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)
The Prole Song
Snog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we're on our way to work.
We're happy little proles
And we're on out way to work.
The sun shines bright
From the arse of the boss man.
We're moving right ahead,
Yes, we're moving right along.
And we're on our way to work.
Sing happy happy, love love,
Sleep sleep sleep.
Sing happy happy, love love,
Sleep sleep sleep.
Microwave oven,
Economic rationalism,
Compassionless capitalism,
Fraudulent wargasm.
We're happy little proles
And we're on our way to work.
We're happy little proles
And we're on out way to work.
We live a lie
And we keep ourselves clean.
We don't know what it is
And we don't know what it means.
We're happy little proles
And we're on our way to work.
We're happy little proles
And we're on out way to work.
The sun shines bright
From the arse of the boss man.
We're moving right ahead,
Yes, we're moving right along.
We're happy little proles
And we're on our way to work.
Sing happy happy, love love,
Sleep sleep sleep.
Sing happy happy, love love,
Sleep sleep sleep.
Microwave oven,
Economic rationalism,
Compassionless capitalism,
Fradulent wargasm.
The song "The Prole Song" by Snog is a sarcastic commentary on the working-class lifestyle and its acceptance of societal norms. The song begins with the repetition of the phrase "We're happy little proles and we're on our way to work," suggesting that the workers are content with their mundane lives and do not harbor any resentment towards their employers. The line "The sun shines bright from the arse of the boss man" further emphasizes the idea of the workers being blinded by the false comfort of their lives, while their superiors bask in the light of their success.
The following verses draw attention to the societal constructs that have oppressed and brainwashed the workers, symbolized by the repetition of "Sing happy happy, love love, sleep sleep sleep." The concept of "economic rationalism" and "compassionless capitalism" are mentioned, highlighting the prevalent profit-driven mentality that governs the system, often at the cost of workers' well-being. The term "microwave oven" is a symbol for the consumerist culture, as people are buying these appliances out of necessity rather than choice.
The final verse points out the workers' ignorance and misguided beliefs, as they "live a lie" and are unaware of its implications. The repetition of "We don't know what it is, and we don't know what it means" hints at the workers' lack of understanding of their situation and society, leaving them vulnerable to manipulation.
Overall, "The Prole Song" is a critique of the modern world and its tendency to dehumanize workers, suppress individuality, and perpetuate a culture of ignorance and indifference.
Line by Line Meaning
We're happy little proles
Despite the circumstances, we are content with our position in the social hierarchy
And we're on our way to work.
We are part of the working class and we have a job to do
The sun shines bright
There is hope and positivity in the world
From the arse of the boss man.
Despite any potential positivity, the source of our work and the wealth it generates is rooted in the exploitative actions of the rich upper class
We're moving right ahead,
We are pushing forward with our lives and our jobs, despite the struggles we face
Yes, we're moving right along.
We are making progress in our lives, even if it is slow or difficult
Sing happy happy, love love,
We distract ourselves with positivity and love to cover up the harsh realities of our lives
Sleep sleep sleep.
We escape our harsh reality through slumber
Microwave oven,
Our lives are defined by consumerism and material possessions
Economic rationalism,
The government and those in power prioritize economic gain above all else
Compassionless capitalism,
Capitalism is cut-throat and lacks empathy or compassion for the lower classes
Fraudulent wargasm.
The government's justification for violence and war is built on lies and deceit
We live a lie
We have been taught to believe a false narrative built by those in power to maintain their status quo
And we keep ourselves clean.
We try to maintain a sense of morality and personal cleanliness despite the corruption in the world around us
We don't know what it is
We are ignorant to the true nature of our existence and the systems that oppress us
And we don't know what it means.
We lack understanding of the true implications of our actions and our place in society
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID LACHLAN THRUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind