Hamsterman

This is inspired by a song called "Hamsterman" by Those Darn Accordions. The song has a macabre sort of tone to it, with lots of minor keys and the lyrics are as I recollect them (if they're wrong when I check them, I'll change them)...

I spend my days in a wire cage,
Spinnin' round in a bloody rage.
Stickin' my head in a bowl to eat,
Yesterday's paper at my feet.

Runnin' on a treadmill, going nowhere,
People passing by stopping only to stare.

Hamsterman, Hamsterman,
Everybody laughs at the Hamsterman.
Hamster-aye, jumpy little guy,
I keep on spinning but I don't know why.

Hey, give me a dollar and I'll pretend
That I am your furry little friend.
Scratch my head and tug my ears.
I'll make noises no one hears.

Listen to my story; I must tell it.
Help yourself to a little green pellet.

Hamsterman, that I am,
Everybody laugh at the Hamsterman
Hamster-aye, jumpy little guy,
I keep on spinning but I don't know why.

The hamster dreams...(instrumental break)

One of these days I'll break away,
With a nip of a finger and a mighty squeal.
I'll be making tiny little tracks,
Far from the kiddies and the spinning wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeel...

Hamsterman! Hamster damn!
I want to go back to my hamster clan.
Hamster-aye, jumpy little guy,
I keep on spinning but I don't know why.

Hamsterman! That I am!
Everybody laugh at the Hamsterman!
Hamster-aye, jumpy little guy,
I keep on spinning but I don't know why...

The way in which the song is sung makes it sound like Hamsterman is in constant torment. My interpretation is of hamster-like person, who was promised something by a deceitful carnival master. Hamsterman became a side-show freak, but realized he had been sold out by the carnival master. Now he sits in his oversized wire cage, being pointed at and laughed at. He is now a sad, pitiful creature. I came up with this sudden burst of creativity while listening that manifested itself into a drawing of Hamsterman. When I listen to the song and look at the drawing, the song becomes a lot more powerful, to the point that it makes me teary (yeah, I'm sensitive). It's a great song. I suggest you listen to it and then look at the drawing again. "Hamsterman" by Those Darn Accordions.