Fifteen released their first record in 1991 on Lookout records. It was singer/guitarist Jeff Ott's vision to create music that didn't just rock, but had something important to say as well. After four records on Lookout, two on Grass Records, three on Sub City Records, and three more on indefinite self-published labels, Fifteen were viewed as the leaders in the political-punk music scene. They tackle such burning issues as homelessness, drug abuse, needle exchange, environmental destruction and the government's use of counterintelligence measures to violate activist's civil rights. Fifteen first broke up in 1996 after the self-released "extra medium kickball star."
They reformed in 1998 and released Hush and Survivor then disbanded 2000 with Jeff Ott stating that the anti-commercial DIY ethics of punk rock made it too expensive for him to have a band while raising a family.
The band had a total of fifteen members during its existence: Jeff Ott, Jack Curran, Mikey Mischief, Mark Moreno, Jean Repetto, Lucky Dog, Chris Flanagan, John Ogle, Jessie Wickman, Joe Cable, John Quintos, Scott Pierce, Jim Prior, Lisa D. and Vanessa Bain.
Whore
Fifteen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't glare at me
I'm not your piece of meat
I'm not your fantasy
Don't eye me
make a fool of us
I'm not your property
I'm not your anything
because our parents sexualized us
Did they treat each other like meat
Because they treated us like meat
Don't stare at me
Don't glare at me
I'm not your piece of meat
I'm not your fantasy
Don't eye me
You make a fool of us
Love em and leave em
Is no longer male behavior
Do we treat each-other like meat
Because we were incested
Do we treat each-other like meat
Because we were molested
Or are we just obeying TV
Or are we just obeying advertising
Or are we just obeying dear abbey
Or are we just obeying MTV
Don't stare at me
Don't glare at me
I'm not your piece of meat
I'm not your fantasy
The lyrics of Fifteen's song "Whore" deal with the sexual objectification of women and the societal norms that perpetuate it. The opening lines, "Don't stare at me, don't glare at me, I'm not your piece of meat, I'm not your fantasy" clearly set the tone of the song and express the singer's frustration with being reduced to a sexual object. The repetition of the phrase "don't stare at me, don't glare at me" emphasizes the singer's desire for respect and acknowledgement as a human being, not just a sexualized image.
The second stanza of the song raises the question of why everything in our society is sexualized, suggesting that perhaps it is because our parents sexualized us. The lines "did they treat each other like meat, because they treated us like meat" suggest that the objectification of women is ingrained in our culture and passed down from generation to generation. The singer then goes on to suggest that perhaps we treat each other like meat because of past experiences of incest or molestation, or simply because we are all influenced by the media and advertising that perpetuate these ideas.
Overall, the song "Whore" is a powerful critique of the sexual objectification of women in our society and the ways in which it is perpetuated by cultural norms and media influences.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't stare at me
Please don't continue to watch me for an extended period, it is a form of harassment.
Don't glare at me
Stop looking at me in a hostile manner, it is intimidating.
I'm not your piece of meat
I am a human being with thoughts and feelings, don't treat me like an object.
I'm not your fantasy
I am a real person, not just a figment of your imagination.
Don't eye me
Don't scrutinize me, it makes me uncomfortable.
You make a fool of us
If you continue to objectify me, it makes both of us look bad.
Love em and leave em
Is no longer male behavior
It is not acceptable for anyone to use another person for pleasure and then discard them, regardless of gender.
Do we treat each-other like meat
Because we were incested
Do we objectify one another because we were victims of incest and did not learn healthy boundaries?
Do we treat each-other like meat
Because we were molested
Do we see each other as objects because we were sexually abused in the past?
Or are we just obeying TV
Are we following societal expectations of how men and women should be treated based on what we see on television?
Or are we just obeying advertising
Are we influenced by advertisements that use sex to sell products?
Or are we just obeying dear abbey
Are we following advice from advice columns that reinforce gender stereotypes?
Or are we just obeying MTV
Are we conforming to the standards set by popular music videos?
Don't stare at me
I am asking you again to stop staring at me, it is uncomfortable and inappropriate.
Don't glare at me
I am repeating my request for you to stop looking at me with hostility and aggression.
I'm not your piece of meat
I am reiterating that I am not an object to be used for your pleasure.
I'm not your fantasy
I am reminding you that I am a real person with my own thoughts, feelings, and desires.
Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.