This pic is from a Dead Kennedys show in 1984. It was in the parking lot of Masconi Center and was happening while the democratic national convention was going on. I was there as security and then started stage diving. Can you find me in the photo?
This song represents one view toward Christianity. There are legitimate arguments concerning the way religion has had negative effects on the country. Arguably this song is an answer to something far more sinister than the use of 'dirty words' in the lyrics...
Do you know all the names in the choruses?
"Moral Majority"
You call yourself the Moral Majority
We call ourselves the people in the real world
Trying to rub us out, but we're going to survive
God must be dead if you're alive
You say, 'God loves you. Come and buy the Good News'
Then you buy the president and swimming pools
If Jesus don't save 'til we're lining your pockets
God must be dead if you're alive
Circus-tent con-men and Southern belle bunnies
Milk your emotions then they steal your money
It's the new dark ages with the fascists toting bibles
Cheap nostalgia for the Salem Witch Trials
Stodgy ayatollahs in their dobble-knit ties
Burn lots of books so they can feed you their lies
Masturbating with a flag and a bible
God must be dead if you're alive
Blow it out your ass, Jerry Falwell
Blow it out your ass, Jesse Helms
Blow it out your ass, Ronald Reagan
What's wrong with a mind of my own?
You don't want abortions, you want battered children
You want to ban the pill as if that solves the problem
Now you wanna force us to pray in school
God must be dead if you're such a fool
You're planning for a war with or without Iran
Building a police state with the Ku Klux Klan
Pissed at your neighbour? Don't bother to nag
Pick up the phone and turn in a fag
Blow it out your ass, Terry Dolan
Blow it out your ass, Phyllis Schlafly
Ram it up your cunt, Anita
Cos God must be dead
If you're alive
God must be dead
If you're alive
-I always like the slow numbers...
I'm sure everyone there was comforted by your security presence!
ReplyDeleteThe song is crude but effective. I grew up in St. Louis in the age of Schlafly (I hope it's not her family that produces the microbrew). Her existence does indeed pose a theological challenge.
This is the second "song" that you have posted. I'm not real sure what your point behind them is. It is obvious that you do not believe in God, but you seem to have anger towards someone who does. Not everyone who believes in some Higher Being is necessarily a hypocrite, just as someone who has long hair, smokes pot, and has no self discipline, is not to be marked as a Devil worshiper....
ReplyDeleteNo anger on this side, just curious as to what your getting at.
This was a lively and visceral expression in an all too quiet era. Some popular and, more often, infamous artists offered alternatives to the status quo. Fun stuff to me... Thump your bibles all you want and I don't care. That's your entertainment. Enjoy it as I will mine.
ReplyDeleteBTW - Jello Biafra, singer of the Dead Kennedys, spoke at MTSU at least once. He did a speaking engagement.
The security thing was a joke of sorts. Met a wonderful woman that day! The point? Have fun and don't be such a prude. Enjoy life! Go somewhere and do something. Some parts of my philosophy...