Nag Nag Nag
Cabaret Voltaire Lyrics


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Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag

Home again
Asphalt boys
Broken bodies
Broken toys
Not too tall
Amoeba like
Mono head
Mono mind

Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag

Live for lust
Quite unnerving
Live unjust
Even more frightening
15 minute pharaohs
Happy now
Golden hands then back below

Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag

What nerve
Perfect face
Perfect stranger
Perfect place
Up to now so far so good
Please recall if you could

Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag




Nag Nag Nag
Nag Nag Nag

Overall Meaning

The song "Nag Nag Nag" by Cabaret Voltaire starts off with a repetitive chant of the title, which sets the tone for the rest of the track. The lyrics themselves are quite cryptic and difficult to decode, but they seem to depict a sense of monotony and ennui in daily life. The line "Home again, asphalt boys, broken bodies, broken toys" could refer to the disillusionment and sense of isolation that urbanites often experience.


The lyrics also refer to the idea of conformity and uniformity, as seen in the lines "Not too tall, amoeba-like, mono head, mono mind". This suggests a lack of individuality and an adherence to societal norms. The lyrics "Live for lust, quite unnerving, live unjust, even more frightening" seem to portray the darker, more sinister aspects of human behavior, highlighting our tendency towards desire and imbalance.


Overall, "Nag Nag Nag" can be interpreted as a commentary on the banality and suffocation of our modern society, and the need to break free from the monotony.


Line by Line Meaning

Nag Nag Nag
Repeatedly expressing minor grievances or complaints


Nag Nag Nag
Continued nagging or pestering


Nag Nag Nag
Persistent repetition of unimportant matters


Nag Nag Nag
Repetitive complaining or faultfinding


Home again
Returning to a familiar place


Asphalt boys
Streetwise youths


Broken bodies
Injured or disabled physical form


Broken toys
Damaged or dysfunctional playthings


Not too tall
Lacking in height


Amoeba like
Resembling a single-celled organism


Mono head
Having a single-minded focus


Mono mind
Limited or narrow thinking


Live for lust
Existing solely for sexual gratification


Quite unnerving
Rather unsettling or disturbing


Live unjust
Endure an unfair existence


Even more frightening
More terrifying than expected


15 minute pharaohs
Temporary rulers who will soon be forgotten


Happy now
Satisfied in the present moment


Golden hands then back below
Basking in accolades before returning to obscurity


What nerve
How audacious or daring


Perfect face
Flawless appearance


Perfect stranger
Completely unknown person with a flawless exterior


Perfect place
Impeccable setting or environment


Up to now so far so good
Everything has gone well up until this point


Please recall if you could
Kindly remember if you are able to




Contributed by London J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@fuzzface100

This is probably THE most criminally underrated punk track of all time (admittedly late to the party) but you can hear so many influences from this in music today. The Cabs were so far ahead of their time.

@peterheatley7670

This is the First time that i have viewed this video. I used to dance to this record in the indie room at Pips in Manchester way back in 1979. Brings back memories

@lewisb85

my friend once described them to me as "joy division with added dystopia" and he was right they became one of my favriote bands ever from the day i heard this song.

@nassreddin3064

if you're interested, the 'sampled' (spun-in) voice is Patrick Moore from "The Sky at Night" (2:20 & 3:10 & elsewhere). sorry if that doesn't mean much to people outside the UK and younger than 30. even if you're not interested, it's still true =) was actually conceived as a cover of a Seeds song.

@jermey1

+Nassr Eddin Thanks for the comment and the information that you just mentioned. I did not know that it was Patrick Moore but than again I never knew who he was until you mention him.. :) Again Thanks!! :)

@markadamtube

all of the cabs should be knighted for services to pop music. i was there in the 80s in sheffield and they were our very own velvet underground. thanks guys. still sounds good today

@oSMITHEREENZo

Great tune and brought back a lot of memories... John Peel used to hammer this during his show, he was a massive fan and helped promote them

@chinkogakusaizo

I never get bored of listing to Cabs.Anything from thier very early RoughTrade years up to EMI years.Legend.

@pattycat100567

MAN IVE BEEN LOOKIN FOR THIS FOR DECADES,FIRST HEARD IT ON 1985????MTVS"SNUBBED'ALONG WITH THE DIGITS AND POP WILL EAT ITSELF,YES...MTV DID PLAY REAL UNDERGROUND ONCE,I ALWAYS WATCHED CUTTING EDGE HAPPY HOUR THEN 120 MINUTES THEN THE YOUNG ONES,THE YOUTH TODAY JUST MISSED OUT,39 AND TIRED

@Zelda36J

You are right - bought this when it came out in 78 and loved the pouting lead singer !!

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