The name of the ba… Read Full Bio ↴The Donots formed in 1993 in Ibbenbüren, Germany.
The name of the band came into being by chance: The bassist of the band, Jan-Dirk Poggemann wanted to name the band like the pastries donuts, but he wrote the name the wrong way by mistake. The other band members liked the name, because they found their philosophy in the name (donots = do nothing, like slackers), so they retained the name. Very rarely the band calls themselves "Ibbtown Rockers" because of their provenance.
The US edition of “Wake The Dogs” features 14 new songs from the punk-veterans, plus 2 additional bonus tracks not included in the original German release, and was released on OK! Good Records.
Members
Ingo Knollmann (Vocalist) - since 1993
Guido Knollman (Guitar) - since 1993
Jan Dirk Poggemann (Bass Guitar) - since 1993
Eike Herwig (Drums) - since 1995
Alex Siebenbiedel (Guitar) - since 1996
Discography
1996: Pedigree Punk
1998: Tonight's Karaoke-Contest Winners
1999: Better Days Not Included
2001: Pocketrock
2002: Amplify the Good Times
2002: We're Not Gonna Take It
2004: Got the Noise
2005: 10 Years of Noise (DVD)
2006: The Story So Far: Ibbtown Chronicles
2008: Coma Chameleon
2010: The Long Way Home
2012: Wake The Dogs
Wretched Boy
Donots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess it sounds like a hornby book to you or maybe just pathetic
Well, now you're gone, now i'm free to do whatever i wanna do
So maybe i'll toast you and fall asleep to the tv static
If your smile dies away now
Then i don't care
Cause i can be myself now
You can't destroy
A wretched boy
Nothing to believe in,
God knows i don't give in
You won't destroy
This wretched boy
Cold but I ain't freezing,
I will never give in, yeah
And i'm sure i didn't ask for too much, i only asked for a lifetime
Out there in the sunshine and by now i know that means without you
And i cracked, i cracked, i cracked but you couldn't break me
Did you think you'd make me shallow just like you (like you!)?
If your smile dies away now
Then i don't care
Cause i can be myself now
You can't destroy
A wretched boy
Nothing to believe in,
God knows i don't give in
You won't destroy
This wretched boy
I'm cold but i ain't freezing
I will never give in
Get, get, get over yourself now
Cause i don't care
Just, just like i got over you
yeah
You can't destroy
A wretched boy
Nothing to believe in,
God knows i don't give in
You won't destroy
This wretched boy
I'm cold but i ain't freezing
And i will never give in
You can't destroy
A wretched boy
Nothing to believe in,
God knows i don't give in
You won't destroy
This good old boy
Cause i will never give in,
No i just won't give in
In the song "Wretched Boy" by Donots, the main character reflects on a past relationship and how his record collection understands him better than his ex-lover ever did. He feels liberated now that he is single and can do whatever he wants, even if that includes drinking alone and falling asleep to the static on the TV. He recognizes that he didn't ask for too much in the relationship - just to be loved and to enjoy life together in the sunshine - but now he's happy to be himself and not be shallow like his ex. The song ends with the declaration that he will never give in, no matter what anyone tries to do to him.
The lyrics paint a picture of someone who has gone through a difficult breakup but has come out on the other side stronger and more resilient. He is proud of who he is and won't let anyone else bring him down. The repetition of the phrase "you can't destroy a wretched boy" reinforces this idea and gives the song a defiant, almost punk rock feel.
Interestingly, "Wretched Boy" was one of the last songs recorded for Donots' 2008 album "Coma Chameleon." Lead singer Ingo Knollmann has said that the song was inspired by his own experiences with breakups and relationships, and that he wrote the lyrics in a stream-of-consciousness style. The band has performed the song live many times and it remains a fan favorite.
Line by Line Meaning
So it turned out that my record collection knows me better than you do
It seems that my records can understand me better than you can.
I guess it sounds like a hornby book to you or maybe just pathetic
You might just think it's sad, like a character in a Hornby novel or just pathetic.
Well, now you're gone, now i'm free to do whatever i wanna do
Since you're gone, I can finally do as I please.
So maybe i'll toast you and fall asleep to the tv static
Perhaps, to celebrate your absence, I'll drink to you and fall asleep watching static on the television.
If your smile dies away now
If you're no longer happy.
Then i don't care
I'm indifferent to your emotional state.
Cause i can be myself now
Because I can finally be my true self, free from the constraints of our relationship.
You can't destroy
You don't have the power to break me down.
A wretched boy
I may be miserable, but I'm still standing.
Nothing to believe in,
I'm feeling hopeless.
God knows i don't give in
But I won't surrender.
You won't destroy
You won't be able to tear me down.
I'm cold but i ain't freezing,
I may be distant, but I'm not completely frozen.
I will never give in, yeah
I'll never give up, no matter what.
And i'm sure i didn't ask for too much, i only asked for a lifetime
I never asked for too much, just a lifetime with you.
Out there in the sunshine and by now i know that means without you
I used to think happiness was being in the sun with you, but now I know I can be happy without you.
And i cracked, i cracked, i cracked but you couldn't break me
I may have broken down at times, but you couldn't destroy me completely.
Did you think you'd make me shallow just like you (like you!)?
Did you believe that you could make me as superficial as you are?
Get, get, get over yourself now
You need to move on from yourself.
Just, just like i got over you
Just like I moved on from you.
This good old boy
I'm a steadfast person.
Cause i will never give in,
I'll never surrender.
No i just won't give in
I won't give up.
Contributed by Hunter H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.