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]
Patty's Killing Mel
Circle Jerks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the plate stays cool, the meat stays warm
shit just coming on
Read the signs, sound the alarms
patty's killing me
Senseless murder I can tell
patty's killing me
Give the dog a a bone,
You can tell him not to eat, but is it safe?
A deadly game, I will repeat
Susie's killing Sal
bobby's killing Joe
its your blood, who's to know?
Killer killing dale sally' killing Sam
Get to close you'll understand
Patty? Yes Mel?
Is that Doug beneath the counter?
Does this mean you don't love me anymore?
Patty's killing Mel
High rise custom, condo jail
Patty's killing Mel
hide the keys, raise the bail
patty's killing Mel
Right next to the danger zone
Patty's killing Mel down the block
Close to your home
Patty's killing Mel!
The Circle Jerks's song "Patty's Killing Mel" is a critique of American society's obsession with violence, which is often normalized and even celebrated in popular culture. The lyrics describe a series of senseless murders that happen around a community, but the song itself seems to be more focused on the apathy that people display towards this violence rather than the violence itself. The first verse describes a situation where someone is in danger, but nobody seems to be taking notice. The line "shit just coming on" implies that the situation is escalating and nobody is doing anything about it. The chorus "patty's killing me" suggests that the person singing is also a victim of this apathy, as if they are being suffocated by it.
The second verse continues with the theme of senseless violence, with a line that suggests that giving into our primal urges is somehow inevitable ("You can tell him not to eat, but is it safe?"). The verses also introduce more characters and more murders, but the song never really focuses on any of them. Instead, it lingers on the idea that all of these senseless acts of violence are connected in some way, and that there is something deeply wrong with the society that produces them. The last verse features a conversation between two characters, one of whom seems to be ignoring the violence that is happening around them ("Does this mean you don't love me anymore?"), as if love and affection can somehow transcend the darkness that surrounds them.
Overall, "Patty's Killing Mel" is a bleak and haunting song that challenges the listener to confront the violence that exists around them, and question why it is so easily accepted.
Line by Line Meaning
Good as dead,
The situation is very bad.
the plate stays cool, the meat stays warm
Something bad is happening or about to happen, but everything seems normal on the surface.
shit just coming on
Things are about to get worse.
Read the signs, sound the alarms
Take action to avoid danger or disaster.
patty's killing me
I am being destroyed by something or someone.
Senseless murder I can tell
The destruction is pointless and unjustified.
red meat, cocktail send him in to hell
The cause of the destruction is indulgence and excess, leading to a self-destructive path.
Give the dog a bone,
Provide something small and insignificant to distract from the real issues at hand.
You can tell him not to eat, but is it safe?
Attempting to control the situation may only lead to more danger and uncertainty.
A deadly game, I will repeat
Despite the risk of harm or failure, I will continue on this path.
Susie's killing Sal
Someone is causing harm to another person.
bobby's killing Joe
Another person is causing harm to someone else.
its your blood, who's to know?
The cycle of harm may continue across generations or through different people, making it difficult to trace the true source of the problem.
Killer killing dale sally' killing Sam
Harm and destruction are all around, affecting many people.
Get to close you'll understand
If you examine the situation closely, you will see the true cause of the problems.
Patty? Yes Mel?
A conversation is happening between two people, potentially revealing important information.
Is that Doug beneath the counter?
A surprising and dangerous revelation is made.
Does this mean you don't love me anymore?
The consequences of the situation are far-reaching and may end in loss or tragedy.
Patty's killing Mel
Someone is causing destruction to someone else.
High rise custom, condo jail
The destruction is happening in a luxurious, privileged setting.
hide the keys, raise the bail
Steps need to be taken to mitigate the damage caused by the situation.
Right next to the danger zone
The situation is perilously close to becoming catastrophic.
Patty's killing Mel down the block
The destruction is happening nearby and potential affects all those in the vicinity.
Close to your home
The destruction is happening in the place where one feels the most safe and secure.
Patty's killing Mel!
The situation is dire and something must be done to intervene.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALEXANDER SCHLOSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ray McCormick
AWESOME !!!