Rawhide

I've been told the DK's covering the song was meant as a insult to the meat industry.

how did this song piss off the Meat industry?

It would be interesting to know why the DK chosed that one for the EP.

There's some wrong lyrics up there. That one verse is supposed to go like this:

Through rain, wind and weather Hell-bent for leather Wishin' my girl was at my side

Unlike Viva Las Vegas on Fresh Fruit, they don't alter any lyrics for this from its original. It's weird but put into a political context to match the themes of the EP, it's a mocking song that does make sense. And it's a fun way to go out on a record.

Wow, it's interesting that they didn't alter any lyrics. I assumed that the lines "Don't try to understand them" through "Though they're disapprovin'" were added in to make a point. That only cements the disturbing nature of the song- I can see why they chose to perform it!

I think the DKs are commenting on the "leadership" in our country- instead of real leaders, we get people who want to drive the public like cattle. Comparing groups of people to sheep is nothing new, but I think using cattle is a more interesting metaphor because cowboys have a much different image than shepherds, who are usually associated with protection and gentleness.

Instead of working on the behalf of the people they should be leading, the 'cowboys' think their job is to push people towards their own goals, roping in anyone who goes against the flow or shows signs of disobedience. People are branded as products of America, and this brand is narrowly defined by the cowboys who create it. They don't try to understand who they are leading and what interests are important to them; if those goals don't match up with their own, then they are to be disregarded or put down. With this kind of control, eventually everyone kneels to them, even if deep down they disagree or harbor discontentment.

The mythical western cowboy is a tough as nails, "brave," shoot first ask questions later kind of "leader." He is glorified in American culture- and his machismo and power are valued, desired, and ultimately emulated by power-holders who think that they can apply the same rough cowboy principles to everything.

And of course, the cowboys expect great rewards at the end of the drive- good food, women, and especially money. The cattle can expect to be slaughtered. Figuratively, people end up repressed and leading lives of quiet desperation, or literally if the wanna-be cowboy decides to lead the country to war.

I think, as usual, the DKs are dead right: a lot of leaders probably really do feel this way. I bet they view people as statistics, or temporary commodities, instead of human beings, just as cowboys see cows as objects that they can make money off of for their meat and hides, instead of living, breathing creatures. And they didn't even have to change any of the words to the fucking song, amazing.

What this song really is about: Cowboys . Jello Biafra mocks it because he hates everything American, including himself.