Song meaning of How Do You Even Manage To Exist? by The Dead Milkmen

The song "How Do You Even Manage To Exist?" by The Dead Milkmen is a satirical and sarcastic critique of entitled and pretentious individuals who cause inconveniences and make unrealistic demands in everyday situations. The lyrics address different scenarios, primarily focusing on demanding and indecisive customers at a restaurant.

The song emphasizes the absurdity of overthinking simple choices, like choosing between white or wheat bread, and the frustration it causes for others waiting in line. The lyrics suggest that such trivial decisions should not take an excessive amount of time or disrupt the flow of a restaurant.

Moreover, the song mocks people who order off-menu or make unreasonable requests, comparing their behavior to expecting a restaurant to serve rice, ham, or watercress when they are not offered. The lyrics highlight how such demands are not how restaurants typically operate.

The second part of the song shifts to ridicule individuals who try to display their knowledge or experience but end up making themselves look foolish. The references to East Anglia and the Hunan Province serve as examples of this behavior. The lyrics mock those who inaccurately discuss topics they know little about, revealing their ignorance.

The intense and vivid graphic imagery in the lyrics, including choking on food, falling down stairs, and being ripped apart by wild animals, add a darkly humorous tone to the song. These lines express the frustration and annoyance the narrator feels towards the entitled individuals mentioned in the song.

In essence, "How Do You Even Manage To Exist?" serves as a critique of people who cause inconvenience and make unreasonable demands, while also satirizing those who pretend to be knowledgeable about topics they have little understanding of. The song suggests that such behavior is not only aggravating but also detrimental to society's harmony.