Discover the story of the song > Aluminum or Glass: The Memo – negativland

The lyrics are about a commercial being made and questioning whether people from different walks of life would understand certain things. The protagonist questions if someone living in Los Angeles would know what a seagull is or if ants in the grass would understand what a man's Volvo is. They also question if an advertising executive would know where the homeless live or the bubbles in their champagne. The song emphasizes showing contemporary and fresh visuals in the advertisements, while not being too urban, ethnic, or new-wave.