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.
What Love Is
Dead Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't need none of your spoiled ass sweet talk
Write on your face with my pretty knife
I want to toy with your precious life
I want you to know
I want you to know
I want you to know
I want you to know what love is
And I don't need none of your two-bit machine love
Write on your face with my pretty knife
I want to toy with your precious life
I want you to know
I want you to know
I want you to know
I want you to know what love is
I don't need none of your two-bit machine love
And I don't need none of your spoiled ass sweet talk
Write on your face with my pretty knife
I want to toy with your precious life
I want you to know
I want you to know
I want you to know
I want you to know what love is
The lyrics to Dead Boys' song "What Love Is" are confrontational and aggressive in nature, expressing a desire for power and control in a romantic relationship. The singer rejects traditional displays of affection, dismissing "bedroom bruised sweet box" and "spoiled ass sweet talk" as insufficient. Instead, he seeks to assert his dominance over his partner through violence, using a "pretty knife" to "write on [her] face" as a way to "toy with [her] precious life".
The repetition of the line "I want you to know what love is" throughout the song takes on a sinister tone, implying that the singer's version of love involves domination and potentially even harm to the object of his affection. The lyrics suggest a warped understanding of love, one that equates control with intimacy and value. The use of violent imagery and language underscores this point, emphasizing the singer's willingness to use force to achieve his desired outcome.
Overall, the lyrics to "What Love Is" portray a toxic and dangerous relationship dynamic, one that glorifies abuse and control as expressions of love. The confrontational tone and violent imagery of the song serve to highlight the importance of healthy, respectful relationships in which all partners are treated with dignity and care.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't need none of your bedroom bruised sweet box
I am not interested in your body or any physical pleasure.
I don't need none of your spoiled ass sweet talk
I am not interested in your flattering words or insincere flattery.
Write on your face with my pretty knife
I am willing to harm you and leave marks on your face.
I want to toy with your precious life
I want to control you and manipulate your existence for my own amusement.
I want you to know
I want you to understand my intentions and desires.
I want you to know what love is
I want you to experience the twisted version of love that I have created.
I don't need none of your tender back seat love
I am not interested in any affection or intimacy in private settings.
And I don't need none of your two-bit machine love
I am not interested in robotic or machine-like love, devoid of emotion and humanity.
I don't need none of your two-bit machine love
I am not interested in robotic or machine-like love, devoid of emotion and humanity.
And I don't need none of your spoiled ass sweet talk
I am not interested in your insincere, entitled words of affection.
Write on your face with my pretty knife
I am willing to hurt you and leave marks on your face as a form of control.
I want you to know
I want you to fully comprehend my intentions and desires.
I want you to know what love is
I want you to experience my twisted and distorted version of love.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KEN COOPER, MARTI FREDERIKSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind