Go Back to the Zoo (GBTTZ) was a band founded in Nijmegen,The Netherlands b… Read Full Bio ↴Go Back to the Zoo (GBTTZ) was a band founded in Nijmegen,The Netherlands by the two brothers Teun and Cas Hieltjes, in 2008. Teun (guitar) and Cas (vocals) had been playing together since they were little kids, when one day they decided they needed a drummer. They called their friend Bram and told him the good news, and so Bram became the drummer. A while later they met a nice guy while standing in the waiting line for a Strokes concert. His name was Lars, and Cas, Teun and Bram decided that Lars should be the bass player. Lars, who had never touched a bass guitar in his life, liked the idea and started practicing like crazy. And so Go Back to the Zoo was born.  
From that moment on they have been writing songs in a dusty old cellar (that also stored a collection of mounted animals). All across the Netherlands Go Back to the Zoo performed their songs, and all across the Netherlands the people liked it.

In 2008 they recorded an EP with producer Torre Florim (De Staat), which got picked up by national radio. Their single ‘Beam me up’ was used by Nike for a worldwide campaign and after that, things went crazy. Go Back to the Zoo got signed to Universal Music and in May 2009 ‘Beam me up’ was released as their first official single. In December 2009 they released their second single 'Electric' with a video which features the bandmembers as musical transformers. Friday, the 13th of August, Go Back To The Zoo released their debutalbum called 'Benny Blisto'.

In January 2016, Go Back To The Zoo announced their end as Go Back To The Zoo. They continue making other music in another band called St. Tropez.

Hey DJ
Go Back to the Zoo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey DJ we're the kids from the radio
He smiles
Oh you won't hear me complain
He says hi
But he doesn't know your name
Oh he's a dj
HEY DJ we're the kids from the radio
Ooee I hope I die at 27

Laugh about you on a cloud from heaven
Start a revolution start a war
Start a band steal a car
Grab your dreams and thoughts for free
It's easy flying overseas
It's easy living here you see
It's easy smiling on tv
I'm the one you and me know
You allways wanted to be
My name is benny blisto
Please to meet you
I'm the world
I'm king

I'm god
HEY DJ we're the kids from the radio

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Hey DJ" are a mix of youthful rebellion and a desire for fame. The song pays homage to the power of radio DJs in introducing new music to the world and amplifying the voices of young musicians. The first verse describes the band as "the kids from the radio", suggesting that they have been discovered and championed by a DJ. The DJ, however, remains distant and unnamed, creating a sense of detachment between the band and their benefactor.

The second verse takes a darker turn, with the singer expressing a wish to die young like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison, all of whom died at age 27. The line "Laugh about you on a cloud from heaven" suggests a posthumous fame, where the singer is remembered and celebrated despite their premature death. The rest of the verse is filled with youthful bravado, with the singer egging on listeners to start a revolution or a war, steal a car, and pursue their dreams without fear.

The chorus brings the song back to the DJ, with the band imploring him to play their music and introduce them to the world. The repetition of "HEY DJ" is a direct appeal, as if the band is shouting through the radio waves to get the DJ's attention. The final line, "we're the kids from the radio", reinforces the idea that the band owes their success to the power of radio.

Overall, "Hey DJ" is a celebration of rock'n'roll rebellion and the transformative power of music. The band is young, brash, and hungry for success, and the DJ is seen as a gatekeeper who can make or break their dreams. The song captures the restless energy of youth and the desire to be heard and recognized by the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey DJ we're the kids from the radio
We are the voices behind the music that you play on the radio. We want you to know that we are young and full of energy and we expect you to play our songs.

He smiles
The DJ is happy to hear from us and see our enthusiasm for what we do. We hope he will make our dreams come true.

Oh you won't hear me complain
We are not going to whine or moan about how hard it is to make it in the music industry. We are ready to work hard and make it on our own.

He says hi
The DJ is being friendly and polite, but he does not really care about us personally. We are just another band trying to get noticed.

But he doesn't know your name
Despite being polite, the DJ does not really care who we are. He just wants good music to play on his show.

Oh he's a dj
The DJ is a symbol of the music industry and we hope that he will help us get our music out to the world.

Ooee I hope I die at 27
We are young and full of ambition. Like other famous musicians who died young, we hope to achieve greatness and be remembered for our music.

Laugh about you on a cloud from heaven
We hope that when we are gone, people will still remember our music and how it made them feel. We want to be legends like the greats before us.

Start a revolution start a war
We are not satisfied with the status quo, we want to change things and start a movement with our music.

Start a band steal a car
We are willing to do whatever it takes to make our dreams a reality, even if it means breaking the law and taking risks.

Grab your dreams and thoughts for free
We believe that music should be accessible to everyone and that our songs can inspire people to follow their dreams and take risks.

It's easy flying overseas
We are not afraid to leave our comfort zone and venture into new territories. We believe that our music is universal and can connect with people from all over the world.

It's easy living here you see
Despite the challenges of making it in the music industry, we are determined to make it. We are confident in our abilities and know that success is within reach.

It's easy smiling on tv
We understand that success comes with its own set of challenges, including the need to always be 'on' and present ourselves positively in public.

I'm the one you and me know
We believe that we have what it takes to make it in the music industry and that people will remember us for our music.

You always wanted to be
We believe that many people aspire to be musicians and that our success can inspire others to chase their dreams and make the most of their lives.

My name is Benny Blisto
We are introducing ourselves to the world and hoping that our music will make a lasting impression on people.

Please to meet you
We are happy to meet new people and make connections in the music industry that could help us get ahead.

I'm the world
We believe that our music can change the world and make a difference in people's lives.

I'm king
We are confident in our abilities and believe that we are destined for greatness.

I'm god
We are not afraid to have big dreams and aim for the top. We believe that we can achieve anything we set our minds to.

HEY DJ we're the kids from the radio
We are reminding the DJ that we are here and that we are determined to make it in the music industry. We hope that he will give us a chance and play our music on his show.

Contributed by Taylor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS