Pumpin' 4 the Man
"Pumpin' 4 the Man" is a song by Ween from the 1992 album Pure Guava.
Song Details[edit | edit source]
Recording and Composition[edit | edit source]
"Pumpin' 4 the Man" is a cowpunk song. Due to tape speed manipulation, the studio version is in the key of C# major, while live performances transpose it down to A major.
The song was written by Dean Ween about his experience working at a Mobil gas station in New Hope.[1]
Live Performances[edit | edit source]
"Pumpin' 4 the Man" is not known to have been played live in the DAT-deck era. It was introduced with the live band in 1994 during the Chocolate and Cheese tour, and has remained a common live Ween song ever since. In 1996 it was played with the Shit Creek Boys on the country tour, a recording of which (from 10/23/1996) was officially released on the album Live in Toronto Canada.[2]
In addition, "Pumpin' 4 the Man" has been played live individually by Gene Ween (solo acoustic) and Dean Ween (with the Dean Ween Group).[3]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
The Pure Guava lyric sheet contains official lyrics in Dean Ween's handwriting:
It's a nine mile walk from the office to the pumps
Sometimes you think you're gonna drop
In the end you're filthy, dirty, horny, and pissed off
And before you can leave u gotta sweep the fuckin' shop
It's a real real bitch to be workin' 4 the man
But shit, I do it well, so what the fuck
I could prob'ly wash dishes at some other fuckin' dump
But it's all the same to me, bustin' ass 2 make a buck
So read 'em up and stick 'em, pump that fucker good
Some woman down on Main St. needs a jump
Get your fingers outta your ass, and pump some faggot's gas
And think about how bad New Hope sucks
It's a piss-poor life when the ladies fire u up
And then u check their oil and know you're fucked
'Cuz no one wants a loser who works for 5 an hour
Smells like gas, looks like shit, works in the rain, rude as hell
I can fix a tire like Hurricane Melinda
I know that I'm the best for what it's worth
So if I choose to help u, don't look like u expect it
'Cause it's a gift that God gave me at birth[4]
Song Themes[edit | edit source]
Homosexuality, Profanity/Swearing, Sex, Sung by Dean Ween, Sung by Gene Ween, Tape Speed Manipulation
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Dean Ween Interview | Music Is My Life Podcast Episode 18 | Berklee Online Time=26:14
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=all%20bands&song_id=158
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=all%20bands&song_id=158
- ↑ From the official Pure Guava lyric sheet; lightly edited for clarity.