Five Iron Frenzy (also known as Five Iron or FIF) is a Christian ska band f… Read Full Bio ↴Five Iron Frenzy (also known as Five Iron or FIF) is a Christian ska band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1995 and disbanded in 2003. In 2011, the band reunited and in 2013, they released the album Engine of a Million Plots. Their signature sound is a mix of rock and ska while their lyrics mix socially-conscious satire and their Christian faith.

Five Iron Frenzy started as a local side-project of Reese, Keith, Micah, and Scott's band Exhumator. Although the original intent was for the band to stay local and help support the local music scene, Five Iron Frenzy (FIF, or Five Iron) signed to Frank Tate's 5 Minute Walk records in 1995 and was touring nationally within a year. They reached the peak of their fame around 2000, with the release of All The Hype That Money Can Buy. They were known for dressing up in wacky costumes and fundraising for social causes. In December 2002, they announced that they would be breaking up after a final tour. They played the final show of the tour on November 22, 2003 at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, which was recorded for The End Is Here (disc 2) (this disc features that show in its entirety and was sold with the band's album, The End is Near). This show had an attendance of over 4,000 people.

On November 22, 2011, they announced via social media outlets and a week-long online scavenger hunt that they were recording a new album. The entire project was crowd funded in under an hour and met with a reunion show and touring. The results of the endeavor, Engine of a Million Plots, was released on November 26th, 2013. All members of the 2003 lineup participated in the project, with the exception of bassist Keith Hoerig, who was replaced by original guitarist Scott Kerr (who had left the band in 1998).

The Phantom Mullet
Five Iron Frenzy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Cruisin, downtown in your camaro,
Reo speedwagon on the stereo.
It's kind of carchy, kind of a virus,
Cutting your hair like billy ray cyrus.

You're probably bummed, you probably cried,
You're probably sad that the guy from lynyrd skynyrd died,
All night long.

[Chorus]
Feel the power of the phantom mullet,
Fremble and cower from the phantom mullet,
White metal burn of the phantom mullet,
Combed straight or permed it the phantom mullet,

And you, cutting it short on top,
I want that for me.
Growing it long in the back,
So savage and so free.

Drop into first you're taking it slow,
You're such a rock-star,

You could never know.
I wish I was singing, "oh, oh, oh", all night long.

Overall Meaning

The Phantom Mullet by Five Iron Frenzy is a song about the desire to fit in with a particular group or image. The opening lyrics talk about “cruisin downtown in your Camaro,” which gives a nod to the 80s obsession with muscle cars that symbolized coolness and strength. The mention of REO Speedwagon on the stereo is also a nod to the popularity of classic rock during that time. The line “it’s kinda catchy, kinda a virus” further emphasizes the idea that certain trends and styles can be contagious and difficult to resist.

The song then refers to the haircut trend of the time, the mullet. While it was popularized by celebrity musicians like Billy Ray Cyrus, it was also seen on many average people who admired the rugged and daring look. The line “cutting your hair like Billy Ray Cyrus” suggests that the mullet was seen as a desirable style, furthering the idea of the desire to fit in.

The chorus of the song speaks of the “phantom mullet” as a powerful force that people feel compelled to follow. The song’s lyrics emphasize the desire to conform to societal expectations, even if it means sacrificing individuality. The final lines that sing about the desire to “grow it long in the back, so savage and so free” reveals that despite the pressure to conform, there is a desire for individual expression and to be unique.

Line by Line Meaning

Cruisin, downtown in your camaro,
Driving around town in your Camaro

Reo speedwagon on the stereo.
Listening to REO Speedwagon on the car stereo

It's kind of carchy, kind of a virus,
The music is catchy and infectious

Cutting your hair like billy ray cyrus.
Cutting your hair like Billy Ray Cyrus

You're probably bummed, you probably cried,
You might be upset or sad

You're probably sad that the guy from lynyrd skynyrd died,
You might be particularly upset about the death of someone from Lynyrd Skynyrd

All night long.
All through the night

[Chorus]
Chorus

Feel the power of the phantom mullet,
Experience the power of the phantom mullet

Fremble and cower from the phantom mullet,
Tremble and cower in fear of the phantom mullet

White metal burn of the phantom mullet,
Feel the burn of the phantom mullet made of white metal