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.
I Need Lunch
Dead Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girls like you all come for free
I don't really want to dance
Girl, I just want to get in your pants
I don't want you to hang around
If I don't need you to jack me down
Well I don't really want to dance
Girl, I just want to get in your pants
You try and try
You want we?re just more than friends
You cry and cry
You know I?ll prick you in the end
Look at me that way bitch
Your face is gonna get a punch
I said I don't need no cook, girl
I need lunch
Now listen to me babe
You go and find yourself a factory man
Girl, you were born with dishpan hands
I baby, I don't need romance
No girl, I just want to get in your pants
I need lunch
FEED ME
The lyrics of Dead Boys' song "I Need Lunch" are controversial and certainly not politically correct. The singer is expressing his pure lust for a woman, which he objectifies and sees as nothing more than an object of sexual desire. He rejects any form of emotional connection and even mocks the woman's attempts at a relationship. The chorus emphasizes his desire for sexual gratification as he repeats the phrase, "I just want to get in your pants."
The lyrics are aggressive and even violent, as the singer threatens physical harm towards the girl, calling her names and warning her to stay away from him. He clearly sees himself as superior and dominant over the woman, a reflection of the stereotypical male-dominated culture of the time.
Despite the controversial themes, "I Need Lunch" remains a fan-favorite and a classic punk rock anthem. The song was written by Stiv Bators and Cheetah Chrome and was first released on their 1977 album "Young Loud and Snotty."
Line by Line Meaning
I don't need your company
The singer does not need to be in the presence of the girl addressed in the song.
Girls like you all come for free
The singer does not value the attention he receives from the girl addressed in the song.
I don't really want to dance
The singer is not interested in dancing with the girl addressed in the song.
Girl, I just want to get in your pants
The singer is only interested in having sex with the girl addressed in the song.
I don't want you to hang around
The singer does not want the girl addressed in the song to remain present in his vicinity.
If I don't need you to jack me down
The singer does not need the sexual favors of the girl addressed in the song.
Well I don't really want to dance
The singer is not interested in dancing with the girl addressed in the song.
Now listen girl
The singer is directing his attention to the girl addressed in the song.
You try and try
The girl addressed in the song is making attempts to engage with the singer.
You want we're just more than friends
The girl addressed in the song desires a deeper and more intimate relationship with the singer than he is willing to provide.
You cry and cry
The girl addressed in the song is expressing emotional distress about her relationship with the singer.
You know I'll prick you in the end
The singer will eventually disappoint or hurt the girl addressed in the song.
Look at me that way bitch
The singer is angry at the girl addressed in the song for her behavior towards him.
Your face is gonna get a punch
The singer is threatening violence towards the girl addressed in the song.
I said I don't need no cook, girl
The singer does not require the domestic labor or nurturing normally associated with a romantic relationship.
I need lunch
The singer is expressing his hunger for sexual satisfaction.
Now listen to me babe
The singer is directing his attention to the girl addressed in the song.
You go and find yourself a factory man
The singer suggests that the girl addressed in the song find a man who works in a manufacturing job.
Girl, you were born with dishpan hands
The singer is insulting the girl addressed in the song for her perceived lack of femininity or lack of attractiveness.
I baby, I don't need romance
The singer does not require emotional intimacy or romantic attachment to the girl addressed in the song.
No girl, I just want to get in your pants
The singer is only interested in having sex with the girl addressed in the song.
I need lunch
The singer is expressing his hunger for sexual satisfaction.
FEED ME
The singer is expressing his desire and need for sexual fulfillment.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY ZERO, STIV BATORS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
T- man
The solo in this song is unbelievable, easily my favorite off the album and one of my favorites of all time, short and sweet but packs a REAL punch.
JPCP M
Cheetah Chrome was always a great guitarist. The guy knew how to express himself. Way better than many bands had.
rake48
The guitar is perfect. The solo is sublime as a pure rock riff.
LongBitcoinShortBanks
My brother played Young Loud & Snotty album for me when I was 10. He helped me blow up my billy joel albums with firecrackers and said now you can be my brother.
Porco-Dio FIlm
That's a pretty bitchin story, honestly.
Daniel Brossard
yep-great story! i'M GONNA TELL THIS ONE!
Carl Bowles
I Punked the fuck out of my Styx Poster!!!
Chad Castetter
If you were truly punk you'd have punched your brother in his face, taken his records, and started your own scene...
Kadon Heb
I think your bro and I have just became best friends
Rob Dison
first heard dead boys age 15 in Australia. a mate had this album...released on ktel.
instantly i realized all i had thought i knew about Punk rock music was bullshit. this album beat the pistols by at least a year. absolute class and raw as fuck but tight and styley...