Millions of Dead Cops
MDC Lyrics


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Dead cops

Down on the street
Giving poor the heat
With their clubs and guns
Doin' it all for fun

Dead Cops

Big bad and blue
They're in the Klan too
Brutality is their sport
We'll put 'em to the torch

Dead Cops

Rebel, rebel on the street
Makeup on my face
Stockings on my feet
All the straights asking me why
I'm not a normal American guy

What makes America so straight
And me so bent?

Call this the land of the free
Say its the home of the brave
You know they call me a queen
Just another human being

What makes America so straight
And me so bent?

Your authority and power
Has turned us sick and sour
And your justice is a lie
We're gonna fight until you die

What makes America so straight
And me so bent?

Dead Cops

Watcha gonna do
The Mafia in blue
Huntin' for queers
Niggers and you

Dead cops

Time for a switch
Army of the rich




Macho fuckin' slaves
We'll piss on your graves

Overall Meaning

The song "Dead Cops / America's So Straight" by MDC (Millions of Dead Cops) is a punk rock anthem that highlights the issues of police brutality and societal norms in America. The opening lines of the song, "Down on the street, Giving poor the heat, With their clubs and guns, Doin' it all for fun, Dead Cops," speak directly to the problem of police using excessive force on marginalized communities, and seemingly enjoying it.


The lyrics go on to suggest that the police force is made up of members of the Ku Klux Klan, perpetuating racism through their use of violence. The chorus, "Dead Cops," repeats multiple times, suggesting a call for retaliation against police brutality.


The second half of the song shifts focus to societal norms, specifically those around gender and sexuality. The lyrics, "Rebel, rebel on the street, Makeup on my face, Stockings on my feet, All the straights asking me why, I'm not a normal American guy," speak to the experience of those who do not conform to traditional gender roles in America. The song suggests that America is a country that is rigid in its beliefs around masculinity and femininity, and anyone who deviates from this norm is seen as abnormal.


The chorus, "Dead Cops," is again repeated towards the end of the song, suggesting that the issues of police brutality and societal norms are intertwined and need to be challenged together. The final lines of the song, "Macho fuckin' slaves, We'll piss on your graves," are a powerful call to action against the structures that uphold racism, sexism, and homophobia in America.


Line by Line Meaning

Down on the street
The police are patrolling and intimidating people on the street.


Giving poor the heat
The police are targeting poor people and increasing their suffering.


With their clubs and guns
The police are using excessive force and weapons to maintain control.


Doin' it all for fun
The police are enjoying the power they hold over others.


Big bad and blue
The police are seen as menacing and powerful because of their uniform.


They're in the Klan too
The police are associated with white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan.


Brutality is their sport
The police enjoy inflicting pain and violence on others.


We'll put 'em to the torch
We will fight against the police and their brutality until they are punished.


Rebel, rebel on the street
I am a rebel against the status quo and the police presence on the street.


Makeup on my face
I am expressing myself through makeup and defying gender norms.


Stockings on my feet
I am wearing unconventional clothing to provoke and rebel.


All the straights asking me why
People who conform to societal norms are questioning my non-conforming behavior.


I'm not a normal American guy
I am not conforming to traditional gender roles or cultural norms.


What makes America so straight
Why does American culture demand conformity to heteronormative and gender norms?


And me so bent?
Why am I different or non-conforming to those cultural norms?


Call this the land of the free
America is supposed to be a country with freedom and liberty as core values.


Say its the home of the brave
Americans are supposed to be brave and courageous in upholding those values.


You know they call me a queen
People refer to me with sarcastic insult, as a drag queen or a queer person.


Just another human being
I am a person deserving of the same rights and respect as anyone else.


Your authority and power
The police and those in power are responsible for enforcing the system we rebel against.


Has turned us sick and sour
The system we rebel against has caused our rebellion and sickness towards it.


And your justice is a lie
The system we rebel against is not fair and just, it is a lie.


We're gonna fight until you die
We will continue to fight until change is made or until we die.


Watcha gonna do
What actions will the police take against those who rebel against them?


The Mafia in blue
The police are compared to a powerful and violent criminal organization.


Huntin' for queers
The police specifically discriminate and target against LGBTQ+ people.


Niggers and you
The police also target people of color and other marginalized groups.


Time for a switch
It's time to change the system and fight back against the police brutality.


Army of the rich
The system is controlled and upheld by the wealthy and powerful.


Macho fuckin' slaves
The police and those who uphold the system are slaves to toxic masculinity and cultural norms.


We'll piss on your graves
We will triumph over the system and those who uphold it.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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