This song is basically about how a person has to fit into the mainstream culture in order to survive in this wonderful world of ours.
The constant refrain of "shut up and take it like a man" is an outside force--or mainstream culture--telling individuals what they need to do in order to "get a life." It's instigation. The rest of the chorus, is used in a similar fashion, as seen through the lyrics, "... you need us to get a life/for your own good/we'll take you by the hand/'cause you need a little more." The verses are in the same vein.
