Moving to New York City in 1976, they quickly gained notoriety for their outrageous live performances – lewd gestures and profanity was the norm, and on more than one occasion, lead singer Stiv Bators slashed his stomach with his mic stand. They frequently played at the legendary rock club CBGBs and in 1977 they released their debut album, Young, Loud and Snotty, produced by Genya Ravan. Their song "Sonic Reducer" is often regarded as one of the classics of the punk genre, with the All Music Guide calling it "one of punk's great anthems."
Sire Records pressured the group to change their look and sound to appeal more to the US mainstream (which had yet to embrace punk on the level seen in the UK) and this contributed to Dead Boys breaking up in 1979. A few months after the breakup the band had to reunite to record a live album and thus fulfill their contractual obligations. To exact revenge on the label, Bators purposely sang off mic and the resulting recording was unusable. When the material eventually surfaced on Bomp! Records, Bators had re-recorded the vocals in a studio.
Bators later formed Lords of the New Church with Brian James from The Damned and Dave Tregunna from Sham 69.
The band reformed for several gigs in the 1980's. They released Younger, Louder and Snottier in 1989, which included demos and rough mixes of their debut album.
In 1990, Bators died in France due to injuries sustained in a car accident.
In September of 2004, the band, sans Bators, re-formed for a one-off gig in Cleveland.
In 2005, they played a benefit show for the legendary rock club CBGBs. This same year, they also played a reunion show on Halloween.
Big City
Dead Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stranded in the streets
Sweating in the heat
Don't care to be a star
Poundin on the door
Sleepin on the floor
Big city, ain;t to pretty
Big city, don't want no pitty
Big city, its one big crowd
No chance to make the big time
I've been workin hard
Got to take it far
No love along the way
I've been movin fast
Got to make it last
Big city, ain;t to pretty
Big city, nice and loud
Big city, don't want no pitty
Big city, its one big crowd
They say no, no, no
Everywhere I go
But I'm gonna win
Agains the odds
And my flaws
Here in the city of sin, in the city of sin
I've got to get ahead
Too many sceams,
Too many dreams
I got to be somebody
Got to bleed for the things I need
Big city, ain;t to pretty
Big city, nice and loud
Big city, don't want no pitty
Big city, its one big crowd
Big city, ain;t to pretty
Big city, nice and loud
Big city, don't want no pitty
Big city, its one big crowd
Dead Boys's song Big City is a compelling reflection of the harsh reality of living in a crowded and ruthless metropolis. The lyrics convey a sense of alienation and disillusionment, as the singer finds himself stranded in the streets, sweating in the heat of the city, and struggling to make a name for himself. The line "Too late to go back home" suggests a sense of desperation and hopelessness as there is no turning back from the challenges of the city life.
The lyrics reflect the classic tale of a young artist who moves to the city to pursue his dreams, only to confront the harsh reality that success is elusive and often comes with a price. The line "No chance to make the big time" highlights the cutthroat competition and the challenges of making it in a place where everyone is fighting their way to the top.
Despite the hostility and the odds against him, the singer remains determined to succeed. He talks about his willingness to bleed and work hard for the things he needs, as the line "Got to bleed for the things I need" suggests. The chorus of the song, which repeats the lines "Big city, ain't too pretty, Big city, nice and loud, Big city, don't want no pitty, Big city, it's one big crowd," reinforces the sense of detachment and skepticism that the singer experiences towards the city's glitz and glamour, preferring to focus on the cold hard truth.
Line by Line Meaning
To late to go back home
It is already too late to return home.
Stranded in the streets
There is no means to go anywhere for help or to go back home.
Sweating in the heat
The hot weather is causing perspiration.
Don't care to be a star
Doesn't aspire to be famous.
Poundin on the door
Knocking on someone's door repeatedly.
Sleepin on the floor
Sleeping on the ground due to unavailability of accommodation.
Big city, ain't too pretty
The city isn't as beautiful as it seems.
Big city, nice and loud
The city is noisy but has its own charm.
Big city, don't want no pitty
The city doesn't want any sympathy or compassion.
Big city, its one big crowd
The city has a huge population.
No chance to make the big time
There is no possibility of achieving success on a grand scale.
I've been workin hard
Working tirelessly to accomplish something.
Got to take it far
Must go to great lengths to achieve a goal.
No love along the way
Not much support or sympathy was received throughout the journey.
I've been movin fast
I have been making quick progress.
Got to make it last
Need to make sure the progress is sustained.
They say no, no, no
Encountering negative responses from others.
Everywhere I go
Encountering negativity everywhere.
But I'm gonna win
Despite the negativity, one is determined to succeed.
Against the odds
Confronting difficulty or hardship while trying to succeed.
And my flaws
Recognizing one's weaknesses and working to overcome them.
Here in the city of sin, in the city of sin
Referring to the city that one finds themselves in as being full of temptation and vice.
I've got to get ahead
I need to progress forward.
Too many screams, too many dreams
Too much chaos and aspirations.
I got to be somebody
I need to become somebody important.
Got to bleed for the things I need
Need to work hard and make sacrifices for achieving what is desired.
Contributed by Aaron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.