JFA was formed around March of 1981. Pendleton, then in the band The Deez and Cornelius, then in the band Jr. Chemists, knew each other from shows around Phoenix, Arizona and from skateboarding. They began playing together after a D.O.A. concert during the band's Hardcore 81 tour. Bam-Bam later joined after meeting Pendleton at an "Industrial Dance" in Phoenix, and bestowed the moniker on the band, which is a reference to his second-cousin's, John Hinckley, Jr., attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan.
The band's first show was opening for Black Flag at an Industrial Dance which was one of a series of early Phoenix punk shows. Their first song of the night was Pipetruck.
Placebo Records released their debut EP "Out Of School" in late 1981. The band toured the west extensively and played many local shows. Their first national tour was in the summer of 1983 following the release of their first album "Valley ot the Yakes".
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Little Big Man
JFA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You aren't so tall without your friends
Am I still a punker faggot
When they're not around
'cause now the odds are ven
And you know I'm gonna win
I don't care if you're sorry
Hey little big man
Hiding behind our badge and your sacred laws
Your laws won't protect you now
From this gun in my hand
[Chorus]
Hey little big man
So high in the bureaucratic machine
But it only takes one bullet
To knowck that machine down
[Chorus]
In JFA's song Little Big Man, the singer addresses a person who appears to be a bully, and questions their toughness when separated from their group of friends. The lyrics "Hey little big man, you aren't so tall without your friends" suggest that the target of the song is only brave and confrontational when in the company of others who support them. The lines "Am I still a punker faggot when they're not around" further emphasizes the idea that the target of the song relies on their association with a group to feel powerful and respected.
Later in the song, the singer suggests that the target of the song is a law enforcement officer, or someone with power and authority. The lyric "Hiding behind our badge and your sacred laws, your laws won't protect you now from this gun in my hand" suggests that the singer has a gun and is threatening the person. The song seems to be a warning to those in positions of power and authority that they are not immune to the consequences of their actions, and that they should not abuse their power.
Overall, Little Big Man is a provocative and confrontational song that critiques those who abuse their power and rely on the support of a group to feel powerful. It encourages listeners to question authority and to hold those in positions of power accountable for their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey little big man
Addressing the person being talked about
You aren't so tall without your friends
You aren't as powerful or intimidating alone as you are with backup
Am I still a punker faggot
Asking if the person being talked about still considers the singer a derogatory term for a homosexual and a disrespectful term for a punk
When they're not around
When those who support the person being talked about are not present
'cause now the odds are ven
Because the odds are even - neither side has an advantage
And you know I'm gonna win
The singer is confident they will emerge victorious
I don't care if you're sorry
The singer is unmoved by the person being talked about's apologies
Or that it won't happen again
The person being talked about's promises to avoid conflict are irrelevant
Hey little big man
Addressing the person being talked about again
Hiding behind our badge and your sacred laws
Taking advantage of one's position of power and the laws that support that power
Your laws won't protect you now
The laws that protect you in other situations will not save you in this moment
From this gun in my hand
A threat of physical violence against the person being talked about
Hey little big man
Addressing the person being talked about a final time
So high in the bureaucratic machine
In a position of authority in a large, complex system
But it only takes one bullet
One person with a weapon can bring down the entire system
To knowck that machine down
A message that violence can disrupt and disempower the most entrenched positions of authority
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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