Their first official release was a split album with Metal Duck. Lawnmower Deth’s side of the record was entitled Mower Liberation Front and positive responses led to their debut studio album, Ooh Crikey, It’s… Lawnmower Deth. Lawnmower Deth’s second studio album, Return of the Fabulous Metal Bozo Clowns, was released in 1992. For this release Paddy was replaced by Kev Papworth.
The band covered several famous songs in their time, including Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain", Motörhead's self-titled song, Squeeze's "Up the Junction", The Osmonds' "Crazy Horses", and Kim Wilde's "Kids in America" which was released as the band's only single in 1991. "Return of the Fabulous Metal Bozo Clowns" was released in 1992. The band's sense of humour extended into their cheap but enjoyable music videos. Both "Kids in America" and "Lawnmowers for Heroes, Comics for Zeros", the latter from Metal Bozo Clowns, were recorded on home video cameras and edited in an amateur fashion.
The band's third and to date latest studio album "Billy" was released in 1993. The band tried to take a slightly different direction on the album, verging towards the kind of pop punk feel pioneered by the likes of Green Day at the time, with most of the band's thrash metal roots left behind. Poor sales and less popular live dates led the band to break up later on that year.
Billy
Lawnmower Deth Lyrics
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He wants to be a non-entity.
The thing about Billy is he ain't too bright,
He don't open his eyes or he sees the light.
Billy, get a life! [Repeat: x 3]
Billy!
Billy wake up before it's too late.
The thing about Billy is he ain't too bright,
He don't open his eyes or he sees the light.
Billy, get a life! [Repeat: x 3]
Billy!
The lyrics to Lawnmower Deth's song Billy are a clever satire on the idea of conformity in society. The singer, Billy, is described as someone who "knows who he wants to be" - a non-entity. In other words, he wants to be invisible and unremarkable, someone who doesn't stand out or challenge the status quo. The irony here is that Billy's desire to be a non-entity is precisely what makes him noteworthy - his lack of ambition, curiosity and self-awareness is what sets him apart. He is described as someone who doesn't "open his eyes or he sees the light," suggesting that he is willfully ignorant of the world around him. The repetition of the phrase "Billy, get a life!" underscores the message that conformity and mediocrity are not desirable qualities.
The lyrics also touch on the inherent inequality in society, with the line "So for every rich guy there's a Billy-no-mates." This suggests that those who are successful and wealthy have achieved their status by standing out and taking risks, whereas those who are content to be non-entities will always be left behind. The song's message is ultimately a call to action - to wake up and seize life before it's too late, to embrace individuality and not be afraid to stand out from the crowd.
Line by Line Meaning
Billy knows who he wants to be,
Billy has an idea of the kind of person he wants to become
He wants to be a non-entity.
Billy wants to blend in and not stand out in any way
The thing about Billy is he ain't too bright,
Billy is not very intelligent
He don't open his eyes or he sees the light.
Billy is either oblivious to the truth or he purposely ignores it
Billy, get a life! [Repeat: x 3]
A call to action for Billy to improve his situation and start living a fulfilling life
Billy!
An exclamation to get Billy's attention
Billy wake up before it's too late.
Billy needs to start making changes before it's too late and he becomes stuck in his current situation
So for every rich guy there's a Billy-no-mates.
For every successful person, there is someone who is not successful and doesn't have any close friends
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOE GOODWIN, JAMES KENDIS, HERMAN PALEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind