# Stick It To The Company Or I Want To Bite The Hand That Feeds Me
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [March 23, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990 "2016-03-23T23:19:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/1 "2016-03-23T23:19:41Z")
Well, I’m listening to the Kinks’ album “Lola vs. Powerman…” and [Denmark Street](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCzKqM567Ek&list=PL40xdWb-2paf3N_48AI9WOgqKoIEs8I_I&index=4) comes up. I once read that this album (there’s also [Top Of The Pops](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlJ25pfzLTo&list=PLPAL315FJtRxvfx9rWhpy4UNPbBO0yW2U&index=7)) was the strongest full frontal attack on the music business ever released by that very industry before the Sex Pistols’ [EMI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjbie1O1jxc). So I thought about other examples for songs slashing the biz. Here are some more I can think of:
[Elvis Costello And The Attractions - Radio, Radio](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8caBUVjWvA) (where a part of the thread title comes from and which he topped by performing it unannounced on SNL, as heard in the clip)
[Lynyrd Skynyrd - Workin For MCA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUpJlui_Y4I)
[Van Morrison - Saint Dominic’s Preview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1FQgTJE2CM) (he was always disgusted with the business)
[Stiff Little Fingers - Rough Trade](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaiLnld8wuk) (well, they slash an _indie_ label, a very important one to boot, but obviously a very scummy one)
Have you got more?
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/2 "2016-03-24T00:25:36Z")
[Billy Joel - The Entertainer](https://play.google.com/music/preview/T5ntldrcji6kje5ym5jkacgbj4u?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics)
[Sugarloaf – Don’t Call Us](http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/sugarloaf/dont_call_us_well_call_you.html)
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/3 "2016-03-24T00:47:18Z")
It’s a common theme.
Pink Floyd – [Have a Cigar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyGeKjBaiEI)
Neil Young – [This Note’s for You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSSvzCNBvlQ)
Rolling Stones – [The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIfjozLGueU)
Traffic alludes to it in “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boy.” (“The man in the suit has just bought a new car from the profits he’s made on your dreams.”)
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### Author:  [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/4 "2016-03-24T00:50:39Z")
Triumvirat - Mister Ten Percent [Triumvirat - Mister Ten Percent - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VAA7M5nXx8)
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/5 "2016-03-24T01:36:06Z")
Not the label but critics - Chicago’s [Critic’s Choice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ7Ef12EyUI)
Ben Folds’ [“One Down”](http://genius.com/Ben-folds-one-down-lyrics) is his “la la la here’s my contractually obligated song” song.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/6 "2016-03-24T02:18:29Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#):
>
> Well, I’m listening to the Kinks’ album “Lola vs. Powerman…” and [Denmark Street](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCzKqM567Ek&list=PL40xdWb-2paf3N_48AI9WOgqKoIEs8I_I&index=4) comes up. I once read that this album (there’s also [Top Of The Pops](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlJ25pfzLTo&list=PLPAL315FJtRxvfx9rWhpy4UNPbBO0yW2U&index=7)) was the strongest full frontal attack on the music business ever released by that very industry…
Don’t forget “[Moneygoround](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlJ25pfzLTo)” from that same album.
> [@](#):
>
> Do they all deserve
> Money from a song that they’ve never heard?
> They don’t know the tune and they don’t know the words
> But they don’t give a damn
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/7 "2016-03-24T03:00:47Z")
The very first song on Kak’s first album, “[HCO 97651](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnmXD9p_eZI),” is a somewhat cynical look at the record companies and the issues with cutting your first record.
George Harrison’s “[Only a Northern Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg3Q5l6M19I)” was a denunciation of the Beatles’ music publishing company, Northern Songs. Harrison got the short end of the stick in the deal and was bothered that Lennon and McCartney got nearly all the music publishing rights.
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### Author:  [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/8 "2016-03-24T04:49:12Z")
Gram Parsons had a strong anti-industry bent. The criminally underrated Flying Burritos Brothers album [The Gilded Palace of Sin](http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-gilded-palace-of-sin-mw0000193836) had a number of tunes that took potshots at the business and the LA scene in general.
Most notably – and one of my absolute favorites – is [Sin City](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rVzsEXk3kQ). Such a jaded and beautiful tune. [Here’s](http://articles.latimes.com/2007/apr/22/entertainment/ca-socal22) a great write up on the story of behind the song from the L.A. Times.
