Referring to their style of hardcore punk music, the band declared in Frontiers Newsmagazine, “We put the ‘core’ back in homocore”. Their first recording was the self-released demo Don't Knock It Till You Try It. This was followed by a single called “What’s Up With The Kids” and then the self-titled LP Limp Wrist. However, since band members lived in different states maintaining the group became difficult. After an interlude they resumed touring in 2004 and self-released a new CD, Thee Official Discography the same year. The song “Ode” from this recording pays tribute to pioneering gay hardcore musicians Gary Floyd of The Dicks, Randy “Biscuit” Turner of Big Boys and Joshua Plague of Mukilteo Fairies and Behead The Prophet, No Lord Shall Live, providing a historical context for Limp Wrist.
The band’s best known song is “I Love Hardcore Boys, I Love Boys Hardcore”, which received much attention from fans and press alike. Lead singer Martin Sorrondeguy appears in "Queercore: A Punk-u-mentary" by Scott Treleaven and addresses the issue implicit in these song titles, what some might view as the apparent struggles of being both queer and being involved in the punk scene.
In 2004 Sorrondeguy released his own documentary film, "Beyond The Screams: A U.S. Latino Hardcore Punk Documentary." He had begun the film while still a member of his former band Los Crudos.
The band continues to perform and self-release records including the Want Us Dead 7" in 2006, featuring the songs Fake Fags and Want us Dead and a one-sided 12" in 2008 featuring Spun, and Bought Out.
Rainbows
Limp Wrist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
pride and waves of flags in this beauty boy scene
shaved bodies tight tummies all around
i am such a lost queer walking the streets of boys town
fashion dictates if you're wrong or right
abercrombie fitch, gap what a fright
versace, prada, diesel and many more
punk queers let's put it where it's at
balk or hairy thin or thick you know i like that fat
pull off your punk shirts and let's not hide
let's rework this thing that they call pride
The lyrics to Limp Wrist's "Rainbows" explore the singer's discomfort with the mainstream, commercialized version of the LGBTQ+ community that is often represented during Pride events. The first line, "how do I fit in this rainbow machine?" expresses the singer's uncertainty about how to navigate the expectations and assumptions placed upon them within this community. They observe the "shaved bodies tight tummies" and "beauty boy scene" around them, and feel like a "lost queer walking the streets of boys town." This line highlights the pressure LGBTQ+ folks can face to embody certain physical aesthetic standards in order to be accepted.
The second stanza critiques the influence of fashion and consumerism on the LGBTQ+ community. The singer notes that "fashion dictates if you're wrong or right," and name-drops brands like Abercrombie & Fitch and Gap as examples. They go on to list high-end luxury brands like Versace and Diesel, and sarcastically call the act of flaunting labels "shit what a bore." This can be read as a commentary on the capitalist co-optation of LGBTQ+ identities and Pride events, and the ways in which corporations often exploit marginalized communities for profit.
The final stanza celebrates an alternative, punk aesthetic that emphasizes body positivity and rejecting mainstream norms. The singer calls on "punk queers" to embrace their bodies in all their forms, whether "balk or hairy thin or thick you know I like that fat." They urge listeners to shed their shirts and "rework this thing that they call pride." This can be interpreted as a call to resist assimilation into mainstream cultural norms, and to embrace the true diversity and subversiveness of LGBTQ+ communities.
Overall, "Rainbows" is a nuanced and critical reflection on the complexities of LGBTQ+ identity and the commercialization of Pride events. By juxtaposing the pressure to conform to mainstream physical standards with a punk ethos of body positivity and resistance, the song offers a powerful critique of societal norms and celebrates alternative forms of expression and identity.
Line by Line Meaning
how do i fit in this rainbow machine?
I am struggling to find my place in the LGBTQ+ community and participate in its celebrations.
pride and waves of flags in this beauty boy scene
There is a lot of emphasis on physical appearance and fashion within the LGBTQ+ community during Pride celebrations.
shaved bodies tight tummies all around
People are expected to conform to a certain standard of physical attractiveness at Pride events.
i am such a lost queer walking the streets of boys town
I feel lost and out of place in this area that caters specifically to gay men.
fashion dictates if you're wrong or right
There is pressure to conform to certain fashion trends within the LGBTQ+ community.
abercrombie fitch, gap what a fright
Mainstream clothing brands have appropriated LGBTQ+ culture to make a profit.
versace, prada, diesel and many more
These high-end brands are marketed heavily toward the LGBTQ+ community.
label flashing shit what a bore
I find it tedious and uninteresting to focus so much on clothes and brands.
punk queers let's put it where it's at
As LGBTQ+ punk subculture, let's push back against the mainstream focus on fashion and looks.
balk or hairy thin or thick you know i like that fat
I find unconventional body types and styles attractive.
pull off your punk shirts and let's not hide
Let's be proud of our unique identities and styles instead of trying to conform to mainstream expectations.
let's rework this thing that they call pride
Let's create our own version of Pride that represents and celebrates the full diversity of the LGBTQ+ community.
Contributed by Layla R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jordan Mel
WHY IS THIS WHOLE TAPE NOT ON THE INTERNET. I WANT MORE