Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: grindcore
Song Meaning of “Street Sweeper” by Insect Warfare
The song “Street Sweeper” by Insect Warfare is an aggressive thrash metal anthem, that speaks to the great inequity that persists among those who reside within the big cities of our society. A street sweeper is a metaphor for someone who is employed to do the dirty work that no one else wants to do in a world where such labor is necessary to keep the streets clean and running smoothly. The repetition of the lyrics “Street Sweeper” and the emphasis on the importance of performing such a job is a clear reference to the working class people who keep our cities functioning.
The song often speaks to how necessary this labor is, regardless of how it pays or who recognizes the sweepers for their work, saying “doesn’t matter if I’m getting paid, every day I’m on the frontline of this war on the street”. The song reflects how everyday people of all social statuses are out taking up responsibilities, doing the hard work that comes with the reality of living in an urban society.
The lyrics also act as an indirect reference to the struggles of inner city life, and the toll that it takes on the people themselves, such as poverty, and environmental issues. “Sweep sweeping like a street sweeper, no live for the risk of a life-taker” speaks to the ever-present threat and worry of what life can bring when it is lived in an economically/socially deprived area. Despite such threats, the street sweepers of our cities continue to toil away, struggling on and doing what needs to be done to keep the city alive, all without glory.
For these reasons, “Street Sweeper” is a tribute to those people who work hard to maintain the order and functioning of the cities we live in, and a reminder to us all that every person, regardless of class, plays an important role in the grand scheme of things.