Short excerpt from that article:
> [@](#):
>
> Hillman and Parsons were fresh from bad romantic breakups and Hillman, a founder of the Byrds, was still deeply embittered by the implosion of that band and the machinations of its manager, the late Larry Spector. “Spector was a thief, it was as simple as that. And his condo, he lived on the 31st floor behind this awful, garish gold door.”
>
> The song was also a cautionary dirge, Hillman said, to “people like Gene Clark from the Byrds, who came here from Kansas with all that talent and all bright-eyed and talented and idealistic, and the whole thing just swallowed him up.”
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### Author:  [@IT\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IT_Guy)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/9 "2016-03-24T09:15:20Z")
John Fogarty, ‘[Zanz Kant Danz](https://youtu.be/wjpAYfCFmJ4)’ and ‘[Mr. Greed](https://youtu.be/7HN_rewybfU)’ on the ‘Centerfield’ album.
Directed at Fantasy Records owner Saul Zaentz; Zaentz sued and Fogarty was forced to change the song name to ‘Vanz Kant Danz’.
The Byrds ‘[So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star](https://youtu.be/saAoTPXcPSg)’ has elements of this:
“Then it’s time to go downtown, where the agent man won’t let you down.
Sell your soul to the company, who are waiting there to sell plastic prayer.”
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### Author:  [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/10 "2016-03-24T11:31:17Z")
**Two or Three Spectres** by Peter Hammill
[words](http://sofasound.com/phcds/nadlyrics.htm#11)
[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-oLFhhzouA)
“Sod the music,” said the man in the suit,
"I understand profit and without that, it’s no use.
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### Author:  [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/11 "2016-03-24T11:38:58Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> George Harrison’s “[Only a Northern Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg3Q5l6M19I)” was a denunciation of the Beatles’ music publishing company, Northern Songs. Harrison got the short end of the stick in the deal and was bothered that Lennon and McCartney got nearly all the music publishing rights.
First that came to mind. George’s **Taxman** might also apply: here’s my advice for those who die (Taxman!) declare the pennies on your eyes (Taxman!!).
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### Author:  [@TwoTrouts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoTrouts)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/12 "2016-03-24T11:44:13Z")
One of my faves: Graham Parker’s “[Mercury Poisoning](http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=18569)”
The lyrics attack the label (Mercury Records) that had him bound in a stifling contract.
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### Author:  [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/13 "2016-03-24T13:02:19Z")
> [@picker](#):
>
> Gram Parsons had a strong anti-industry bent. The criminally underrated Flying Burritos Brothers album [The Gilded Palace of Sin](http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-gilded-palace-of-sin-mw0000193836) had a number of tunes that took potshots at the business and the LA scene in general.
>
> Most notably – and one of my absolute favorites – is [Sin City](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rVzsEXk3kQ). Such a jaded and beautiful tune. [Here’s](http://articles.latimes.com/2007/apr/22/entertainment/ca-socal22) a great write up on the story of behind the song from the L.A. Times.
>
> Short excerpt from that article:
I’m a great fan of Gram Parsons and love _Sin City_, but have always thought that it was about L.A. in general and not specially an attack on the business. Thanks for the article, very interesting, clears up the meaning of some of the lines I couldn’t quite grasp till now.
I got one more, a favorite of mine: Nick Lowe - [I Love My Label](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn4AOQeiR0w)
---
### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/14 "2016-03-24T13:51:45Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> George Harrison’s
“[Sue Me, Sue You Blues](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JIexhpMNs)” isn’t exactly about the music industry _per se_, but it might fit.
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/15 "2016-03-24T15:04:37Z")
Don’t forget “Sell Out” by Reel Big Fish and “Rock Superstar” by Cypress Hill.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/16 "2016-03-24T18:05:33Z")
_Don’t Download This Song_
by Weird Al.
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### Author:  [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/17 "2016-03-25T17:54:12Z")
The Eagles’ Hotel California
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### Author:  [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-it-to-the-company-or-i-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me/749990/18 "2016-03-25T18:24:33Z")
> [@OffByOne](#):
>
> The Eagles’ Hotel California
Was it? Is it an encoded critique of the music biz, or is it just a dig on the lifestyle of its protagonists on the L.A. music scene? Maybe the question is moot because the the difference is so fuzzy.