The Hand That Feeds | The Crane Wives Lyrics, Meaning & Videos

May 2024 · 6 minute read

The Hand That Feeds
The Crane Wives Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴I′ve seen good men spoiled
Chained to their jobs like hounds
They work and sleep and work again
In the darkest nights they howl
Their cries are a warning
To everyone following
No man should stand to work all of his days
And have nothing at the end of them I got no money but the change
That jingles in my pockets
Reminding me how little I have
And as for times I am
Powerless to stop it
Keeps rambling on like a man, wandering man
My papa was a howling man
Traded in his youth
Sold his dreams and all of his days
For the great American ruse
And my dear papa gave me
Lessons in regret
He said all that he'd done would be for nothing
If I followed in his steps
I got no money but the change
That jingles in my pockets
Reminding me how little I have
And as for times I am
Powerless to stop it
Keeps rambling on like a man, wandering man
My papa taught me how to howl
How to bear my teeth and growl
He taught me that the hand that feeds
Deserves to be bitten when it beats
He taught me how to break my chains
And that money ain′t worth a thing
And that no man should get
More of my time than me
I may never be a rich man
But I can make sure I am free
I may never be a rich man
The rich man will never have me, never have me
I may never be a rich man
But I can make sure I am free
I may never be a rich man
The rich man will never have me, never have me
I got no money but the change
That jangles in my pockets
Reminding me how little I have

But as for time, as for time
Is mine, is mine


Overall Meaning

The Crane Wives' song "The Hand That Feeds" is a poignant commentary on the struggles of the working-class man, and the importance of personal freedom and self-determination. The singer has seen "good men spoiled" by the demands of their jobs, forced to work tirelessly in exchange for nothing but a paycheck, chained to the cycle of work and sleep. These men howl in the night, warning others not to fall into the same trap, and the singer recognizes the danger of following in their footsteps.


The song is heavily influenced by the singer's relationship with their father, who was also a victim of the system. The father "traded in his youth" and "sold his dreams" in exchange for the empty promises of the American Dream. The singer has learned from their father's regrets, and is determined not to make the same mistakes. The father also taught the singer to "howl", to stand up for oneself and fight against those who would hold them down. The singer has learned that true freedom is not found in wealth or material possessions, but in the ability to control one's own time and destiny.


Overall, "The Hand That Feeds" is a powerful call to action for anyone who feels trapped in their job, society, or expectations. It encourages listeners to break their chains, to bite the hand that feeds them, and to pursue personal freedom and fulfillment above all else.


Line by Line Meaning

I’ve seen good men spoiled
The singer has witnessed respectable men become corrupted by their jobs.


Chained to their jobs like hounds
These men are bound to their responsibilities like animals on a leash.


They work and sleep and work again
Their lives are consumed by their labor, leaving little time for rest or enjoyment.


In the darkest nights they howl
These men suffer and express their agony in the depths of the night.


Their cries are a warning
Their misery serves as an admonition to those who might follow in their footsteps.


To everyone following
Anyone who might choose to prioritize work over everything else is at risk of meeting the same fate.


No man should stand to work all of his days
It is not natural or healthy for a person to dedicate their entire life to labor.


And have nothing at the end of them
One should be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor and have something tangible to show for their efforts.


I got no money but the change that jingles in my pockets
The artist has very little money to their name, just a few coins that they carry around.


Reminding me how little I have
Even this small amount is a reminder of the artist's financial struggles.


And as for times I am powerless to stop it
Sometimes there is nothing the singer can do to change their economic circumstances.


Keeps rambling on like a man, wandering man
Despite the artist's lack of control, time continues to move forward at its own pace.


My papa was a howling man
The singer's father, like the men described earlier, also suffered greatly due to his job.


Traded in his youth
In order to support his family, the singer's father gave up his dreams and ambitions.


Sold his dreams and all of his days
He sacrificed his entire life for the sake of his job.


For the great American ruse
The idea that hard work will inevitably lead to financial success, which often turns out to be false.


And my dear papa gave me lessons in regret
The artist's father taught them about the toll that excessive labor can take on a person.


He said all that he’d done would be for nothing if I followed in his steps
The singer's father did not want them to sacrifice their life and happiness for the sake of a job.


My papa taught me how to howl
The singer's father showed them how to express their pain and suffering through vocalizations.


How to bear my teeth and growl
He taught them to stand up for themselves and be assertive when necessary.


He taught me that the hand that feeds deserves to be bitten when it beats
One should not allow themselves to be abused by an employer or anyone else, even if they are dependent on them for sustenance.


He taught me how to break my chains
The artist's father showed them how to break free of a life dedicated solely to work.


And that money ain’t worth a thing
The singer's father believed that money was not worth sacrificing one's life or happiness for.


And that no man should get more of my time than me
The artist should prioritize themselves and their own needs over anyone else's, including an employer's.


I may never be a rich man
The singer recognizes that they may not become wealthy in their lifetime.


But I can make sure I am free
However, the singer values their independence and freedom more than wealth.


The rich man will never have me, never have me
The singer refuses to become subservient to someone else, even if they are wealthy and powerful.


But as for time, as for time is mine, is mine
The artist values their time and intends to use it for their own purposes, rather than dedicating it all to work.


Writer(s): Katherine Rose Pillsbuy

Contributed by Sadie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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