Cockroaches On Parade
Frank Hayes Lyrics


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Now that it's cold with winds outside
They need a warm new place to hide
Inside your walls, under the floor, the cabinet, behind your door
They get a drink inside your sink
They have a laugh around the bath
And when you go and turn your back they like to sneak a little snack

Black Flag, Decon, indoor sprays, fumigators by the score
Swat them, slap them, hammer them with Raid they come back for more
And in the darkest hour, just before the dawn
You can hear them singing some old love song
They wipe their feet on your lunch meat
They put their hands into your cans
They take your scraps into their laps and then they dine upon your wine

Well, earlier tonight you hurried up to go on your big date
And in your haste you left a lot of dirty forks and knives and plates
And as you sit here listening to this stupid song
On your kitchen table there's a party going on
And when you get home late tonight




Open the door and turn on your light
And you will see your wallpaper change those are cockroaches on parade!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Frank Hayes's song “Cockroaches On Parade” tell the story of a house infested with cockroaches. The song captures the creepy and unsettling atmosphere of having uninvited guests that multiply even after many attempts to get rid of them. The first stanza talks about how the cold season drives the cockroaches to seek shelter inside the house. They hide inside the walls, floors, and cabinets, and enjoy the water from the sink or bath. The second stanza describes how the house owner tries to get rid of the cockroaches by using various insecticides and fumigators. However, the cockroaches still manage to survive and even find time to have a feast on the scraps left by the homeowner. Lastly, the song talks about how the cockroaches have a party on the kitchen table in the homeowner's absence.


The song's cynical and humorous approach highlights the frustration and disgust that comes with a cockroach infestation. The lyrics are easy to follow, and the rhyming pattern creates a sing-song quality that balances the dark subject matter. The song's cadence also imitates the movement of cockroaches, and it feels like the words are scurrying through the listener's ears.


Overall, the lyrics to Frank Hayes's “Cockroaches On Parade” capture the misery of having an infestation of cockroaches in your home. The song conveys a creepy, humorous, and sarcastic tone that makes it an enjoyable listen, although it may not be everyone's cup of tea.


Line by Line Meaning

Now that it's cold with winds outside
Since the temperature has dropped outside and the wind is blowing, cockroaches are looking for a warm, cozy shelter to hide.


They need a warm new place to hide
Cockroaches require a comfortable and snug spot to live in during the chilly winter months.


Inside your walls, under the floor, the cabinet, behind your door
Cockroaches are great at sneaking in and out of various hiding places in your house, including behind doors, under the floor, cabinets, and inside the walls.


They get a drink inside your sink
Cockroaches use the sink to quench their thirst, as it is an ideal source of water for them.


They have a laugh around the bath
Cockroaches love to gather around bathtubs since there's often plenty of moisture and humidity for them to thrive there.


And when you go and turn your back they like to sneak a little snack
When you're not looking, cockroaches will happily munch on any crumbs or scraps of food they can find, which is why they are such a nuisance in the kitchen.


Black Flag, Decon, indoor sprays, fumigators by the score
There are multiple products available to kill cockroaches, like indoor sprays, Decon, Black Flag, or even professional fumigation.


Swat them, slap them, hammer them with Raid they come back for more
Even if you manage to kill some cockroaches, they are highly resilient creatures and will keep coming back for more.


And in the darkest hour, just before the dawn
During the night, when it's dark, is the most active time for cockroaches.


You can hear them singing some old love song
Cockroaches are most active at night, and you may hear them scurrying around your house or even chirping, which might sound like they're singing a song.


They wipe their feet on your lunch meat
Cockroaches will crawl over your food and leave germs and bacteria, even if it's something as simple as lunch meat.


They put their hands into your cans
Cockroaches are infamous for crawling into cans of food, contaminating them with their germs and droppings.


They take your scraps into their laps and then they dine upon your wine
Cockroaches will eat any scraps of food they can find, but more oddly, they can get into your unopened alcoholic beverages like wine, and they will take a sip.


Well, earlier tonight you hurried up to go on your big date
You were getting ready for a significant event earlier today, and you didn't stop to tidy up after yourself.


And in your haste you left a lot of dirty forks and knives and plates
Because you were in a hurry, you left behind many utensils and dishes that were dirty and scattered throughout your house.


And as you sit here listening to this stupid song
While listening to this song, you are unaware that a lot of cockroaches are probably still out in the open around you.


On your kitchen table there's a party going on
Your kitchen table has become the venue for a cockroach get-together, with them feasting on your leftover food that you left behind in your haste earlier that night.


And when you get home late tonight
When you return home late tonight, you may see an unpleasant surprise waiting for you.


Open the door and turn on your light
When you open the door and turn on the light, you will be able to see what mess the cockroaches have made while you were gone, and you will be in for a surprise.


And you will see your wallpaper change those are cockroaches on parade!
When you turn on the lights, you will see that the walls of your kitchen are crawling with cockroaches, making it look like they are having a parade.




Contributed by Samuel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Steve Sartorius

Harry Waller wrote Cockroaches On Parade. Not Frank Hayes.

Comments from YouTube:

@peterwall8191

Maybe for you, me .. Me and the bugs, we have us an understanding. They don't come near me and mine .. i don't declare total war on them. Ya just got to know how to talk to them.

@johnburt1172

My youngest loved Joe's Apartment sooooo much when he was little....

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