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]
Paid Vacation
Circle Jerks Lyrics
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Where's your uniform?
Where's your gun?
Better rub up that suntan oil
Cause you'll be fighting in the desert
It's not, Vietnam
Just another oil company scam
Salute that flag of uncle Sam
Get your money out place your bets
It's Afghanistan!
Fix baionets, check grenades
Got enough bullets
Got enough rounds to wipe out this place?
Were the infantry and cavalry
Parachutes fill the sky, bodies burn and people die
In the song "Paid Vacation" by Circle Jerks, the lyrics seem to be addressing the irony and contradiction of sending soldiers to fight in wars in faraway lands that are driven more by the greed of oil companies than any honorable cause. The opening lines, "I hope you're having fun, where's your uniform, where's your gun?" seem to suggest that the singer is addressing a soldier on vacation or leave, but the tone is sardonic, almost mocking. The following lines, "better rub up that suntan oil cause you'll be fighting in the desert," also seems to convey a sense of cynicism and resignation that the soldiers are being sent on a mission that they have no control over.
The lyrics then shift to a more overt criticism of the war and the motives behind it. The lines "it's not, Vietnam, just another oil company scam" directly challenge the idea that the war is being fought for any noble cause, and instead suggest that it's all about securing oil reserves for corporate profit. The reference to the flag of Uncle Sam and the call to "get your money out place your bets" further reinforce this sense of war as a money-making enterprise for those in power. Finally, the lyrics take on a more confrontational tone, with the reference to Afhanistan, and the call to "fix bayonets, check grenades," conveying a sense of violence and destruction that the singer seems to be condemning, rather than celebrating.
Overall, the song "Paid Vacation" by Circle Jerks can be seen as a critique of the Iraq War and the larger phenomenon of American militarism that had taken root in the 21st century. It challenges the idea that the war is being fought for any noble cause, and instead highlights the greed, corruption, and hypocrisy that often define such conflicts.
Line by Line Meaning
I hope you're having fun
Sarcastically commenting on how the government expects soldiers to enjoy being sent to war.
Where's your uniform?
Asking if the soldier has fully embraced their duty to fight, questioning their commitment.
Where's your gun?
Questioning the soldier's preparedness for battle and implying they may not have the tools they need to survive.
Better rub up that suntan oil
Joking about how the soldier should prepare for the desert heat, but also highlighting the ridiculousness of a deadly war in a place known for tourism.
Cause you'll be fighting in the desert
Directly stating the soldier's destination and purpose for fighting.
It's not, Vietnam
Comparing the current war to the controversial and unpopular Vietnam War, acknowledging the similarities in how they were both driven by politics and money.
Just another oil company scam
Implying that the war is more about securing oil reserves than fighting terrorism or protecting national security.
Salute that flag of uncle Sam
Encouraging blind patriotism and obedience to the government despite the potentially unjust nature of the war.
Get your money out place your bets
Suggesting that the war is fueled by those who would profit from it and that betting on the outcome is a form of corruption.
It's Afghanistan!
Reiterating the location of the war and calling attention to how many Americans may have been unaware of this before the conflict began.
Fix bayonets, check grenades
Ordering soldiers to prepare for hand-to-hand combat and explosives, emphasizing how close and brutal the fighting can be.
Got enough bullets
Asking whether the soldier has enough ammunition to survive, suggesting how dangerous the battlefield can be.
Got enough rounds to wipe out this place?
Provoking the soldier to consider whether they are prepared to destroy an entire community or culture.
We're the infantry and cavalry
Affirming the military's status as an occupying force that will use any means necessary to assert dominance.
Parachutes fill the sky, bodies burn and people die
Painting a picture of the overwhelming brutality of war, with a vivid description of bodies falling from aircraft and lives being lost in the chaos.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GREG W. HETSON, KEITH LEHRER, KEITH G. MORRIS, ROGER DOWDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind