Indiscriminate I'd rather be elite
I'll choose my own shit scene
Unsubstantiated rumors flown are true
I'm here for me not you

Non conglomerate I mean what I say
I'm not your fucking scape
Goat apparently I've alienated some
It seems my job's half done

You'll never understand it
Try to buy and brand it
I win, you lose, cause it's my job
To keep punk rock elite

This music ain't your fuckin' industry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to NOFX's song "It's My Job To Keep Punk Rock Elite" reflect the punk rock ideology of individualism and resistance against conformity. The singer of the song refuses to conform to the mainstream and the norms established by other punk rockers. They choose their own "shit scene" and reject rumors and labels that are thoughtlessly tossed around.

The singer prides themselves on being non-conglomerate and speaking their truth without regard for the opinions of others. They proudly identify as a goat (an outcast, a symbol of individuality and rebellion) and understand that their refusal to conform has led to alienation from some members of the punk rock community. They see their job as maintaining the exclusivity and independence of punk rock, guarding it against commercialization and homogenization.

The lines "You'll never understand it / Try to buy and brand it / I win, you lose, 'cause it's my job / To keep punk rock elite" underscore the idea that punk rock is a movement that cannot be sold or bought, but rather an attitude, a lifestyle, and a philosophy that can only be understood by those who have lived it. In essence, the singer is defending the authenticity and purity of punk rock as a social movement.

Line by Line Meaning

Indiscriminate I'd rather be elite
I don't care about anyone else's opinion, I just want to be considered superior.

I'll choose my own shit scene
I will pick and choose which punk bands and venues are acceptable, regardless of others' preferences.

Unsubstantiated rumors flown are true
The rumors about my bad behavior are based in reality, even if they are not always verifiable.

I'm here for me not you
My presence in punk rock is not for the benefit of others, but for myself only.

Non conglomerate I mean what I say
I am not part of the mainstream music industry, and I am always sincere in my lyrics and actions.

I'm not your fucking scape
I will not be held responsible for the shortcomings or disappointments of punk rock as a genre.

Goat apparently I've alienated some
I am accused of being the 'greatest of all time' in punk rock, but some people have been driven away by my behavior.

It seems my job's half done
My goal of maintaining punk rock as an exclusive, elite scene has not yet been fully achieved.

You'll never understand it
People outside of the punk rock community will never comprehend the culture or mindset of this scene.

Try to buy and brand it
Those who attempt to commercialize or market punk rock will ultimately fail.

I win, you lose, cause it's my job
I am the authority on punk rock and I have the power to dictate what is and is not 'elite,' and therefore worthy of recognition.

To keep punk rock elite
My mission is to maintain punk rock music and culture as an exclusive, underground scene with its own rules and standards.

Austin

on Doornails

16w

These two shots are for Derrick
The singer is dedicating these two shots to Derrick.

For rifle, not the handgun
“Rifle” is a song from Lagwagon, a band Derrick played drums for. “the handgun” was likely what he used to commit suicide, hence why the singer is dedicating the two shots to rifle, not the handgun

For coffee and cigarettes
The singer is dedicating these shots to the act of enjoying coffee and cigarettes.

Give it back
It's unclear what the singer wants Derrick to give back.

You know, suicide isn't painless
The singer is pointing out that suicide isn't painless, despite what the famous song suggests.

When you leave everyone in pain
Suicide can cause a lot of pain for the people left behind.

Two shots will never go down the same
Each shot is a unique experience and can never be replicated exactly.

This beating's for Jimmy
The singer is dedicating this beating to Jimmy.

For ultimate devotion
The beating is dedicated to the idea of ultimate devotion.

For your mind of my own
It's unclear what this line means.

Bring out your dead
This line may be a reference to the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, where a man goes around collecting dead bodies while saying 'bring out your dead'.

Sedated, flagellated
The singer is describing someone who is sedated and flagellated.

You were the one most loved and hated
The person being described was both loved and hated by people.

Thanks for all that carpet and your songs
The singer is thanking someone for their carpet and their songs.

Oh, this patron's for Jason
The singer is dedicating this patron to Jason.

And this lager's for Andy
The singer is dedicating this lager to Andy.

And these doses are for bomber
The singer is dedicating these doses to someone referred to as 'bomber'.

And this fix is for Bradley
The singer is dedicating this fix to Bradley.

This ritalin's for Lumpy
The singer is dedicating this ritalin to someone referred to as 'Lumpy'.

And this speedball's for friday
The singer is dedicating this speedball to someone on Friday.

This nitrous hit is for Lynn and best friend Dobbs
The singer is dedicating this nitrous hit to Lynn and her best friend Dobbs.

This bowl is for my mom
The singer is dedicating this bowl to their mom.

For drinking more than I did
The dedication is for the singer's mom who drank more than they did.

For posting bail for me in New York
The singer's mom posted bail for them in New York.

And in Hollywood that first time
It's unclear what this line means.

And that joint we smoked was the worst time
The singer is reflecting on a time when they smoked a joint and it ended up being a bad experience.

'Cause doing drugs with parents is just wrong
The singer thinks it's wrong to do drugs with parents.

This song is for winning losers
The singer is dedicating this song to people who may have lost some battles, but have won in the end.

It's for lucky substance abusers
The song is dedicated to people who have been lucky enough to be substance abusers and still have their lives together.

The ones who left their black marks on us all
The singer is acknowledging people who have made an impact on our lives, whether good or bad