Dub Narcotic Sound System (D.N.S.S.) is an indie-funk musical group founded… Read Full Bio ↴Dub Narcotic Sound System (D.N.S.S.) is an indie-funk musical group founded by Calvin Johnson. The group is currently made of three members, Calvin Johnson on vocals and guitar, Heather Dunn on drums and Chris Sutton on bass. The band produced a large number of 7" and 12" singles during the mid to late 1990s. Most contained the title track on the A side and "versions" on the flip. Cassettes were also produced during the early 1990s including "Hands on the Dial" which was a joint release from K Records with the Punk In My Vitamins label.

Exclusive tracks can also be found on a number of compilation releases.

Teenage Time Bomb
Dub Narcotic Sound System Lyrics

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If the dead can rise up, then so can we.
If the dead can rise up, then so can we.
If you don't understand the kids, then let them be.
Teenage time bomb, tick!
Teenage time bomb, tick tock!
Teenage time bomb, teenage time bomb

Kick back the chair and lose that music stand

Kick back the chair and lose that music stand
Stop the? hair and? so bland
Teenage time bomb, tick!
Teenage time bomb, tick tock!
Teenage time bomb, teenage time bomb,
oh, get off! Get off.

Teenage? terrorists have all?
Teenage? terrorists have all?
You won't know combustion 'til you're kissed by one
Teenage time bomb, tick!
Teenage time bomb, tick tock!
Teenage, oh, teenage time bomb,
Go off! Go off.

Raise the dead to a higher standard
We can raise the dead on up to a higher standard
All the houses on my street have been abandoned
Teenage time bomb, tick!
Teenage time bomb, tick tock!
Oh, Teenage time bomb, oh, teenage time bomb

Teenage, oh, teenage time bomb!
oh, go off.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Teenage Time Bomb" by Dub Narcotic Sound System is a commentary on the youth culture and how society perceives it. The band emphasizes the power of youth and how it can influence society positively or negatively, comparing teenagers to a time bomb that can explode at any moment. The opening lines "If the dead can rise up, then so can we" suggests that the younger generation can make a change in society if they are given a platform to do so. The line "If you don't understand the kids, then let them be" is an assertion that adults should not be too judgmental about youth culture and should accept the generation gap without trying to control it.

The band proceeds to encourage the youth to "kick back the chair and lose that music stand," suggesting that they should break away from the conventions of the past and create their own identity. The line "Stop the hair and so bland" highlights the band's desire for authenticity and creativity in youth culture, which aligns with their punk and indie roots. They proceed to talk about "Teenage terrorists," which is metaphorical for the change that young people can bring. The line "You won't know combustion 'til you're kissed by one" suggests that the transformational power of youth can manifest in sudden and unexpected ways.

The chorus "Teenage time bomb, tick tock" repeats at the end of each verse, emphasizing the impending explosion of youth energy that will shake up society. The last verse, "All the houses on my street have been abandoned," suggests that the future is uncertain for the younger generation, and they must rise to the challenge and create a new path forward.

Line by Line Meaning

If the dead can rise up, then so can we.
We can accomplish anything if we approach it with the same kind of dedication as the dead who come back to life.

If you don't understand the kids, then let them be.
Rather than trying to control or stifle kids who may seem difficult or unrelatable, it's better to let them behave in their own way.

Teenage time bomb, tick!
The explosive energy of teenagers is building up.

Teenage time bomb, tick tock!
The explosive energy of teenagers is ready to go off and there's little time left before it happens.

Teenage time bomb, teenage time bomb
The explosive energy of teenagers can't be ignored.

Kick back the chair and lose that music stand
Relax, let go of your inhibitions, and don't worry about conforming to conventional music standards.

Stop the hair and so bland
Don't be boring and predictable.

Teenage terrorists have all?
Teenagers who embody that explosive energy can bring about revolutionary change.

You won't know combustion 'til you're kissed by one
You can't understand the full force of that explosive energy until you experience it firsthand in yourself or others.

Raise the dead to a higher standard
We should strive to push ourselves to be better, just like the dead who rise up to a higher level of existence.

All the houses on my street have been abandoned
The older generation has moved on and left the younger generation to fend for themselves.

Oh, Teenage time bomb, oh, teenage time bomb
The explosive energy of teenagers is becoming more intense and can't be ignored.

Teenage, oh, teenage time bomb!
The explosive energy of teenagers is about to go off and can't be controlled.

oh, go off.
Let the explosive energy of teenagers do its work and change the world with its force.

Contributed by Jasmine M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS