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.
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Dead Kennedys Lyrics
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Born again with fascist cravings
Still, you make me president
Human rights will soon go 'way
I am now your Shah today
Now I command all of you
Now your gonna pray in school
[Chorus]
California Uber Alles
Uber Alles California
Ku Klux Klan will control you
Still you think it's natural
Nigger knockin for the master race
Still you wear a happy face
[Chorus]
Welcome to 1984
Are you ready for the Third World War?!?
You too will meet the secret police
They'll draft you and they'll jail your niece
You'll go quietly to boot camp
They'll shoot you dead, make you a man
Don't worry, it's for a cause
Feeding global corporations' claws
Die on a brand new poison gas
El Salvador or Afghanistan
Making money for President Regan
And all the friends of President Regan
[Chorus]
The Dead Kennedys' song "We've Got a Bigger Problem Now" is a biting social commentary on the presidency of Ronald Reagan and the conservative political climate of the 1980s. The opening line, "I am Emperor Ronald Reagan, born again with fascist cravings," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of a society where human rights are eroded and the government is controlled by extremist groups like the Ku Klux Klan. The chorus, "California Uber Alles, Uber Alles California," references a popular song by the punk band The Dead Kennedys themselves, but changes the lyrics to suggest that California has become a fascist state.
The lyrics also predict a coming war and a police state in which citizens are drafted and jailed for their dissent. The lines "They'll shoot you dead, make you a man / Don't worry, it's for a cause / Feeding global corporations' claws" suggest that the government and military-industrial complex are only interested in profit and power, even if it means sacrificing the lives of their own citizens. The final verse, which mentions "El Salvador or Afghanistan," highlights the Cold War-era U.S. intervention in Central and South America and elsewhere as part of the Reagan Doctrine. Overall, the song is a harsh critique of Reagan's policies and their impact on American society and foreign policy.
Line by Line Meaning
I am Emperor Ronald Regan
I am the leader of this nation, and I hold absolute power
Born again with fascist cravings
I subscribe to fascist ideologies and promote them in the guise of conservatism
Still, you make me president
Despite my questionable beliefs and intentions, you have elected me to the highest office in the land
Human rights will soon go 'way
I do not prioritize the preservation of human rights and will actively work to erode them
I am now your Shah today
I have assumed an authoritarian position and will rule over the people with an iron fist
Now I command all of you
I have the power to dictate the actions and beliefs of the entire populace
Now your gonna pray in school
I will coerce and force religion upon the student body, even in educational institutions
I'll make sure they're christian too
I will ensure that Christianity is the only and dominant religion being taught and practiced
[Chorus]
Repeating the main refrain of the song that California is the epitome of all that embodies the fascist ideals that are being propagated by the Reagan administration
Ku Klux Klan will control you
White supremacy and racist ideologies will hold sway over the country
Still you think it's natural
Despite the blatant nature of the racism, prejudice, and discrimination promoted by this regime, many people choose to simply ignore, accept, or even justify it
Nigger knockin for the master race
Violent violence and brutality towards minorities is encouraged and celebrated
Still you wear a happy face
Despite the horrors and inhumanity taking place, many people choose to remain apathetic and unaffected
[Chorus]
Repeating the main refrain of the song that California is the epitome of all that embodies the fascist ideals that are being propagated by the Reagan administration
Welcome to 1984
The world is now like George Orwell's dystopian novel, with all-encompassing dictatorship and government oppression
Are you ready for the Third World War?!?
I am willing and ready to start a global war to achieve my goals
You too will meet the secret police
Government surveillance and policing will be rampant and unforgiving
They'll draft you and they'll jail your niece
No one will be immune from being forced into military service or being incarcerated for dissenting thoughts or actions
You'll go quietly to boot camp
You will be stripped of your freedom and individuality and indoctrinated into the fascist machine
They'll shoot you dead, make you a man
You will be given the ultimatum to submit, conform and comply with the regime, or be brutally executed as a symbol of defiance
Don't worry, it's for a cause
I will justify these atrocities and incite patriotism in the name of saving the nation and its people
Feeding global corporations' claws
The real benefactors and profiteers of this regime are the multinational corporations and the elite class behind them, at the cost of the common citizen
Die on a brand new poison gas
The government will deploy chemical weapons and other unconventional tactics to maintain power and dominance
El Salvador or Afghanistan
The government will meddle in the affairs of other nations in order to assert its power and influence
Making money for President Regan
The government is willing to sacrifice and exploit thousands of innocent people to profit its own interests
And all the friends of President Regan
The Reagan administration is a web of corrupt and immoral individuals enabling each other for personal gain and power
[Chorus]
Repeating the main refrain of the song that California is the epitome of all that embodies the fascist ideals being propagated by the Reagan administration
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Darren Henley, Eric Reed Boucher, Geoffrey Lyall, John Leonard Greenway, Raymond John Pepperelle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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