The Dead Milkmen's songs found moderate success on alternative and college radio stations. Videos, notably Punk Rock Girl, even found their way onto MTV in the late 1980s. Topics for their music include satire on the 1980s music scene, toxic waste, jellyfish afterlifes, UFOs, conspiracy theories, and cover bands.
Irreverent absurdity fueled their initial popularity, particularly among college DJs. However, this genre was somewhat abandoned with the 1992 release of Soul Rotation, a much more subtle album.
After the Dead Milkmen went on indefinite hiatus in 1994, Genaro and Sabatino formed a new band, Butterfly Joe. Sabatino was also in the punk rock bands Narthex, Big Mess Orchestra, and Hunger Artists. Genaro was in a band called Touch Me Zoo. Linderman was in a band called Burn Witch Burn. Schulthise left music in the early 1990s after developing tendonitis, preventing him from playing bass, and committed suicide in 2004.
The Dead Milkmen took the stage again for two consecutive nights in November 2004 at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia to play a show in memory of Dave Schulthise. Proceeds were donated to a variety of mental health organizations and to a Serbian monastery that Schulthise supported.
The Fez
Dead Milkmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who has angered the volcano god?
Who has angered the volcano god?
Who has angered the volcano god?
Who has angered the volcano god?
You have angered the volcano god
(Ha, ha, ha, ha)
Chonga, the goat-boy's in the village again
Chonga, the goat-boy's in the village again
He's frightening the women and he's raping the men because
Chonga, the goat-boy's in the village again
Excuse me while I puke and die
(Ha, ha, ha, ha)
Oh, he pisses me off, huh? You know what
What really gets me mad in this life?
The goddamn periodic table of elements
They've got 109 or so naturally occurring elements
Then they've got 10 or 11 of these
Non-naturally occurring man-made elements
They give them names like Einsteinium
Californium and Nobelium
And what I want to know is
If they're man made
Then how the hell can they be elements, huh?
Know what's bothering my mind?
There's a time for taking
And a time for giving
But ripping off the Butthole Surfers
Is how we make our living
(Ha, ha, ha, ha)
The Dead Milkmen's song "The Fez" is a classic example of the band's humorous and irreverent approach to punk rock. The song begins with the singer addressing a person named Colin, asking them who has angered the volcano god. This question is repeated several times before the punchline is delivered - it turns out that Colin himself is the one who has angered the volcano god.
Despite this ominous threat, the tone of the song remains lighthearted and absurd, with the singer joking that he would like to help Colin but he smells like a goat. This segues into a chorus about Chonga, the goat-boy who is apparently terrorizing the village by frightening women and raping men. The humor in this section is obviously offensive and crude, but it is presented in such an over-the-top manner that it is difficult to take seriously.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello Colin, it's the Fez
Greeting Colin, I'm the Fez
Who has angered the volcano god?
Who did something to upset the volcano god?
You have angered the volcano god
You are the one who upset the volcano god
I'd like to help you, son, but you smell like a goat (Ha, ha, ha, ha)
I want to help you, but you smell terrible like a goat
Chonga, the goat-boy's in the village again
Chonga, the boy with goat-like features is in the village again
He's frightening the women and he's raping the men because
Chonga, the goat-boy's in the village again
He's scaring the women and assaulting the men because of his goat-like appearance, Chonga is in the village again
Excuse me while I puke and die (Ha, ha, ha, ha)
I'm so sickened, let me vomit and die
Oh, he pisses me off, huh? You know what
What really gets me mad in this life?
The goddamn periodic table of elements
They've got 109 or so naturally occurring elements
What really annoys me is the periodic table of elements with over 109 natural ones
Then they've got 10 or 11 of these
Non-naturally occurring man-made elements
They give them names like Einsteinium
Californium and Nobelium
And what I want to know is
If they're man made
Then how the hell can they be elements, huh?
They also have a few man-made elements, which are named based on scientists, states or nobel prize. If these elements are artificially made, how can they be elements?
There's a time for taking
And a time for giving
But ripping off the Butthole Surfers
Is how we make our living
(Ha, ha, ha, ha)
There's a time for receiving and giving, but we earn money by copying Butthole Surfers' work
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GENARO, LINDERMAN, SABATINO, SCHULTHISE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Nemec
Ah, this one takes me back... I've seen them live no less than six times when Dave was alive. I remember watching Rodney and Dave beat the Ween brothers at foosball... RIP Dave.
Bret Walker
Still one of my favorite Milkmen songs
SweetSweetWaldo
'Scuse me while I puke and die! HA-HA-HA-HA! I used to chant these lines over and over again, thought it was the funniest thing in the world!
everybodylovesducksauce
still is!
DRAGONMAYA
It's about time someone uploaded this. The Fez is like the epitome of my pre-pubescent nastalgias. Thanx Herb; now someone just needs to upload 2 feet off the ground!
Pipeboy
the goddamn periodic table of the elements lol
Dee Priser
It's our end of the year episode and what better way to say goodbye to 2015 than with the legendary Joe Genaro AKA Joe Jack Talcum from the iconic punk band The Dead Milkmen. This episode we talk about the bands 30 plus year career, the state of punk and politics today and how social media has impacted underground DIY music.
So join Saucey, Odell and Joe for all the Epic Punk Tales we can Musically Deliver into your Bitching Little Earholes! This Wednesday 12/30 at 8 PM EST.
http://tobtr.com/s/8123101
Ipnorospo Trentotto
Once there was a great live version.
Vanessa Thai
THE DEAD MILKMEN!!! WOOOOOOOOOO
Collin Powell
Love the intro as it's my name and I'd love to help you son but you smell like a goat. Ha ha ha.