Lunchbox (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Lunchbox


Artist = Marilyn Manson
from Album = Portrait of an American Family
B-side = "Down in the Park"
Released = February 6, 1995
Format = CD single / Digital Download
Recorded = 1993-1994
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 30:45
Label = Nothing / Interscope
Producer =
Last single = "Get Your Gunn"
(1994)
This single = "Lunchbox"
(1995)
Next single = "Dope Hat"
(1995)

"Lunchbox" is the second single from Marilyn Manson's debut album, "Portrait of an American Family".

"Lunchbox" samples elements from the film "Wild at Heart", and from the song "Fire" by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.

Inspired by a piece of legislation dating back to 1972, which makes it illegal to have metal lunchboxes in schools, the song tells the story of a school-age child who is bullied. The boy uses his own lunchbox as a weapon in retaliation, waiting for the day he can "grow up to be a big rock & roll star" who is never intimidated by others. Manson has stated that the song was inspired by the story of one of his heroes, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue.

"Down in the Park" is a cover of 1979 Gary Numan/Tubeway Army track. The "Highschool Drop-outs" version is an edit of the album version which removes the profanity.

A music video was also made for the song, directed by Richard Kern. This music video is one of three that displays Manson without makeup. It features the band playing in a skating rink, intertwined with footage of a boy being picked on by other kids until he snaps and becomes a rebel, cutting his hair and dreaming of being a rock star. The boy takes his lunchbox to the skating rink in the end of the video and gives it to Manson, who proceeds to light it on fire. This scene may symbolize Manson as the protagonist, the child who became the rock star, and no one will pick on him anymore, as said in the lyrics.

Formats and track listings

;U.S. CD single
#"Lunchbox" - 4:34
#"Next Motherfucker" (Remix) - 4:48
#"Down in the Park" - 5:01
#"Brown Bag" (Remix) - 6:19
#"Metal" (Remix) - 5:25
#"Lunchbox" (Highschool Drop-outs) - 4:35

;U.S. promotional CD single
#"Lunchbox" (High School Dropouts) - 4:39
#"Lunchbox" - 4:34
#"Down in the Park" - 5:01

Marilyn Manson discography. As reported by [http://www.mansonusa.com/discography/?by=sl&view=lb The Heirophant] . Last accessed August 29 2007.]

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-qG6JyJJHs Watch "Lunchbox": Unclean Version on Youtube]

References