
I have a recording of a Fugazi show where, before playing this song, Guy mentions that prison construction is the second largest growth industry in the United States.
To me this song is about the attitude that the American prison system has. Prisons are used to simply get criminals off the streets, in the way trash is dumped into a landfill, as opposed to rehabilitating the criminals to make them productive members of society.
yep, just about how prison construction is such a booming industry. "...once you build a prison, you have to find people to put in it." - Guy
yep, just about how prison construction is such a booming industry. "...once you build a prison, you have to find people to put in it." - Guy

I got this album when it was released when I was a rookie bike messenger in Boston. I think it is about being a courier-- "blood on the pedals, blood on the grips", "machine works best when the machine's not shy", as well as descriptions of a rider's bodily position. Also, the references about business, trash and cash; the fact that trash (financial or legal documents) is transformed from some imprimatur "from above", higher ups literally in buildings, or figuratively social/corporate. And the spoken refrain that's not included in the above lyrics, "seal it with a kiss," is a reference to children, particularly little girls, writing S.W.A.K. on the back of letters.