Jump to content
matrix

The Workers Sing A Song Of Mass Production

Recommended Posts

In the song, there's a line that says...

'they don't like that much,

cause it's called Formosa'

 

Does anyone know what this means? I searched Encarta, and the only thing I can find is that it's related to Taiwan somehow, which obviously fits the song, but I can't find the actually definition.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was made by the Taiwanese in Taiwan

but they don't like that much

because it's called Formosa

 

"Formosa may also refer to a fictional country located on the island of Taiwan, but whose culture was invented by George Psalmanazar as a hoax." (thanks wikipedia)

 

this may piece it together?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Formosa is a placename which comes from Latin formosa (*formous, meaning "beautiful"). Other Iberian Romance versions are hermosa.

 

The following places bear the name:

* The island of Taiwan, also sometimes used for the Republic of China

 

I'd guess that Formosa is the Taiwanese name for Taiwan.

Edited by Gallick
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Formosa is the name that was given to Taiwan when it was discovered, and the name it kept up until it switched from Japanese to Chinese rule after WWII (nobody refers to it as Formosa anymore).

 

I think the key point here is that the meaning of the word Formosa is "beautiful island". However, once it fell under Chinese rule, it largely became the home of many globalizing factories which treat their workers like sh*t and give them crap pay.

 

So basically my interpretation of the song is...

It's a song against mass production (duh). It describes the lifestyle of those that live and work in Taiwan, and how badly they are exploited and taken advantage of.

But he throws in that line "They don't like that much, cause it's called Formosa" kinda to say "this isn't right, we're supposed to be living on a beautiful, free land".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

my guess about "do it while the worlds awake" line was that maybe it meant they work in these production lines in bad conditions, while the world (the important countries US, europe) are in a different time zone (just waking up, or day time, over on the other side of the world)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.