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.
Jock-o-Rama
Dead Kennedys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've got just the pet for you
It's the way you're forced to act
To survive our schools
Make your whole life revolve around sports
Walk tough-don't act too smart
Be a mean machine
Jock-O-Rama-Save my soul
We're under the thumb of the Beef Patrol
The future of America is in their hands
Watch it roll over Niagara Falls
Pep rally in the holy temple
And you're forced to go
Masturbate en masse
With the favored religious cult
Cheerleaders yell-"Ra Ra Team"
From the locker room parades the prime beef
When archaeologists dig this up
They'll either laugh or cry
Jock-O-Rama-On the brain
Redneck-a-thon drivin' me insane
The future of America is in their hands
Watch it roll over Niagara Falls
Unzip that old time religion
On the almighty football field
Beer bellies of all ages
Come to watch the gladiators bleed
"Now boys, this game ain't played for fun
You're going out there to win
How d'ya win?
Get out there
And snap the other guy's knee!"
Beat 'em up! Beat 'em up!
Ra Ra Ra
Snap those spinal cords
Ha Ha Ha
The star quarterback lies injured
Unconscious on the football field
Looks like his neck's been broken
Seems to happen somewhere every year
His mom and dad clutch themselves and cry
Their favorite son will never walk again
Coach says, "That boy gave a hundred percent
What spirit
What a man"
But who cares?
Games over-Let's go get wasted man
To the 7-11, to the liquor store
Let's party all night and party some more
Another Trans-Am
Wrapped itself around a telephone pole
"I ain't drunk, officer
I just fell gettin' out of my car"
Don't worry about it, son
We were that way when we were young
You've got all the skills
To make a damn good businessman
Jock-O-Rama-that's the law
Come lick the butts of the Beef Patrol
If the future of America is handed to them
Watch it roll over Niagara Falls
The Dead Kennedys' song "Jock-O-Rama" is a scathing critique of American jock culture and the ways in which it robs young people of their individuality and intellectual curiosity. The song opens with the sarcastic question, "You really like gorillas? We've got just the pet for you," which sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The next stanza suggests that young people are taught to prioritize sports over everything else and to walk tough and not act too smart. In return, they are promised success and advancement. The chorus, "Jock-O-Rama-Save my soul, We're under the thumb of the Beef Patrol," highlights the absurdity of this culture and the ways in which it dominates American life. The lyrics go on to describe pep rallies, religious cults, and the glorification of violence and injury on the football field. Finally, the song ends with a critique of American business culture and the idea that jock culture produces young people who are skilled only at pleasing their superiors and making money.
Line by Line Meaning
You really like gorillas?
Do you enjoy acts of aggression?
We've got just the pet for you
We have an environment in which you can thrive
It's the way you're forced to act
It is the manner in which you are obligated to behave
To survive our schools
In order to successfully navigate our academic institutions
Make your whole life revolve around sports
Devote everything, even your existence, to athletics
Walk tough-don't act too smart
Project an air of physical intimidation while avoiding any display of intelligence
Be a mean machine
Act as an unfeeling and brutal cog in the sports machine
Then we'll let you get ahead
By doing so, you will be granted privilege
Jock-O-Rama-Save my soul
Sports culture is consuming me
We're under the thumb of the Beef Patrol
We are dominated by aggressive athletic types
The future of America is in their hands
The fate of our nation is tied to their actions
Watch it roll over Niagara Falls
The future, despite inescapable danger, is looming
Pep rally in the holy temple
We worship sports culture to a religious extent
And you're forced to go
We are required to participate in the spectacle
Masturbate en masse
Engage in a group act of self-indulgence
With the favored religious cult
We take part in a ritualized activity that is celebrated and revered
Cheerleaders yell-'Ra Ra Team'
Supporters scream generic exclamations of group approval
From the locker room parades the prime beef
The most physically endowed athletes strut their stuff
When archaeologists dig this up
In the future, when this is examined
They'll either laugh or cry
It will be seen as either humorous or tragic
Jock-O-Rama-On the brain
Sports culture is a fixation and obsession
Redneck-a-thon drivin' me insane
The celebration of aggression and violence is maddening
Unzip that old time religion
Engage in dogmatic and traditional displays of worship
On the almighty football field
Within the sanctity of the sports temple
Beer bellies of all ages
All ages participate in the hedonistic revelry
Come to watch the gladiators bleed
We eagerly observe violence against the competitors
"Now boys, this game ain't played for fun
The violent nature of sports is emphasized by authority figures
You're going out there to win
Victory is the sole goal
How d'ya win?
What is the way to achieve victory?
Get out there
Enter the field of battle
And snap the other guy's knee!"
Deliberately cause harm to an opponent in order to gain an advantage
Beat 'em up! Beat 'em up!
Inflict physical harm on the opposition
Ra Ra Ra
Mindlessly express approval of one's own side
Snap those spinal cords
Bring physical harm to the opposition, even if it results in permanent injury
Ha Ha Ha
Revel in the suffering of others
The star quarterback lies injured
The most important player is seriously harmed
Unconscious on the football field
It happened in the sacred space
Looks like his neck's been broken
The severity of injury is apparent
Seems to happen somewhere every year
This is not an isolated incident
His mom and dad clutch themselves and cry
The human cost of violent sports is high
Their favorite son will never walk again
The impact of the injury is life-altering
Coach says, "That boy gave a hundred percent
The intense commitment to victory is emphasized even after catastrophe
What spirit
What dedication
What a man"
What strength
But who cares?
Despite the devastation, there is no real consequence
Games over-Let's go get wasted man
The violence and danger of sports is not enough, we must indulge in self-destructive behaviors as well
To the 7-11, to the liquor store
The route to a reckless existence
Let's party all night and party some more
The obsession with hedonism persists
Another Trans-Am
Another material possession to hold up as a status symbol
Wrapped itself around a telephone pole
Another instance of a damaged body and damaged property
"I ain't drunk, officer
Denial of personal responsibility
I just fell gettin' out of my car"
Blaming a simple accident for irresponsibility
Don't worry about it, son
There will be no real repercussions
We were that way when we were young
Our cultural obsession with recklessness was instilled in us at a young age
You've got all the skills
Despite your flaws, you are capable of great things
To make a damn good businessman
Your ability to profit from the chaos is what truly matters
Jock-O-Rama-that's the law
The culture of violence and destruction is unavoidable
Come lick the butts of the Beef Patrol
Join the ranks of those in power through violent means
If the future of America is handed to them
If those in power continue to control the future
Watch it roll over Niagara Falls
We are willingly leading ourselves to our destruction
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JELLO BIAFRA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
yo mamma
on This Could Be Anywhere
fuck yo
u
u
u