In 1988, an Ottawa, Ontario police officer instigated a criminal investigation of the Dayglos after his daughter brought home a copy of Here Today, Guano Tomorrow.
Two albums featured in the resulting trial; the covers and the lyrical content being showcased by the prosecution. Here Today, Guano Tomorrow had a cover showing a picture of a hamster eating from a box of chocolates on nice satin sheets, along with a glass of wine. A gun points at the hamster, and the back cover shows a depiction of the resulting carnage.
The previous album, Feed Us A Fetus, was perhaps a little less graphic, with a depiction of a baked fetus on the table in front of Ronald and Nancy Reagan.
This resulted in the criminal prosecution of Fringe Product, their label at the time, for distribution and possession with intent to distribute of obscene material—the first such prosecution since the offense entered the criminal code in 1959. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
The Dayglos had musical revenge in the title song of their next album, Two Dogs Fucking, in which the priggishness of Ottawa's public officials leads directly to the extinction of the human race.
On occasion, Dayglo albums having included political aspects, Holy Shiite is no exception with song titles such as "America Eats Her Young", "Christina Bin Laden", "Scientology", and "Where's Bin Laden?".
Stupid Songs
Dayglo Abortions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I don't know too much so I don't sing about nothing
I get my words from reading TV Guide
I steal all my solos from the Rolling Stones
I like stupid songs
I get my insight from watching Spiderman
I pull my wire to the 20 Minute Workout
I sure wish the guys in the band looked like that
I like stupid songs
The Dayglo Abortions' song "Stupid Songs" is a humorous take on the process of songwriting and the sources of inspiration that inform it. The lyrics suggest that the songwriter has limited life experience and knowledge, which makes it difficult to write meaningful songs. Instead, they turn to the world around them for inspiration, relying on TV Guide and Spiderman for insights into life. The reference to stealing solos from the Rolling Stones suggests a lack of originality, further emphasizing the songwriter's limitations. Despite this, the chorus "I like stupid songs" suggests a lighthearted appreciation for music that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Overall, the song seems to be poking fun at the idea of trying too hard to be profound or deep when writing songs. Instead, the Dayglo Abortions suggest that sometimes it's okay to just enjoy "stupid songs" for what they are, without trying to attach too much meaning or significance to them. It's a refreshing take on the often serious business of songwriting, reminding us not to take ourselves too seriously.
Line by Line Meaning
When I sing songs I sing about what I know
I tend to write lyrics based on my personal experiences and knowledge
But I don't know too much so I don't sing about nothing
Due to my limited knowledge, I struggle to write about anything substantial
I get my words from reading TV Guide
I use TV shows and pop culture as inspiration for my songwriting
I steal all my solos from the Rolling Stones
I lack the originality to come up with my own guitar solos, so I copy them from established bands
I like stupid songs
I prefer to write simplistic and immature songs that lack depth
I get my insight from watching Spiderman
I derive life lessons from fictional entertainment such as comic books
I learned a lot from Peter Parker about dealing with the world
Peter Parker's experiences as Spiderman have taught me important skills for handling the challenges of life
I pull my wire to the 20 Minute Workout
I masturbate while watching a women's workout video
I sure wish the guys in the band looked like that
I find the women in the exercise video more attractive than my bandmates
I like stupid songs
I reiterate my enjoyment of writing vapid and unintelligent music
Contributed by Jack D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.