The Dicks emerged during the halcyon days of Austin, Texas punk. The scene centered around the local dive bar Raul's frequented by local freaks, artists, and soon-to-be punk rockers. The band was the creation of Gary Floyd, a 26 year old from Palestine, Texas who had been a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War and was openly, flamboyantly gay. Although he was advertising the Dicks before they were even an actual band, Floyd soon joined forces with three "terrorist thugs" to complete the group: guitarist Glen Taylor, bassist Buxf Parrot, and drummer Pat Deason. They started writing burly blues-drenched punk anthems and began playing raucous, shows with local heroes The Big Boys. Unlike that band's funk-infused, high-production value drag show, the Dicks opted for a cruder but still spectacular approach. Gary Floyd would assault the audience with chocolate frosting pulled from his panties, inviting any rowdy audience members to suck his dick.
The band's first single, Dicks Hate the Police, was dropped onto the world in 1980 on MDC's R Radical label. The title track to this EP is unlike anything else before or after - a total powerhouse of a song. The B-side found the band playing faster and harder than most other U.S. punk bands at the time. Like most of their Texas peers, the Dicks had a sound that didn't fit any one mold or genre. Sometimes punk, hardcore, blues, or free-form ranting, they were always playing music on the edge of insanity. Their next record is one of the ultimate documents of Texas punk - a split live LP with the Big Boys recorded at Raul's. While the Big Boys don't sound as great as their studio material, the Dicks really explode off the vinyl with a ripping live set that captures both the great songwriting and amazing energy they brought to the table.
Dicks Hate The Police
Having caught the attention of punk producer Spot, the Dicks recorded their first full length for SST. Kill from the Heart finds the Dicks' blues punk attacking conservatism and especially racism with unbridled fury. In 1982, before the album came out, Gary and the Dicks moved to San Francisco, followed by MDC and DRI who took up with them at a squatted beer plant known as the Vats. Along with their new neighbors Crucifix and Michigan's The Crucifucks, they embarked on the 1983 Rock Against Reagan tour: an exhausting 3 month extravaganza organized by the Yippies. The tour took a lot out of the band, and after its completion only Gary returned to the city by the bay. There he reformed the band with three new musicians: drummer Lynn Perko, guitarist Tim Carroll, and bassist Sebastian Fuchs.
This line-up recorded the PEACE? EP, a concept single attacking the injustices of war. While the record is powerful, especially the scorching "I Hope you Get Drafted," it also demonstrated the cleaner, more blues-rock direction that the new band was taking. 1985's These People LP, released on Alternative Tentacles, showcased a Dicks who were expanding punk sounds to play more straightforward, longer bluesy rock songs. Nonplused by the reaction from punk audiences ("play faster!"), Gary decided to end the Dicks in 1986. He and Lynn Perko started Sister Double Happiness, who recorded for SST. Gary later went solo and has a new project called Black Kali Ma on A.T. Glen Taylor, unfortunately, passed away. Alternative Tentacles has reissued a collection CD of Dicks material that is a good starting point, and bootlegs of the LP (good quality) and first 7" (bad quality) aren't too hard to come by. Go get them now.
(taken from KillFromTheHeart)
Shit On Me
Dicks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People always gotta fuck me around, it get old
Baby always gotta put me down (?)
So baby, shit on me
Come on, shit on me
Everybody's gotta make me out as a fool
I been (?) by the best of man like a tool
Come on, shit me
Baby, shit on me
Old man gotta (?) town
When I′m losing my ass, slummin' around
(?) It ain't much
You′re just scaring my ass, money for bucks
The Man is gonna kill you
When you put me down
I said shit on me
Come on, shit on me
All the people that don′t understand
Try to make me a fool, baby, I ain't a clown
I′m scared that even when I know
They try to push around, I don't know
Hey man, you wanna shit on me
When I′m dressed up nice?
Well, you can shit on me
Won't you shit on me?
Hey! I′m a child of sodomy
And I know
People always gotta put me down
(?)
Big baby, you can't fuck me around
I said, "Oh"
"Oh baby, shit on me"
Come on, shit on me
I said, baby, can you shit on me?
I said, baby, can you shit on me?
I said, baby, can you shit on me?
