Dead Kennedys' lyrics were usually political in nature, satirizing the Reagan Administration and the American establishment in general, as well as popular culture and even the punk movement itself. Several stores refused to stock their recordings, sparking debate about censorship in rock music. Jello Biafra became an active campaigner against the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), culminating in an obscenity trial in 1985-1986 which resulted in a hung jury.
The group released a total of four studio albums and one EP before disbanding in 1986. Following the band's dissolution, Jello Biafra continued to collaborate and record with other artists including D.O.A., NoMeansNo and his own bands Lard and the Guantanamo School of Medicine, as well as releasing spoken word performances and becoming an activist with the Green Party.
In 2000, Jello Biafra lost an acrimonious legal case initiated by his former Dead Kennedys band mates over songwriting credits and unpaid royalties. In 2001, the band reformed; various singers have since been recruited for vocal duties.
I Kill Children
Dead Kennedys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I kill children
I love to see them die
I kill children
And make their mamas cry
Crush 'em under my car
I want to hear them scream
Spoil their Halloween
So you're in the kids' ward
You're in there 'cause you're ill
How about some Pavulon so I can see you chill
Time to hit the school bus
I think I'll shoot out the tires
Offer them a helping hand of open telephone wires
Ever wanted to die?
Of course you have
But I won't till I get my revenge
Been fucked far, far too many ways
I don't want to see people any more
Things I never ever saw before
Make me see them for the shit they are
Take as many as I can away with me
Anyone can be king for a day
So I kill children
I love to see them die
I kill children
And make their mamas cry
I kill children
I bang their heads in doors
I kill children
Can hardly wait for yours
Can hardly wait for yours
Can hardly wait for yours
Can hardly wait for yours
Can hardly wait for yours
Can hardly wait for yours
Can hardly wait for yours
Yours
Dead Kennedys' song "I Kill Children" is a shocking and disturbing piece of music that boasts of killing children and making their mothers cry. The opening lyrics – "God told me to skin you alive" – are an indication of the extreme and violent nature of the song. The rest of the lyrics describe the singer's desire to kill children and enjoy their suffering. They suggest that the singer wants to run over children with their car, feed them poison candy, and cut open their phone wires to electrocute them.
The lyrics capture a sense of nihilism and an utter disregard for human life. They evoke powerful emotions of fear, disgust, and horror in listeners. However, they are also a commentary on the state of American society at the time when the song was released. The song was released in 1980, a time when America was experiencing a wave of violence and crime, especially in urban areas. The lyrics reflect the frustration and anger of the youth and their disillusionment with the social and political systems of the time.
The song is a critique of contemporary society, and the use of violent imagery is a way of expressing that critique. The band, Dead Kennedys, was known for their provocative and controversial lyrics, and "I Kill Children" is one of their most infamous songs. It is a reflection of the band's punk ethos, in which they sought to shock and provoke their audience into thinking critically about social issues. While the lyrics of "I Kill Children" are undoubtedly disturbing, they are also an important piece of social commentary that deserves to be understood in the context of the time when the song was released.
Line by Line Meaning
God told me to skin you alive
I have psychotic tendencies and have convinced myself that God has instructed me to harm others
I kill children
I enjoy taking the lives of young, innocent individuals
I love to see them die
Witnessing the death of children brings me pleasure and gratification
And make their mamas cry
Not only do I get satisfaction from killing children, but I also find joy in causing profound grief and sorrow to their mothers
Crush 'em under my car
I am willing to commit vehicular homicide and take someone's life using my car as a tool
I want to hear them scream
I derive great pleasure from causing physical pain and hearing my victims' screams
Feed 'em poison candy
I am willing to use innocent and common objects as a means to carry out my harmful intentions
Spoil their Halloween
I intend to ruin and manipulate a beloved holiday and tradition by causing harm to children
So you're in the kids' ward
I am targeting vulnerable and sick children who are already in a physically weakened state
You're in there 'cause you're ill
I specifically seek out and target children who are sick and defenseless
How about some Pavulon so I can see you chill
I want to administer a controlling and deadly drug to a child to subdue and bring about their death
Time to hit the school bus
I am willing to attack and cause harm to a large group of young children in a school bus
I think I'll shoot out the tires
I am willing to use firearms to cause harm and endanger the lives of innocent children
Offer them a helping hand of open telephone wires
I am open to using any method of harm, including electricity, to cause pain and suffering to children
Ever wanted to die?
I assume that many people have struggled with suicidal ideation at some point in their lives
Of course you have
I have a dangerously simplified and generalized perspective on mental health and suicidal thoughts
But I won't till I get my revenge
I justify my harmful actions as a means of taking revenge on others who have wronged me
Been fucked far, far too many ways
I feel that I have experienced unfair and negative treatment from others throughout my life
I don't want to see people any more
I have developed a deep hatred and disgust towards humanity as a whole
Things I never ever saw before
My destructive tendencies have led me to seek out new and destructive methods of harm towards others
Make me see them for the shit they are
In my distorted view, I believe that my harmful actions are a means of exposing the negative true nature of humanity
Take as many as I can away with me
I am willing to commit mass murder and take as many innocent lives as possible before meeting my own death
Anyone can be king for a day
I believe that my destructive and violent actions are a means of asserting my own power and control over society
Can hardly wait for yours
I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to cause harm and inflict pain on others, particularly young and innocent children
Can hardly wait for yours
I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to cause harm and inflict pain on others, particularly young and innocent children
Can hardly wait for yours
I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to cause harm and inflict pain on others, particularly young and innocent children
Can hardly wait for yours
I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to cause harm and inflict pain on others, particularly young and innocent children
Can hardly wait for yours
I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to cause harm and inflict pain on others, particularly young and innocent children
Can hardly wait for yours
I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to cause harm and inflict pain on others, particularly young and innocent children
Can hardly wait for yours
I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to cause harm and inflict pain on others, particularly young and innocent children
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JELLO BIAFRA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FredC1968
"God told me to skin you alive!" is the best opening line ever.
yella hagerty
Super scary cuz if "god" told you to do it..gon get done
Christopher Seymour
@Jorge Snchez >i>i
Dani Slot
Too shallow and unbased on nothing..
yella hagerty
That’s terrifying…if god told you to do it it’s gonna happen
none of the nones
@Jorge Snchez Really? :D
adams85
The Dead Kennedys were one of the greatest punk rock bands of all time, period.
dkyelak
@adams85 Yes, he has said some things that I disagreed about over the years. I still admire his body of work and what he has to say even-though I am not in lockstep agreement all the time. As a small thing- he bashed The Eagles a long time ago and I like The Eagles. My question was- I thought punk was in part, about free thinking and not having a myopic point of view. That is just one example. I would hardly call him an idiot though.
adams85
@Nemesis Zer0 he essentially said & was NOT joking or being sarcastic (as he's famous for) but he pretty much said he doesn't even like music, rockNroll & that he has no problem w being a fraud, in his own words of course...long story but if you can track down a video where he names "the worst rock groups of all time" you'll see EXACTLY what I'm referencing.
Nemesis Zer0
adams85 And What was that?