Be Your Own Pet (often abbreviated to BYOP) is a four-piece garage rock gro… Read Full Bio ↴Be Your Own Pet (often abbreviated to BYOP) is a four-piece garage rock group from Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

The teenage band consisted of lead singer Jemina Pearl Abegg, the daughter of Christian artist/photographer Jimmy Abegg; guitarist Jonas Stein, the son of manager Burt Stein; John Eatherly (drums); and Nathan Vasquez (bass), the son of acclaimed latin jazz guitarist Rafael Vasquez. Founding member Jamin Orall quit the band to finish college and tour with his other band, Jeff, just before Be Your Own Pet's 2006 American tour. Sixteen-year-old John Eatherly, an old friend of the band, took over behind the kit.

BYOP formed in 2003 in the basement of the Orrall home, which doubles as a home studio/rehearsal space for indie label Infinity Cat Recordings.

Their sound is basic, primal garage rock and are often compared to popular New York group Yeah Yeah Yeahs, partially for their style, featuring heavy rock guitars with abrasive vocals and erratic, angular rhythms, but more due to comparisons between Abegg and Yeah Yeah Yeahs front woman Karen O, both of whom are women with a dynamic, non-traditional stage presence.

Be Your Own Pet generated a massive amount of press following the release of their debut single "Damn Damn Leash" on Infinity Cat. The single was produced by Kings of Leon producer Angelo and Infinity Cat's Robert Ellis Orrall, and mixed by Modest Mouse mix engineer Jaquire King. The press included an interview in Rolling Stone, appearances at the Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds festivals, as well as successful appearances at SXSW and slots supporting bands such as The Kills. The band also appeared on the Queen tribute album, Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen, covering the classic "Bicycle Race". The band released their eponymous album in the UK in March 2006, and in the US in June 2006.

On August 1, 2008, after cancelling a stint on Warped Tour and a tour with The Black Keys, the band announced on their website that after finishing a small tour of England, they would be breaking up. No reason was given for the decision.

In April 2022, Be Your Own Pet reformed for two shows which led to the August 2023 release of the album Mommy.

bunk trunk skunk
Be Your Own Pet Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Repeat: x2]
I am an independent mother fucker
And I'm here to take your money
I'm waking round and I'm here
To steal away your virginity

[Repeat: x2]
Give me everything I'll break up your limbs and I'll

Put you in a truck and take you around the world
Think you're really cool 'cause of my lies
You all love yourself may say you're better than me

[Repeat: x2]
I am an independent mother fucker
And I'm here to take your money
I'm waking round and I'm here
To steal away your virginity

[Repeat: x2]
Give me everything I'll break up your limbs and I'll
Put you in a truck and take you around the world

Think you're really cool 'cause of my lies
You all love yourselves and you better love me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Be Your Own Pet's song "Bunk Trunk Skunk" are filled with aggression and rebellion. The singer introduces themselves as an "independent mother fucker" and declares their intention of "taking your money" and "stealing away your virginity" as they walk around. The lyrics are repeated twice in each verse to emphasize their bold and uncompromising nature. The chorus similarly repeats the same lines twice for added force.

The verses seem to be directed at those who claim to be better than the singer, possibly those who have wronged them in some way or who represent authority to them. The singer challenges their assumed superiority by claiming they are just relying on lies to boost their own self-esteem. Instead, the singer presents themselves as the true alternative, offering to take everything from those who claim to have everything and asserting themselves as the real force to be reckoned with.

The lyrics overall suggest a rejection of norms and conformity, and a desire for self-determination and power. By positioning themselves as an "independent mother fucker," the singer embodies a rebellious spirit that seeks to take control of their own fate instead of being subjugated to the will of others.

Line by Line Meaning

I am an independent mother fucker
I am a self-sufficient and self-reliant individual

And I'm here to take your money
I assert my authority over others by acquiring their wealth

I'm waking round and I'm here
I am present and visible in the surroundings

To steal away your virginity
I intend to deflower and exploit you for my own gratification

Give me everything I'll break up your limbs and I'll
I demand complete submission and threaten physical harm

Put you in a truck and take you around the world
I will forcefully transport and exploit you globally

Think you're really cool 'cause of my lies
You falsely believe my deceitful claims and feel superior

You all love yourself may say you're better than me
You have an inflated ego and underestimate my worth

You all love yourselves and you better love me
You should worship and adore me as your superior