In Dick's song "Shit On Me," the lyrics express a sense of frustration and being mistreated by others. The singer identifies themselves as a "child of a (?)", suggesting that they come from a background or environment where they have faced judgment or discrimination. They acknowledge that people always try to mess with them and put them down, which has become tiresome. By using the phrase "shit on me," the singer is metaphorically asking for others to treat them poorly or disrespectfully, almost as if they have become numb to the mistreatment.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of being taken advantage of by others. The singer feels like they have been used by people who claim to be the best or superior, comparing themselves to a tool. They mention being pushed around and not being taken seriously, suggesting a lack of respect from others. Despite the mistreatment, the singer seems to be almost sarcastically inviting others to continue treating them poorly, almost as if it's a form of rebellion or defiance against those who try to demean them.
Overall, "Shit On Me" by Dick's explores the feelings of frustration, mistreatment, and defiance in the face of those who try to put the singer down.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a child of a (?) and I know
I come from a controversial background, but I am aware of it
People always gotta fuck me around, it get old
People constantly mistreat me, and it becomes tiresome
Baby always gotta put me down (?)
My partner always belittles me
So baby, shit on me
Therefore, I invite my partner to treat me disrespectfully
Come on, shit on me
Encouraging my partner to continue disrespecting me
Everybody's gotta make me out as a fool
Everyone tries to portray me as a foolish person
I been (?) by the best of man like a tool
I have been used and manipulated by manipulative individuals
Baby always gotta push me around like a fool
My partner always takes advantage of me and treats me poorly
Come on, shit me
I urge my partner to continue mistreating me
Baby, shit on me
My partner, please disrespect me
Old man gotta (?) town
The older generation has ruined the town
When I'm losing my ass, slummin' around
When I am in a difficult situation, struggling financially
(?) It ain't much
What I have left is not significant
You're just scaring my ass, money for bucks
You are intimidating me, demanding money
The Man is gonna kill you
The dominant authority figure will harm you
When you put me down
When you degrade me emotionally
I said shit on me
I explicitly asked to be treated disrespectfully
Come on, shit on me
Please continue disrespecting me
All the people that don't understand
Those who fail to comprehend
Try to make me a fool, baby, I ain't a clown
Attempting to ridicule me, but I am not a fool
I'm scared that even when I know
I am afraid that despite my awareness
They try to push around, I don't know
They still try to manipulate and control me
Hey man, you wanna shit on me
Hey, do you want to mistreat me?
When I'm dressed up nice?
Even when I am well-presented?
Well, you can shit on me
Well, you have permission to disrespect me
Won't you shit on me?
Would you please treat me disrespectfully?
Hey! I'm a child of sodomy
Hey! I am associated with controversial practices
And I know
And I am aware of it
People always gotta put me down
People always feel the need to degrade me
(?)
Unknown meaning
Big baby, you can't fuck me around
You, my narcissistic partner, cannot manipulate me
I said, "Oh"
I expressed surprise or frustration
"Oh baby, shit on me"
"Please, my partner, continue to disrespect me"
Come on, shit on me
Please continue mistreating me
I said, baby, can you shit on me?
I asked my partner if they are capable of treating me disrespectfully
I said, baby, can you shit on me?
I repeated my request for my partner to disrespect me
I said, baby, can you shit on me?
Once again, I asked if my partner is willing to mistreat me
Writer(s): Buff Parrott, Dicks, Gary Floyd, Glen Taylor, Pat Deason
Contributed by Scarlett H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Commander_Bunny
Saw them w/ The Fearless Iranians from Hell, JFA & The Sun City Girls at the Bone Club in San Antonio along time ago, killer show.
@cftvdata
Wow, what a great lineup
@thematteblack6606
insane!
@AnotherRandomPoser
fuuuuuuck
@SelkirkDraws
What a unique and loud individual..this is no holds barred rock and roll..fucking love it!
@AUSROTTENY2K
pure anger. love this band
@DustinSmith796
Crazy to know Gary was born in the same town I grew up in all my life
@shanecochran2491
I always like that song
@MrMofungo
the best, hands down, punk rock band anywhere at the time. and i saw all of them. glen taylor is highly underrated. fucking guitar genius. gary floyd needs no explanation. this is what real american punk was about. no goddamn skateboards or other nonsense. just good politically motivated punk. the shit.
@RealDiaz
MrMofungo Wtf is wrong with skateboards you fuck nugget?