Hermosa Beach, California, USA (1979–1990, 1994–1995, 2001–2010)

The… Read Full Bio ↴Hermosa Beach, California, USA (1979–1990, 1994–1995, 2001–2010)

The Circle Jerks were an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. The group was founded by former Black Flag vocalist Keith Morris and Red Kross guitarist Greg Hetson. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the LA scene in the late 1970s.

The band broke up and reformed three times, sometimes with different bassists and/or drummers. They disbanded for the first time after the release of their fifth album, 1987's VI, as Hetson decided to continue touring and releasing albums with Bad Religion. They reunited around 1994 and recorded a reunion album, Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities, during the following year, followed by a tour. After that, the Circle Jerks once again parted ways as Hetson was still involved in Bad Religion. They reunited again circa 2001, but as of 2010, are on hiatus.

To date, the Circle Jerks have released six studio albums, one compilation, a live album and a live DVD. Their last studio album, Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities, was released in 1995 and was the band's only reunion album to date.

Many recent groups and artists cite the Circle Jerks as an influence, including Flea (musician), Anti-Flag,[1][2] Dropkick Murphys,[3] The Offspring[2] and Pennywise.[2]

Moral Majority
Circle Jerks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

First there was biology
Then pornography
So says the moral majority

Telling you and me
What we can watch and read
I don't need
Some dumb schmuck telling me

Nice communities
Middle class families
Too much cleanliness
Too much stupidity

I don't need
Someone telling me
How to listen and how to read

Whatever happened
To the first amendment

The way these people talk
They've never even heard it

Overall Meaning

The Circle Jerks' song "Moral Majority" is a scathing critique of the religious right and their influence on American society in the 1980s. The song begins by pointing out the hypocrisy of the "moral majority" by noting that they claim to be against pornography, but are often the same people who engage in it. The implication is that the moral majority is a group of people who try to impose their values on others without living up to those same values themselves.

The chorus then goes on to criticize the moral majority for trying to dictate what people can watch and read. The Circle Jerks make it clear that they don't need anyone, let alone a "dumb schmuck," telling them what they can and cannot do. The second verse takes aim at the middle class families and their obsession with cleanliness and comfort, which the Circle Jerks see as a form of intellectual and cultural stagnation.

The final verse brings attention to the importance of the First Amendment, and how the moral majority seems to have forgotten it. The song ends with the band calling out the hypocrisy of those who claim to defend freedom and democracy while trying to suppress the voices of those who disagree with them.

Line by Line Meaning

First there was biology
The study of life came first

Then pornography
Then sexual content created for the purpose of arousal

So says the moral majority
The self-righteous group believes this is the natural order of things

Telling you and me
Dictating what is acceptable for everyone

What we can watch and read
What types of media we are allowed to consume

I don't need
I do not require

Some dumb schmuck telling me
An unintelligent and contemptible person dictating to me

Nice communities
Pleasant places to live

Middle class families
Families who are neither wealthy nor poor

Too much cleanliness
An excessive amount of hygienic practices

Too much stupidity
An overwhelming amount of foolishness