The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
You're keeping in step
In the line
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
'Cause you do
What you're told
But inside your heart it is black and it's hollow and it's cold
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you wanna change it?
What if this whole crusade's a charade
And behind it all there's a price to be paid
For the blood on which we dine
Justified in the name of the holy and the divine
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you wanna change it?
So naive
I keep holding on to what I wanna believe
I can see
But I keep holding on and on and on and on
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
In the line
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
'Cause you do
What you're told
But inside your heart it is black and it's hollow and it's cold
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you wanna change it?
What if this whole crusade's a charade
And behind it all there's a price to be paid
For the blood on which we dine
Justified in the name of the holy and the divine
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you wanna change it?
So naive
I keep holding on to what I wanna believe
I can see
But I keep holding on and on and on and on
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Lyrics submitted by Angie Christ
The Hand That Feeds Lyrics as written by Trent Reznor
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Anyway what it's really about is a kid taking holy communion and considering biting the priests hand.
I think you hit it on the nose there...
Well, let me clarify. "biting the priests hand," is obviously not literally correct. But it's striking back at those that try to control and manipulate you (prime example is the church.)
LOL...a church "manipulating." So glad you don't have faith in Christians for being INDEPENDENT thinkers, but atheists are simply because they worship thy self:) You need to give this theme a rest...
YOu may be 1,000x brighter than I when it comes to textbooks and vocabulary, but you will NEVER win an argument with me when all you have is stereotyping, generalizing, and good ol' prejudice. I will beat you ever time when I use wisdom from experience and HONESTY.
I never said anything about Christians one way or the other. I was referring to the church, which I know from personal experience is corrupt. Yes, I'm an atheist who was raised in a Christian household until I grew up and started thinking for myself. You say you're an independant thinker, but you look down on me because I do the same thing? Believe what you want, Christianity (and all religion for that matter) is not a bad thing. It's the church that is totally messed up.
I look down on no one. I do; however, look down on arguments based on gross generalizions and prejudice. YOU are prejudice. For some reason it's OK for Americans to be prejudiced against Christians, but they're awfully progressive when they're talking about atheists; gays; anti-war activists; etc. You have one experience with religion/faith, yet you base your argument on that alone? Reminds me of the man who was robbed by a black man and now all black men are suspect:)
Sorry, but speak for your own (past) church then. You do not attend mine and no nothing about it. You have no argument. You lose.
Again, I'm not prejudiced against Christians. I have absolutely NO problem with Christians or any religion. I don't share their believes, but there's nothing wrong with that: it's everyone's right to believe what they want to believe. I just BELIEVE that when you organize religion to the point where few/one has power over many, it plants the seed for corruption. History has proven this to be true.
You have just removed free will and free thinking; you have made the assumption that Christians can't think for themselves; can't pick a church they like; can't leave a church they hate; can't disagree with church leaders; can't not put money in the collection plate; etc. THAT is what is wrong with your argument. And when you generalize about Christians, it's no different than generalizing about Jews (they're stingy); Arabs (they're terorists); fat people (they're lazy); etc.
*beliefs.
For every evil that MAN committs under the church umbrella, I'm guessing hundreds of positive actions take place. There is more right with religion than wrong with it. We just hear about the wrongs!
Holy shit, dude. I'm not generalizing about anything except for human nature! POWER CORRUPTS PEOPLE. <br /> <br /> I'm not generalizing about Christians as individuals. Almost my whole family is Christian and they're all very intellegent, wonderful, understanding people who accept me for who I am, regardless of my beliefs.<br /> <br /> YOU are getting insanely defensive. You're also confusing when I say "The Church," I'm not talking about the actual building, or wherever you go to on Sundays. I'm talking about religion as an organization to control a populous. <br /> <br /> Man, you are dense.
Don't worry about him kaotic. He's a troll. <br /> He's just talking out his ass. A teenager who thinks he's clever.
In many faiths there is NO power. The clery does not get wealthy. Some even take vows of powerty. Who sees power when they see a priest OTHER than some slimy televangelists on TV raking in the dough that the gullible gladly hand over? The church does not yeild power like a government does. Funny, but most people who complain (and stereotype) the church vote democratic...wanting higher taxes and bigger govt. And it's easy to call someone dense from behind a computer screen. You would never dare say it so easily to my face.
Lol. Thanks, I feel better now, Loki.<br /> <br /> I hate when I get reeled in like that and I start typing all fast. My poor poor keyboard can't take much more of this. Guh. <br /> <br /> I'm gonna go have a smoke and take the lords name in vain a few times. That always cheers up us atheists.
LOL... This "teenager" beats your skinny arse EVERY TIME when you've generalized and stereotyped and NOT been able to back up your prjeudice against those of faith:) You hate it, which makes my day!
"your skinny arse" must be what he calls his penis. You didn't actually managed to address anything I've said. All you've done is ramble on with ad hominem. You produced no counter arguments at all. <br /> <br /> What am I meant to be backing up exactly?<br /> <br /> That's what the song is about. IMO. <br /> <br /> It's not really a question you can get wrong.<br /> <br /> Why are you so butthurt about jesus?
Curious. We may be able to agree that the majority of people who appear to hate religion (at least organized) are the same who vote for the liberal agenda of higher taxes and even larger govt, which means more govt control. Why is that? Why do people who say they hate corruption and control (ie. the church) vote Democratic. THAT has always stumped me. Care to respond maturely and w/o insults???
LOL.."Skinny arse" was not code for penis. I've seen your arse, but not your penis.
Sexual harrassment. Now, if that's not Christian, I just don't know what is.
Any other allegations you'd like to make?
You would spend your time looking at men's arses..<br /> <br /> But I didn't think the church allowed homosexuality, or has that changed?
Typical response when a person doesn't have either the brain power or common sense and decency to respond honestly. THIS is when a person's IQ means little. I'll take your comment(s) as a win against bigotry. Next time post about blacks and bitches. I'm sure you have some hidden animosity for them as well...
Nope! I love all them black bitches, and they love me! Mmm buddy.
I find all bitches appealing. Why do you keep talking saying "blacks"? You're the one who's a racist. What's the difference between people of any race but their culture? <br /> <br /> I'm black. What difference does it make?
Yes, when you post under hundreds of user names you could very well be black. You've been gay; straight; bi sexual; try-sexual; black; white; Asian; native American; Chinese; Hispanic; male; female; you've been military; former military; retired military; Christian; atheist (your true self); agnostic; Muslim; Jew; college educated; college dropout; high school student; middle school student; housewife; divorced; married; engaged; dumped; circumsized; uncircumsized; should I go on?????
Nope, you got it - I'm an atheist and that's the only defining characteristic I have. Bravo, bravo.
Nope. I'm not an atheist.<br /> But I'm not christian either.<br /> Not a jew not a muslim.
Just an arrogant, prejudiced prick today...well, prejudiced every day:)
Hey Lokicannon... we should totally get together for some pre-marital, same-gender, lubricated, under-aged, prostituted, blood-ritual, anal sex sometime.