The song title / lyric "Instant Mash" is a joke / reference to the early sixties "Dance Crazy" era dance called the "Mashed Potato" from 1962.
As for the song itself, it's pretty obvious: society programs you to act in certain very formulaic ways, just like the robots from verse three. Moreover, what we do for "relaxation" (the dancing in verse 2) is no different than what we do for work (the process of stacking cans at the grocer's in verse 1). This sounds pretty dark, but I think the song is more intended to be kind of funny - as in if you stop and step back and look at your every day existence, it's kinda silly!
Regardless, Joe Jackson is a cool cat and has transcended all of this ("I don't work in supermarkets anymore").
The song title / lyric "Instant Mash" is a joke / reference to the early sixties "Dance Crazy" era dance called the "Mashed Potato" from 1962.
As for the song itself, it's pretty obvious: society programs you to act in certain very formulaic ways, just like the robots from verse three. Moreover, what we do for "relaxation" (the dancing in verse 2) is no different than what we do for work (the process of stacking cans at the grocer's in verse 1). This sounds pretty dark, but I think the song is more intended to be kind of funny - as in if you stop and step back and look at your every day existence, it's kinda silly!
Regardless, Joe Jackson is a cool cat and has transcended all of this ("I don't work in supermarkets anymore").