This song is about Beck's frustration with the record industry, which focuses on money and sales rather than creativity and talent.
According to Beck, this was originally a 10-verse song, that he cut down to three when he recorded it. He wrote the song in 1989 when he was still a teenager, and he spent years developing it live, often changing the lyrics. It was finally released on Mellow Gold, his first for Geffen Records. Is Beck a hypocrite for releasing a song decrying the music industry and then signing to a major label? Not at all: As part of his deal, he was allowed to release songs on indie labels as well, which he did.
Beck almost always plays this at live shows, but always improvises the lyrics, so the song is never the same twice.
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