Sarah Kirsch (guitar, vocals) of Fuel (think Monuments to Excess) was in the band when they first formed in 1991, but eventually left, citing personal differences with Green Day (the band for which Billie Joe Armstrong is most famous).
The band's name comes from a brand of "high octane" green tea discovered serendipitously by Aaron Cometbus during one of his many dumpster diving adventures. Aaron Cometbus, who releases the "Cometbus" fanzine, has played with many other bands, such as Crimpshrine and Cleveland Bound Death Sentence, and has long been a part of East Bay's punk culture.
Pinhead Gunpowder's music has been released through Lookout Records and Adeline Records (the latter co-owned by Billie Joe Armstrong and a major occupation of Jason White).
Work For Food
Pinhead Gunpowder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In Whitville, Tennessee
Got 3 dollars in my pocket
Got 3 kids to feed
My sign says
I will work for food
My eyes say I'm in
'A working kind of mood
So hard to live this way
Looking like I do I can't
Seem to get the time of day
9 to 5 at Scotia
Down at the mill
For half as much money
I've seen a better man killed
The lyrics to Pinhead Gunpowder's song Work For Food paint a poignant picture of a struggling individual, who has been traveling in Whitville, Tennessee for 30 days, with only $3 in their pocket. The singer is plagued with the responsibility of feeding their three kids, hence, their sign reads "I will work for food." Despite the difficulties they face, they remain hopeful and determined to find work. Their eyes reflect a "working kind of mood," despite the helplessness they feel.
The singer's situation is dire, as they are broke and possess no particular skillset, making it difficult to make ends meet. They are constantly ignored and dismissed, as people are uninterested in someone who looks like they do. They are up against a society that favors those with money and connections, making it hard for them to even get the time of day. The singer expresses their desperation at the end of the song when they talk about how they have seen better men than themselves killed while working for half as much money at Scotia, down at the mill.
The lyrics to Work For Food are touching and speak to a larger societal issue of poverty and the struggle to survive. The song is relatable and thought-provoking, conjuring up a picture of someone who is not just homeless but also trying their best to provide for their family amidst a system that is stacked against them.
Line by Line Meaning
30 days of traveling
I have been traveling for a month.
In Whitville, Tennessee
I am currently in the town of Whitville, Tennessee.
Got 3 dollars in my pocket
I have only three dollars on me.
Got 3 kids to feed
I have three children I need to provide food for.
My sign says
I will work for food
I have a sign that says I am willing to work in exchange for food.
My eyes say I'm in
'A working kind of mood
I am eager to work.
I'm broke, no skill
I am poor and do not have any valuable skills.
So hard to live this way
It is difficult to survive in this state of poverty.
Looking like I do I can't
Seem to get the time of day
People do not take me seriously or give me a chance because of my appearance.
9 to 5 at Scotia
Down at the mill
There is a job available at Scotia, specifically at the mill, with regular working hours.
For half as much money
I've seen a better man killed
The pay is low, and the work is dangerous.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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