Business Man

Song Meaning

Business Man" paints a vivid, unflattering portrait of a corporate figure, seen through a lens of profound alienation and disdain. The lyrics immediately establish a disconnect, with "they" (the business people) sleeping "in a coma" and speaking "in a code I don't under-under-under-understand." This sets a tone of frustrated incomprehension, as if observing an alien species. The central conflict arises from the narrator's clear opposition to this world, contrasting the "limp hand" of business with the vibrant energy of a "rock band" or the rebellious spirit of a "punk band." This isn't just a difference in style; it's a moral chasm, especially when the lyrics claim "They spit on the po'man." The "business man" is depicted as both detached and actively harmful, embodying a system that preys on the vulnerable. The lyrics masterfully employ caricature and surreal imagery to underscore this critique. The "business man" is a "devil in a Sunday hat," a striking oxymoron suggesting hidden malice beneath a veneer of respectability. This character evolves from "pretty little baby, pretty little monster" to a "brand new tycoon, sitting with a harpoon," culminating in the absurd image of a "baboon with a bond, a stock, a share in the moon." This progression transforms the figure from merely unlikable to a grotesque, almost cartoonish villain with boundless, predatory ambition. Ultimately, the lyrics are effective because they don't just criticize; they mock and dehumanize the "business man" through a relentless barrage of unflattering descriptions and sharp contrasts. The repeated, almost chanted phrases like "Talking 'bout the business man" reinforce an obsessive focus, creating a shared sense of revulsion and a clear "us versus them" dynamic that resonates with anyone feeling disenfranchised by corporate power.