in dollars demands the damages done
that ripple across distant lands
from satellite unseen commands
and they covered their heads with their hands
afraid of the sun

channels of inscribed ink

inscised by the city of teeth
sinking down underneath

Overall Meaning

In the first verse of Feed Me Jack's Emergency, the opening line "under a Los Angeles heat lamp" suggests that the singer is surrounded by the bustling, artificial environment of a city. The following lines create a sense of unease and claustrophobia with the image of the earth turned into a convenience store, and the treadmills full of cars and parking lots which imply a never-ending cycle of consumption and waste. The line "the freeway never stops" emphasizes the idea that modern life is a fast-paced, unrelenting system that demands constant movement and productivity.

The chorus of "Emergency" expresses a sense of urgency and desperation, with the repeated phrase "don't you know it was an emergency?" implying that something important has been overlooked or ignored. The next line "to burn the food to keep the scarcity?" suggests that people are willing to destroy resources in order to maintain a sense of control and power. The third line "they put a bullet in his head, in his head for me" is a stark reminder of the violence and oppression that are often used to maintain societal structures.

The second verse of the song juxtaposes images of light and darkness, with the singer stating that they know "the sun will never set" and that they have "a lot of lightbulbs." This could be interpreted as a reference to the human desire for knowledge and understanding, with light symbolizing enlightenment and darkness representing ignorance. The lines "desire on the walls, it drags us to the floor and out the door" effectively convey the idea that people are driven by their desires and are constantly seeking more.

Some possible ways to interpret the third verse of the song include the idea that economic systems and globalization have far-reaching effects on the world, and that the cost of progress often includes human suffering and exploitation. The lines "counting in dollars demands the damages done that ripple across distant lands" could be seen as a commentary on the destructive nature of capitalism, and the ways in which wealth and power are concentrated in the hands of a few at the expense of others. The final lines "they covered their heads with their hands afraid of the sun" suggest that people are afraid of the truth and the consequences of their actions, and that they would rather hide from reality than confront it.

Line by Line Meaning

under a los angeles heat lamp,
In the heat of Los Angeles, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city, it feels like the turning of the Earth is no more significant than a convenience store.

turn the earth into a convenience store,
Life is so fast-paced and commercialized that it seems like Earth is nothing more than a convenience store.

treadmills full of cars and parking lots
The constant flow of cars on highways and the ubiquitous parking lots make the city feel like a giant treadmill.

the freeway never stops.
The busy freeways are always congested with cars.

don't you know it was an emergency?
It's crucial to act urgently to prevent a catastrophe.

to burn the food to keep the scarcity?
Is it necessary to waste food to maintain a sense of scarcity and control in society?

they put a bullet in his head, in his head for me.
Those in power sometimes resort to violence to maintain their control and privilege, and that violence affects everyone.

that's how freedom looks to me.
The use of violence to suppress dissent and maintain control makes a mockery of the concept of freedom.

i know, i know,
The singer is aware of something important.

the sun will never set,
There will always be light and hope, even in the darkest of times.

i got a lot of lightbulbs.
The singer has a lot of ideas and solutions to bring to the table.

i know, i know,
The singer is still aware of something important.

desire on the walls,
The city is full of messages and images that try to manipulate and shape people's desires.

it drags us to the floor and out the door.
The constant pressure to consume and conform is exhausting and leads people to leave the city.

as soon as you cancel your plans to not get enough
When you stop settling for mediocrity and aim higher, your life will start to blossom.

you'll know that life shrinks and expands relative to love
The love we give and receive has a profound impact on the way we perceive and experience life.

and it's not an invisible hand if it's covered in blood
The supposed 'invisible hand' of the market is not a natural force but is rather created and maintained through violence and exploitation.

and counting in dollars demands the damages done
The focus on profit and money often comes at the expense of people and the environment, and we should be mindful of the costs of our actions.

that ripple across distant lands
The negative effects of our actions often have far-reaching and long-lasting consequences.

from satellite unseen commands
The technology we use may seem harmless, but it often perpetuates harmful systems and affects lives in ways we cannot fully comprehend.

and they covered their heads with their hands
People are often afraid to confront the harsh realities of the world and would rather hide from them.

afraid of the sun
Even something as natural and essential as the sun can seem threatening and ominous in the face of human cruelty and greed.

channels of inscribed ink
The messages and ideologies that shape our society are everywhere, from advertisements to media to government institutions.

inscised by the city of teeth
The city is not a friendly or nurturing place, but rather a place of sharp edges and hostility.

sinking down underneath
People are swallowed up and oppressed by the forces that control the city.

Contributed by Emma L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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