The band name is a reference to "kissing and cuddling," which, according to Thrussell, symbolizes the Marxist concept of destroying barriers between people (see the lyrics to "Light, Yet Refreshing")
Their first album, Lies Inc., was released in 1992. Pieter Bourke joined the band soon afterwards, and Dear Valued Customer, which drew heavily on techno influences, was released in 1994. That same year, two sideprojects emerged: Soma was formed by Thrussell and Pieter Bourke, and Thrussell formed solo project Black Lung.
By 1997, the band had largely become a solo project for Thrussell (with guest musicians). Buy Me... I'll Change Your Life was a departure in style, featuring country western-style guitar and a cover of Lee Hazlewood's "Let the Little Flowers Grow". 1999's Third Mall from the Sun offered a unique blend of the style of the previous two albums, along with new influences. This was followed by the remix album Relax into the Abyss.
In 2003, Beyond the Valley of the Proles was released. This album offered a more refined version of the style found on Buy Me. Its 2006 follow-up, Snog Vs. the Faecal Juggernaut of Mass Culture, saw a return to a more electronic sound.
One notable feature about the band is Thrussell's lyrics — almost all songs contain themes of anti-capitalism, anti-fascism, anti-consumerism, individuality, and anti-big-brotherism. Thrussell also often includes references to conspiracy theories in his lyrics and song titles (for example, The Report From Iron Mountain or Rex 84).
The albums Third Mall from the Sun (1999), Relax into the Abyss (2000) and Beyond the Valley of the Proles (2003) featured artwork by Canadian artist Chris Woods, whose paintings lampoon the advertising tactics of major corporations such as McDonald's, The Gap, and Nike.
Discography
Albums
Lies Inc. (1992)
Dear Valued Customer (1994)
Live in the Global Village (limited-edition bonus disc, 1994)
Lies Inc. (limited-edition 2-disc reissue with early material, 1996)
Remote Control (anthology, 1997)
Buy Me...I'll Change Your Life (1997)
Third Mall from the Sun (1999)
Relax Into the Abyss (remixes, 2000)
Beyond the Valley of the Proles (2003)
Your Favourite Electro-Folk Swingers (limited-edition remix CD, 2003)
Sixteen Easy Tunes For The End Times (2-disc greatest hits collection with bonus unreleased material, 2006)
Snog Vs. The Faecal Juggernaut Of Mass Culture (2006)
Singles and EPs
Corporate Slave (1992)
Shop (1992)
Born To Be Mild (1993)
Hey Christian God (1993)
Cliché (1994)
The Future (1995)
Make the Little Flowers Grow (1997)
Hooray!! (1998)
The Ballad (1998)
The Human Germ (1998)
I Snog, Therefore I am (1999)
Justified Homicide (2001)
Crash Crash (Vs. Remixes & Exclusive Tracks CD Single - 2006)
Vs. The Faecal Juggernaut Of Mass Culture (2006)
City EP (2008)
Other
Adventures in Capitalism DVD (2003)
Angst (Movie soundtrack) (2000) (contributed four tracks)
Pearls Before Swine (Movie Soundtrack) (contributed tracks, along side NON and Death in June)
Corporate Slave
Snog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The profits go down
I'm out of work
My daughter will drown
There's stree in my heart
Blood on your hands
Pushing up hill
Against the company man
Well I'm just a hard working corporate slave
My mind should hate what my body does crave
Well I'm just a humble corporate slave
Driving myself into a corporate grave
Its raining
In corporate heaven
All the coffers are a singing
The lyrics to Snog's "Corporate Slave" talk about the struggles of working in a corporate environment where profits and company loyalty reign over employee well-being. The winds represent the changing nature of the workplace where job security is uncertain, and the profits going down show the negative effects of a company's priorities on its workers. The singer is out of work and feels a sense of dread over the possibility of his daughter suffering as a result.
There is stress in the singer's heart and blood on the hands of those responsible for pushing employees to work against their own interests. The chorus repeats the phrase "corporate slave," emphasizing the idea that the singer is unable to escape the societal pressure to work long hours, despite the toll it takes on his mind and body. The line "driving myself into a corporate grave" emphasizes the idea that this work culture is both mentally and physically damaging.
Line by Line Meaning
The winds will blow
Adverse circumstances are on the horizon
The profits go down
The company is experiencing financial losses
I'm out of work
I have lost my job due to the company's poor performance
My daughter will drown
I am unable to provide for my family and their well-being is at risk
There's stree in my heart
I am experiencing intense emotional distress due to my situation
Blood on your hands
The company's management is responsible for my plight
Pushing up hill
I am struggling against an oppressive system
Against the company man
My struggle is with those in power at the company
Well I'm just a hard working corporate slave
I am a dedicated employee, but my efforts are not valued
My mind should hate what my body does crave
I feel conflicted about my loyalty to the company and my own personal well-being
Well I'm just a humble corporate slave
I am modest in my expectations and aspirations, but still trapped in the system
Driving myself into a corporate grave
My devotion to the company is taking a toll on my health and happiness
Its raining
There is trouble or sadness
In corporate heaven
The company's top executives are living luxuriously
All the coffers are a singing
The company's financial success is celebrated by those who benefit from it most
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID LACHLAN THRUSSELL, JULIA BOURKE, TIM MCGRATH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eyebandmusic
this was a global classic for many years in industrial nightclubs - I must have been requesed to play it at every club (or I did anyway as it filled the dancefloor) for about 8 years and most clubs I went to elsewhere played this and several other Snog songs.
@lucianaromulus1408
I was born just a little too late, wish I had gotten to go to these clubs 🙌
@nepntzerZer
I saw this DJ play a couple of times. He didn't even know how to beat match. How we laughed and threw rotten cabbage.
@rodrigoep01
Nice song to listen to while reading e-mails monday morning.
@00IIIIIIIII00
"My mind should hate what my body does crave."
@00IIIIIIIII00
All minds are leashed from birth...forcefully pointed in a SINGLE direction.
Do what I did, and say fuck that.
@Polyfusia
Marilyn Manson owes his entire career to this band.
@dontwrite9s4ever86
Also Fad Gadget, Skinny Puppy, and the pile of glam rock.
@vsander09
Skinny Puppy, NIN, Ministry, etc.
@praszu
2:11 there is a voice that was used in NIN - Screaming Slave.