kingfish pies

Yes, lazyoldsun, you're on to something with 'strive for bigger machinery and greater technology'...more specifically, advancements in the sciences (hence "particle separation"). Naturally, one when one hears something hears the word ‘advancements’ paired with something to do with technology, he or she immediately ponders the potential impacts (those being positive ones) they could have on mankind; however, we find that these strives for the betterment of humanity leave the speaker in “Kingfish Pies” largely abused: "with my only one hand." Surely the image of the one-handed worker reminds us of the numerous individuals of the working class during the Industrial Revolution who were maimed during their strenuous careers of manual labor. Sure, it is subtly reminiscent of the of the industrial revolution, but when I hear “particle separation room…made without windows,” the industrial revolution isn’t quite the first thing I think of; rather, I imagine modern-day research labs, researching things they shouldn’t be researching. There’s so much more to this song.

I think you all are right.

This song is definitely about the negative effects of advancements. Reminds me of the saying, "they don't make um' like they used to, back in the good ol' days".

It does a bit of dark humor to it as well.

"and sometimes it needs us to work much faster." I think it's about the working class of the future..

Tim Smith mentioned in an interview that while they were working on "Van Occupanther" he was working in a factory putting batteries in remote controls. He said it was great because he could just tune out and listen to music for 8 hours a day, and then go record with his band at night.

But I kind of wonder if this song is a reflection of his experiences in a factory (I'm sure he'd worked there while they were recording "Bamnan" as well).

The booklet says:

the particle separation room was made without windows they say it's because someone might break in and take whatever they chose and making kingfish pies takes much longer now without any windows

the particle separation room was made without tables and chairs they say it's because they don't fit in here we don't need tables and chairs and making kingfish pies takes much longer now without any tables

the particle separation room was made with lots of big machinery sometimes they need us to work much faster much faster then they turn up the machines and i just can't hold on and once my hand got caught and making kingfish pies takes much longer now with my only one hand

A tragic story told in a very upbeat and lighthearted way. Dark humor at its finest. The underlying message is simply how some technological advancements are unnecessary or inefficient. In other words, why would it take particle separation to make kingfish pies? They have to increase security to prevent theft of their expensive machines. They don't have room for tables or chairs anymore with the machines. "They", probably referencing the monocle men (controlling government referenced throughout the album), need them to work much faster to keep up with the machines, but they are in turn making their workers less efficient as a result. But I wouldn't look so far into this ones, as humor is the obvious intent.

Hilarious.

lol yes, hilarious for sure.

Is this song about losing the simple pleasures of life as a result of our continuous strive for bigger machinery and greater technology?

I thought it was about sweatshops. and making kingfish pies.