West Side Story
Bert Michaels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
They believe everything they read in the papers about us cruddy J.D.'s
So that's what we give 'em
Somethin' to believe in
Hey, you
Who? Me Officer Krupke?
Yeah you
Gimme one good reason for not dragging you down to the station house
Ya punk
Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke, you gotta understand
It's just our bringin' upke that gets us out of hand
Our mothers all are junkies, our fathers all are drunks
Golly Moses, naturally we're punks
Gee, Officer Krupke, we're very upset
We never had the love that every child oughta get
We ain't no delinquents, we're misunderstood
Deep down inside us there is good
There is good
There is good, there is good
There is untapped good
Like inside, the worst of us is good
That's a touching good story
Lemme tell it to the world
Just tell it to the Judge
Dear kindly Judge, Your Honor, my parents treat me rough
With all their marijuana, they won't give me a puff
They didn't wanna have me but somehow I was had
Leapin' lizards, that's why I'm so bad
Right, Officer Krupke, you're really a square
This boy don't need a judge, he needs an analyst's care
It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed
He's psychologically disturbed
I'm disturbed
We're disturbed, we're disturbed
We're the most disturbed
Like we're psychologically disturbed
Hear ye, hear ye
In the opinion of this court
This child is depraved on account
He ain't had a normal home
Hey, I'm depraved on account I'm deprived
So take him to a headshrinker
You
Who? Me?
My daddy beats my mommy, my mommy clobbers me
My grandpa is a commie, my grandma pushes tea
My sister wears a mustache, my brother wears a dress
Goodness gracious, that's why I'm a mess
Yes, Officer Krupke, he shouldn't be here
This boy don't need a couch, he needs a useful career
Society's played him a terrible trick
And sociologically he's sick
I am sick
We are sick, we are sick
We are sick, sick, sick
Like we're sociologically sick
In my opinion, this child does not need to have his head shrunk at all
Juvenile delinquency is purely a social disease
Hey, I got a social disease
So take him to a social worker
Dear kindly social worker
They tell me get a job
Like be a soda jerker, which means like be a slob
It's not I'm antisocial, I'm only anti-work
Glory Osky, that's why I'm a jerk
Eek, Officer Krupke, you've done it again
This boy don't need a job, he needs a year in the pen
It ain't just a question of misunderstood
Deep down inside him, he's no good
I'm no good
We're no good, we're no good
We're no earthly good
Like the best of us is no damn good
The trouble is he's lazy, the trouble is he drinks
The trouble is he's crazy, the trouble is he stinks
The trouble is he's growing, the trouble is he's grown
Krupke, we've got troubles of our own
Gee, Officer Krupke
We're down on our knees
'Cause no one wants a fella
With a social disease
Gee, Officer Krupke
What are we to do?
Gee, Officer Krupke
Krup you
The lyrics of the song "West Side Story" by Bert Michaels, particularly the dialogue between the characters and Officer Krupke, shed light on the societal perception and misjudgments faced by young individuals labeled as juvenile delinquents. The song opens with a portrayal of law enforcement officers who believe all they read in the papers about rebellious juveniles, the so-called cruddy J.D.'s. The youths mockingly acknowledge this stereotype and decide to give the authorities exactly what they expect - something to believe in, further perpetuating the cycle of mistrust and misunderstanding between the two groups.
As Officer Krupke confronts one of the youths, the character sarcastically responds by pointing out the troubled upbringing he and his peers have endured. They highlight the lack of parental love and support, blaming their mothers' addiction issues and fathers' alcoholism for their own rebellious behavior. Despite their outward defiance, the characters express a desire for understanding and recognition of the goodness hidden within them, revealing a vulnerability beneath their tough facades.
Following interactions with the judge and a social worker, the youths continue to navigate through a system quick to label them as depraved or sociologically sick. They offer explanations for their behavior, attributing it to their dysfunctional family backgrounds and the societal neglect they have faced. The characters plead for empathy and a chance to break free from the confines of their troubled pasts, but society and its representatives seem fixated on categorizing them as irredeemable and lacking in moral goodness.
In the poignant conclusion of the song, the characters express their frustrations and grievances, illustrating a sense of hopelessness and resignation towards their circumstances. They acknowledge the judgments placed upon them, emphasizing that the troubles they face are not solely of their own making but are influenced by external factors beyond their control. The repetition of "Gee, Officer Krupke" serves as a bitter reminder of the systemic injustices and societal prejudices that continually marginalize and condemn these young individuals, ultimately leaving them feeling trapped and misunderstood.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AlyxWold
Juliaflo how is that bad?
he made so meny great movies
Hook
BFG
Jurassic Park (The Lost World, 3, World)
E.T.
Gremlins
Jaws
Indian Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark,Temple of Doom, The Last Crusaders, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [ok maybe not that last one] )
War of the Worlds
Goonies
Twister
Poltergeist
Melissa
I enjoy how they skated around little girl's chalk drawing. "We may be big and intimidating, but no one steps on Sally's chalk art"
weesalikesmilktea
"Even scary street gangsters aren't monsters."
KrakKokayne
Back when gangs were also about respect lol
Kech Kur
lol
Kech Kur
🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂🤣😂😂🤣
Stomp Chunkman
She's opening a portal to another dimension, the accursed child.
kayy
The final ending of this movie is so sad :( But the whole movie is just plain crazy and threw the whole movie it makes you think like.... "Whats going to happen next?!... who will win?!.." That's how I feel about this movie sometimes.
Cassandra Anne
If only actual gangs could just burst into dance on the streets 😂
Jon Dunmore
That's what they did in the 80s, no? Those breakdancing thugs...
Elaina Reed
@Jon Dunmore NSNSKSSNAKKSKSKW 🤣