4 Classic Rock Songs for the 4 Food Groups

When many of us were growing up, we heard about the four food groups all day. When the school nurse would come to class to tell us about proper eating, it was all about the four food groups. When television commercials came on to tout the value of dairy or beef, it was all about the four food groups. Today, the four food groups aren’t as en vogue but that won’t stop us from honoring them with some classic rock songs!

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Here below, we wanted to do just that. These are four songs that honor the four food groups. One for each group, of course. Salivating? We are, too!

[RELATED: No Skips: 4 Classic Rock Albums You’ll Never Have to Fast-Forward]

“Cheeseburger in Paradise” by Jimmy Buffett from Son of a Son of a Sailor (1978)

This song by the king of the beach bums is about being deprived of your favorite things. But then—finally—you’re able to sink your teeth into one glorious, heaping, tall, juicy burger and all is again well in the world. There is always a new diet in the world—whether it’s skipping carbs, only eating like a caveman, whatever. And on this track, Buffett tries to eat health food to lose weight. But even more than a trimmer waistline, all he wants is a big hunk o’ meat. Perfect for the meat food group, wouldn’t you say? He sings,

But at night I’d have these wonderful dreams
Some kind of sensuous treat
Not zucchini, fettuccini, or bulgur wheat
But a big warm bun and a huge hunk of meat

Cheeseburger in paradise
Heaven on earth with an onion slice
Not too particular, not too precise
I’m just a cheeseburger in paradise

“Milk It” by Nirvana from In Utero (1993)

A buzzy song that is as growling as it is dark, this song from Nirvana’s final studio album, the 1993 offering In Utero, sees frontman Kurt Cobain singing about parasitic behavior. Of course, with all his lyrics there are double entendres and poetry. And when he sings about “milk” here, he is not necessarily singing about that which comes from a cow. Nevertheless, the song’s title fits the theme here and perhaps it will make the listener think about where their favorite white liquid for their cereal comes from. On the track, Cobain sings,

I own my own pet virus
I get to pet and name her
Her milk is my shit
My shit is her milk

Test meat
Doll steak

Look on the bright side, suicide
Lost eyesight, I’m on your side
Angel left wing, right wing, broken wing
Lack of iron, I’m not sleeping

Doll steak
Test meat

“Bread & Butter” by The Newbeats from Bread & Butter (1964)

One of the catchiest songs of the 1960s and one you’ve likely heard many times but maybe never knew who sung it or where it came from. So, here you go! The Shreveport, Louisiana-born ’60s pop band The Newbeats sing about bread and toast, butter and jam on this rudimentary rock track. It was also an early hit for the band, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it was the one that got them a record contract. On the track the group sings in unison,

Ah, he likes bread and butter
Ah, he likes toast and jam
And that’s what his baby feeds him
Ah, he’s her loving man

“Peaches” by The Presidents of the United States of America from The Presidents of the United States of America (1995)

When it comes to fruit, there are a fair amount of classic rock songs that touch on the subject, from “Strawberry Fields” by The Beatles to “Tangerine” by Led Zeppelin. But this song by the Seattle-born rockers The Presidents of the United States of America is perhaps the juiciest and most literal fruit-centric offering. You can feel the peach juice running down the chin of lead singer Chris Ballew’s mouth. You can almost see his teeth sinking into the flesh of the fruit. If there was any song that would get you to have the fruit food group, this is it. He sings,

Movin’ to the country, I’m gonna eat a lot of peaches
I’m movin’ to the country, I’m gonna eat me a lot of peaches
I’m movin’ to the country, I’m gonna eat a lot of peaches
Movin’ to the country, I’m gonna eat a lot of peaches

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