I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement
Dee Dee Ramone/Joey Ramone/Johnny Ramone/Ramones/Tommy Ramone Lyrics


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Hey, daddy-o
I don't want to go down to the basement
There's somethin' down there
I don't want to go
Hey, Romeo
There's somethin' down there
I don't want to go down to the basement
Hey, daddy-o
I don't want to go down to the basement
There's somethin' down there
I don't want to go
Hey, Romeo
There's somethin' down there
I don't want to go down to the basement

Hey, daddy-o
I don't want to go down to the basement
There's somethin' down there
I don't want to go
Hey, Romeo




There's somethin' down there
I don't want to go down to the basement

Overall Meaning

The Ramones' "I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement" is a sinister song that captures teenage angst and fear in a way only punk rock can. The band combines fast guitar riffing and powerful drumming to create a tense atmosphere that complements the lyrics. The song's narrator, referred to as "daddy-o," expresses a deep-seated fear of going down to the basement, where there's something he doesn't want to face. The repetition of "There's somethin' down there / I don't want to go" emphasizes the sense of danger and urgency.


The song can be interpreted in different ways, but one possible reading is that it's about the fear of the unknown and the horrors that lurk beneath the surface. The basement represents a space that's hidden and mysterious, where secrets are kept and unspeakable things happen. The singer's reluctance to go down there suggests a fear of confronting his own demons or the darkness in others. The use of the name "Romeo" could also imply a doomed romantic relationship, in which the singer is drawn to someone who's dangerous or unpredictable.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey, daddy-o
Casual greeting addressed to an older male figure


I don't want to go down to the basement
I have no desire to descend to the lower level of the building


There's somethin' down there
There exists an unknown object or presence in that area


I don't want to go
I refuse to engage in this activity


Hey, Romeo
Playful address to a male friend or romantic partner


There's somethin' down there
The object or presence in the basement is still present


I don't want to go down to the basement
My reluctance to venture into the basement remains




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DEE DEE RAMONE, DOUGLAS COLVIN, JEFFREY HYMAN, JOEY RAMONE, JOHN (RAMONE) CUMMINGS, JOHNNY RAMONE, THOMAS ERDELYI, TOMMY RAMONE

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