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I am in love with that song.

Alex Chilton is one of those songs that tends to elevate my mood whenever I hear it. It’s an exceptionally well-crafted song for all of its seeming rough edges.

The song is, of course, a tribute to former Box Tops member and power pop pioneer Alex Chilton. Some of the lyrics refer to Paul Westerberg’s meetings with Chilton, and Chilton was at one time going to produce one of their records.

Anyway, it’s just a gorgeous song.

Here’s a link to a fan video

And of course, the lyrics:

If he was from Venus, would he feed us with a spoon?
If he was from Mars, wouldn’t that be cool?
Standing right on campus, would he stamp us in a file?
Hangin’ down in Memphis all the while.

(chorus)

Darts. I cannot necessarily call it a great song, but it is most certainly a fun song. I don’t know if it’s about any one thing in particular, but it’s quite fun. It’s one of those songs the band can have fun with, the audience can have fun with, everyone can

Here is a link to a live performance

And of course, the lyrics:

May I please remain in this space,
For darts screech by my desires,
May I please remain in this space,
For darts screech by my desires,

Arise as did the gods Ninti,
can you tell me? I don’t know.

Five Foot One is one of those truly iconic songs in many ways, a song about the frustrations of being different, moreso than just of being short. The singer complains of working in an amusement park as a freak as the only thing he can do, and wishes life could be “Swedish Magazines” (for a long time, I wasn’t sure if he was saying “Swedish Magazines” or “Sweetest Majesty”), presumably for the perks of being a small person in certain types of pornographic entertainment. However, what really comes out is the sense of frustration at simply lying outside the norms of society.

Oh, and it rocks too. Great song.

Here’s a link to a video

And of course, the lyrics:

Yeah, I like it
Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!

I’m only five foot one (x3)
I’m five foot one

When Our Love Passed Out On The Couch is one of those songs typical of X, a song of crashing despair over casual infidelity. Of course, the song features the trademark atonal harmonies of John Doe and Exene Cervenka, and it just plain rocks as well.

You can listen to the song below:

And of course, the lyrics:

Make out
When you passed out
On the sofa
Kissing any little child that comes along
I’m gonna leave on
The record
Too loud for you to hear me spreading technicolor blood

You’re fateful
I’m hateful
And I ruin any kind of fun you have in mind
Like make out
When you pass out
On the sofa
Kissing any little child who comes along

On the surface, this is simply a song about just why someone would choose to stay with someone that seemingly brings nothing of use to the relationship. That’s all well and good, and it’s a very well written song.

However, what really makes this song for me is that it shifts musical genres several times within the song. It starts out like a Broadway show tune, then settles into basic rock for the chorus, then shifts into a smooth jazz feel for the second verse, back to rock and then finally finishing with a reggae feel. Good stuff.

Oh, I think the video is brilliant too.

And of course, the lyrics:

Won’t make the bed up straight
I always stay out late
I never take you out
Ask what you’re all about
I always smell like smoke
Everythings just a joke
I never look at you
When you come hear me sing
These are not all of the
Many simple things
You can find wrong with me
Once would you tell me please

*What do I do…Right
*What do I do
*wont make the bed up straight
*I always stay out/great
*but what do I do
What do I do that is right

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like Atari Teenage Riot. Pure sonic attack, eardrum bleeding drum machines, a sound that I simply haven’t heard before or since.

Too Dead For Me is one of those songs that typifies the band. Angry, rebellious, and totally disenchanted, there will always be–there should always be–room for bands who politicize things, that ask questions, that reject pat answers.

Oh yeah, it’s a cool sounding song, at least to me. May not be to eveyrone’s tastes, but I dig it.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Come On! Go!
Too dead for me… Too dead for - Too dead for me!
What do you say? (x2)
Too dead for me!
What do you say?
Too dead for - Too dead for -
Too dead - What do you sell your soul for?
Too dead for - Too dead for - 1, 2, 3, 4!
Too dead for me! Too dead for -
It’s just too dead for me!
Too dead for - Too dead for -
What do you sell your damn soul for?
It’s just too dead for me…
We won’t keep quiet! We won’t keep quiet!
We won’t keep quiet! We won’t keep quiet!
Never!
Fast like a blizzard - Cold like stone
Luxury depression crushed your bones
This kinda think is too sad for me… Go! Go ! Go! Go!
You cry later - Dope calculator
Nothing else but an empty prayer!
The safe side didn’t work out? That’s too bad for you…
What do you say?
We won’t calm down! We won’t calm down! We won
Too dead for - Too dead for - (x3)
Too dead for me!
There’s nothing going on for you?
Just look around you!
No! No! No! That’s too dead for me!
Like a toy without belief -
Like a sead for a fascist society
You! You are too dead for me!

Too dead for - Too dead for - (x3)
What do you say?
Too dead for me…
What do you say?

London’s Burning is a cool late 1970’s punk song. A simple tune with a tongue in cheek lyric that actually points out a greater evil–namely the problems of mass unemployment and racial tension in the UK–it’s also a nice little rocking tune. It’s got a great hook, it’s a good sing-a-long song, and it’s easy to relate to in many ways for many people in the years between 18-21.

Here’s a link to a fan video

And of course, the lyrics:

London’s burning! London’s burning!

London’s burning with boredom now…
London’s burning dial 99999

Yeah, I know this is late. Ask for a refund…

Vietnamese Baby is one of those rock songs that just plain–well, rocks. There are some interesting lyrics with sort of a war theme–seemingly about someone who perhaps fathered and abandoned a baby in Vietnam, and David Johansen’s vocals are strong as always. Beyond that, the song just plain rocks–oh, did I say that already?

Here’s a link to a fan video

And of course, the lyrics:

When I’m getting home to you
I gotta show you what I can do
But everything connects and that ain’t nowhere
Well, but maybe they’re just giving you all you’ve ever wanted
And maybe you never ever know what that was
And maybe you’re just finding it out now
With a Vietnamese baby on your mind

When I’m getting home to you
I’ve got to show you what I can do
But everything connects and that ain’t nowhere
No no no baby no nowhere
It just won’t give a no
I’m talking about your overture
Talking bout your overture
Got to shout about your overture
Now that it’s over, now that it’s over
Now that it’s over, what ya gonna do?

This is my favorite Dead Kennedys song…really.

For me, what really makes this work is the tremendous glee with which Jello Biafra sings this one. Whether this is meant to be sarcastic or it’s a little more serious, it’s obvious that he’s really having just so much fun with this one. Also, it does rock, and it’s got that trademark Dead Kennedys snark.

Here’s a link to a fan video

And of course, the lyrics:

We ain’t going to the party
We ain’t going to the game
We ain’t going to the disco
Ain’t gonna cruise down main

We better not get caught
We’ll be dumped in institutions
Where we’ll be drugged and shocked
‘Til we come out born-again Christians…

You know this song. You’ve heard it a bunch, but you probably never knew who it was.

I’ve loved Ca Plane Pour Moi from the first time I’ve heard it. Not just the incongruity of French punk-surf music, but also because it’s just a cool rock and roll song.

Oh, someone posted an English translation at SongMeanings.

Here’s a link to a perfomance on Top Of The Pops

And of course, the lyrics:

(Yam! Bam!)
(Mon chat “Splash”)
Gît sur mon lit
A bouffé sa langue
En buvant (tronc) mon whisky
Quant à moi
Peu dormi, vidé, brimé
J’ai dû dormir dans la gouttière
Où j’ai eu un flash
Hou! Hou! Hou! Hou!
En quatre couleurs

Ça plane pour moi
Ça plane pour moi
Ça plane pour moi moi moi moi moi
Ça plane pour moi