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.
Calling on You
Dead Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Faster than the naked eye
I'm calling calling calling on you
Things here got outta hand
Take me back to the promised land
I'm calling calling calling on you.
I'm hanging around dying to leave
I'm calling calling calling on you
Star shining in the sky
Faster than the naked eye
I'm calling calling calling calling on you
Tonight is Friday night
I'm hanging around dying to leave
I'm calling calling calling calling on you
The lyrics of the Dead Boys' song "Calling on You" reflect a deep longing for escape and an almost desperate call for help. In the first verse, the singer describes a shining star in the sky that moves faster than the naked eye can see. This could represent a beacon of hope or guidance that the singer desperately needs. He calls out for help, hoping that his call will be answered.
The second verse further emphasizes the singer's desire for escape. He feels that things have gotten out of hand in his life and that he needs to be taken back to the promised land. This could represent a metaphorical return to a happier, simpler time or a literal desire to leave his current situation behind. Once again, he calls out for help, hoping that someone will hear him.
The chorus repeats the singer's call for help, adding a sense of urgency as he describes how he's "dying to leave" and desperately needs someone to answer his call. The repetition of the word "calling" further emphasizes the singer's desperation and sense of isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
You shining in the sky
You are a star shining brilliantly in the sky
Faster than the naked eye
You move so quickly that it is hard to see exactly where you are
I'm calling calling calling on you
I am trying to reach out to you with all the energy I have
Things here got outta hand
Everything around me has become chaotic and uncontrollable
Take me back to the promised land
I yearn for a place where everything is guaranteed to be better and easier
Tonight is Friday night
It is currently the night of the week where people gather to have fun
I'm hanging around dying to leave
I am waiting for the right opportunity to escape or start anew
Star shining in the sky
You are still shining brightly and catching my attention
I'm calling calling calling calling on you
I am desperate to reach out to you and hope for your help or guidance
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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