This song is about a man who sells his soul to corporate culture. He needs money so he ‘sells his body to the company’. In the 6th and 7th lines, he states “they gave me a paper and I went ahead and penned it,” which represents him signing contracts that tie him into this company more permanently. Throughout the song he repeats “I’m gonna die,” showing his revelation that in this corporation he is losing his soul and individuality or ‘dying inside’. The lines you quoted specifically show a more in-depth explanation of how he’s “gonna die,” in that he can’t enjoy the same things he did before. The man recognizes he’s “too messed up even mess around,” or stuck so deeply in this web of contracts and the company’s exploitation of his labor that he can’t even find time to enjoy himself. Now seems as apt a time as any to explain the “men with knives,” in the second line who wanted to “lend his body.” These men represent those running the company, and by portraying them in this sinister fashion, he compares his joining this system to a hostage situation. While he can try to escape, or leave the company, the men with knives will cut him down, symbolic of how he can’t escape the contracts he has signed without serious monetary repercussions. The song ends with him repeating “heavy morals seem so light but when it comes to cash I’m gonna die alright!” The sad reality has sunk in that he has no escape from the system, and his wages slowly sink him into poverty. He is only able to pursue money in order to keep his head above water, forgetting the morals he used to have and the reasons he originally pursued money. He has been turned into yet another slave of the corporate system, and even when he recognizes that he has penned his life away to the aforementioned “men with knives,” it’s to late for him to get out. This song showed the punk side of The Hives and was a clear example of their focus on rebellion against conformity. Hope this helps provide some insight and feel free to ask for clarification on other lines:)
This song is about a man who sells his soul to corporate culture. He needs money so he ‘sells his body to the company’. In the 6th and 7th lines, he states “they gave me a paper and I went ahead and penned it,” which represents him signing contracts that tie him into this company more permanently. Throughout the song he repeats “I’m gonna die,” showing his revelation that in this corporation he is losing his soul and individuality or ‘dying inside’. The lines you quoted specifically show a more in-depth explanation of how he’s “gonna die,” in that he can’t enjoy the same things he did before. The man recognizes he’s “too messed up even mess around,” or stuck so deeply in this web of contracts and the company’s exploitation of his labor that he can’t even find time to enjoy himself. Now seems as apt a time as any to explain the “men with knives,” in the second line who wanted to “lend his body.” These men represent those running the company, and by portraying them in this sinister fashion, he compares his joining this system to a hostage situation. While he can try to escape, or leave the company, the men with knives will cut him down, symbolic of how he can’t escape the contracts he has signed without serious monetary repercussions. The song ends with him repeating “heavy morals seem so light but when it comes to cash I’m gonna die alright!” The sad reality has sunk in that he has no escape from the system, and his wages slowly sink him into poverty. He is only able to pursue money in order to keep his head above water, forgetting the morals he used to have and the reasons he originally pursued money. He has been turned into yet another slave of the corporate system, and even when he recognizes that he has penned his life away to the aforementioned “men with knives,” it’s to late for him to get out. This song showed the punk side of The Hives and was a clear example of their focus on rebellion against conformity. Hope this helps provide some insight and feel free to ask for clarification on other lines:)