Jobriath's second album Creatures of the Street was released in 1974, and consisted of the remaining session recordings that weren't used for the first album. Jobriath's career was regarded as Elektra's (and the entire recording industry's) biggest faux pas and most expensive advertising failure. He was quickly dropped by Elektra. Although he briefly toured with his band after that, even he soon distanced himself from the Jobriath image and performed a cabaret act under the name Cole Berlin.
Pre-Jobriath, Campbell played the presumed-gay character Woof in the Broadway musical HAIR, and was a member of the folk-rock band Pidgeon (one album for Decca, 1969).
In 1983, on August 3rd, he died at his apartment in New York's Chelsea Hotel from AIDS-related complications. His death pre-dated Klaus Nomi's by three days, making him the first known recording artist whose death was AIDS-related.
The posthumous retrospective Lonely Planet Boy was released in 2004.
Scumbag
Jobriath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sits on his milk crate all day long [bleat]
From morning until night he sings his song
to the ladies passing by
Outside of Zum Zum Zum Zum Zum Zum Zum restaurant
Oooh...
"Scumbag"
The pretty Broadway butterflies would flutter to his
dressing room at night [snarls]
Til one sad day a monarch
flew through his window and broke his heart. [sobs]
Zum Zum finds him there at nine o'clock
And perfect ladies scream a perfect shock ["oh my"]
At five his workday through he rides a crosstown bus
His milk crate abides
til morn when he returns to greet the ladies ["hey ladies"]
"Scumbag"
Sits on his milk crate all day long [snarls]
From morning until night he sings his song
to the ladies passing by
Outside of Zum Zum Zum Zum Zum Zum Zum restaurant
Oooh...
Zum Zum finds him there at nine o'clock
And perfect ladies scream a perfect shock ["oh my"]
At five his workday through he rides a crosstown bus
To God knows where
And nobody tells him what to do [x2]
I'd like to live like that now, wouldn't you?
The song "Scumbag" by Jobriath tells the story of a man who is often belittled and ridiculed by society. The singer of the song is portrayed as an eccentric man who spends his days sitting on a milk crate outside of a restaurant called Zum Zum. From morning until night, he sings a song to the ladies passing by. But despite his odd behavior, the man has a backstory that is revealed in the lyrics. At one point in his life, the man used to be a famous actor who had many admirers. He was accustomed to Broadway butterflies fluttering to his dressing room at night.
However, his life took a dark turn one day when a monarch flew into his window, breaking his heart. As a result, the man retreated from the public eye and now spends his days on the milk crate, singing to the passing ladies. The song is a commentary on how society often treats those who are different and how quickly those in the public eye can fall from grace. "Scumbag" also touches on themes of loneliness, heartbreak, and the desire for freedom.
Overall, the lyrics of "Scumbag" highlight the struggles of a man who has fallen from grace and is now relegated to the sidelines of society. Despite his odd behavior, the singer of the song is a sympathetic character who has been hurt by the harsh realities of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sits on his milk crate all day long [bleat]
He spends all day sitting on a milk crate, looking useless
From morning until night he sings his song to the ladies passing by Outside of Zum Zum Zum Zum Zum Zum Zum restaurant Oooh...
He spends his time trying to flirt with women who pass by the restaurant.
He used to be a famous actor [snarls] The pretty Broadway butterflies would flutter to his dressing room at night [snarls] Til one sad day a monarch flew through his window and broke his heart. [sobs]
He was a famous actor who was once the object of many people's affections, but after an unfortunate incident involving a butterfly, he fell into a deep depression.
Zum Zum finds him there at nine o'clock And perfect ladies scream a perfect shock ['oh my']
When the restaurant closes, the perfect, well-to-do women are surprised to see him still sitting on his milk crate.
At five his workday through he rides a crosstown bus His milk crate abides til morn when he returns to greet the ladies ['hey ladies']
He goes home at 5pm and takes the bus. Next day he will return to sit on his milk crate and flirt with women again.
To God knows where And nobody tells him what to do [x2] I'd like to live like that now, wouldn't you?
He's free to go wherever he wants without anyone bothering him about it, which might seem appealing to some.
Contributed by Hailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Shaun Salmon
I reallly love David Bowie. That said, if you can't see that Jobriath is fucking amazing you need to clean the shit out of your ears.
PANCAKES PANCAKES
Why do so many people how they love David Bowie or ask about David Bowie when it's a Jobriath song? Lol, like go watch/listen to Bowie. I don't get it.
The Phantom
I love this song... The entire Creatures Of The Street album is brilliant.
Long Live Jobraith ❤️
Quinn Rollen
Brilliant! I would say he's a mix of other performers of his time (no need to drop names), but in all honesty he's just fucking amazing. How is it I've just stumbled upon him?
FarmYardFlavours
I don't understand how i could never hear of him until today. He's awesome
Quinn Rollen
Same!
David G Scott
To anyone asking..Born to Win is the clip in this vid and its a brilliant 70s film. Free to watch in its entirety on Youtube.
robynsegg
Thank you! It's on YT, also! 💖
Christian Basehart
On Amazon Prime too!
David Andrews
What lyrics! It's no wonder he became a BIG STAR!