The band also included bassist Danna Pentes, guitarists Aaron Pitkin, Gary White, and later, Errol Stewart, as well as drummers Marc Mueller, later replaced by Clay Richardson.
Albums included 1985's Cabin Flounder, 1986's Bad Pumpkin, 1987's Galaxy 500 and 1989's Monster.
Sammy
Fetchin Bones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A bad guy in red, white and blue
There he came down the street twirling a baton and stomping his feet
On the 4th of July it rains
It always rains on the 4th
The sky goes black on the 4th of July
You know it pours
Underdogs underground so long from East to West
He pushed his glistening black car
He marveled that it was so far
Locked like a vault, empty and huge
Our stars turn to bars
The red, white and blue
I don't feel proud, I don't feel free
The cop show switch off Sammy the cop show
I don't feel proud and I don't feel free
No peace, no piece of apple pie
No peace for me, black skies
Everybody look up the sky is falling
The lyrics of Fetchin Bones's song "Sammy" convey the sense of disillusionment and disappointment with the American Dream, and the façade of patriotism that it brings along. The song introduces Sammy as a character who seems to have achieved the embodiment of success and the American ideal, as he parades down the street twirling his baton while dressed in red, white, and blue. However, the lyrics soon reveal that this image is only a pretense as the country has failed to live up to its promises.
The 4th of July, a day intended to celebrate American independence and unity, is depicted as a day of sadness and darkness, where rain washes away any sense of joy or pride. The use of raining on the 4th of July in the song seems to symbolize the failure of America to deliver on its promise of life, liberty, and happiness for all its citizens. The lyrics also hint at the oppression of minorities and lower classes, with the lines "underdogs underground for so long from East to West" pointing out the systemic discrimination and marginalization in society.
Towards the end of the song, the theme of American disillusionment evolves into outright condemnation, with the titular character becoming "Sammy the cop show" - a representation of crooked cops and the unjust legal system. The lyrics express that the country has become a prison, where even the stars become bars, and the so-called symbol of freedom and opportunity fails to provide stability and security.
Overall, Fetchin Bones's "Sammy" is an insightful commentary on the failure of the American Dream, and how this ideal has become a farce for many citizens who do not enjoy equal rights and opportunities, and the country's legal system appears to be failing, and the society is turning against its citizens.
Line by Line Meaning
Sammy is so well to do
Sammy is an affluent person
A bad guy in red, white and blue
Despite Sammy's appearance as a patriot with a star-spangled outfit, he is actually a morally corrupt person
There he came down the street twirling a baton and stomping his feet
Sammy arrogantly flaunts his power by dominating public spaces and asserting his authority
On the 4th of July it rains
The celebration of American independence is tainted by unpleasant or ominous weather
It always rains on the 4th
The bad weather on the 4th of July is a regular occurrence
The sky goes black on the 4th of July
The 4th of July is marred by negative and dreary events
You know it pours
It rains heavily on this day
Laws pour out of the sky like bombs
The enforcement of the law is so severe and pervasive that it feels like an attack on the citizens
Underdogs underground so long from East to West
People in disadvantaged or oppressed positions are marginalized and ignored throughout the country
He pushed his glistening black car
Sammy uses his vehicle, a symbol of his wealth and power, to intimidate and threaten others
He marveled that it was so far
Sammy is impressed by the distance that he can travel and the power that his car provides
Locked like a vault, empty and huge
Despite its impressive size, Sammy's car contains nothing of real value or substance
Our stars turn to bars
The symbols of American success, such as celebrities or aspirational figures, are ultimately limiting and suffocating
The red, white and blue
The traditional symbols of American patriotism and nationalism
I don't feel proud, I don't feel free
The singer rejects the conventional American values and feels disenchanted with her country
The cop show switch off Sammy the cop show
The representation of police in popular media is misleading and fails to capture the real problems with law enforcement
I don't feel proud and I don't feel free
The singer repeats her disillusionment with America
No peace, no piece of apple pie
The American dream of prosperity and contentment seems out of reach and impossible
No peace for me, black skies
The singer's experience of America is bleak and dismal
Everybody look up the sky is falling
The negative events in America have reached a critical point and cannot be ignored
Contributed by Avery F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.