The Misfits are an American punk rock band often recognized as the progenit… Read Full Bio ↴The Misfits are an American punk rock band often recognized as the progenitors of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery. The group was founded in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey, by vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist Glenn Danzig, and drummer Manny Martínez. Jerry Only joined on bass guitar shortly after. Over the next six years, membership would change frequently with Danzig and Only the only consistent members. During this time period, they released several EPs and singles, and with Only's brother Doyle as guitarist, the albums Walk Among Us (1982) and Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood (1983), both considered touchstones of the early-1980s hardcore punk movement. The band has gone through many lineup changes over the years, with bassist Jerry Only being the only constant member in the group.

The Misfits disbanded in 1983, and Glenn Danzig went on to form Samhain and then Danzig. Several albums of reissued and previously unreleased material were issued after the group's dissolution, and their music later became influential to punk rock, heavy metal, and alternative rock. After a series of legal battles with Danzig, Only and Doyle regained the rights to record and perform as the Misfits. They formed a new version of the band in 1995 with singer Michale Graves and drummer Dr. Chud. This incarnation of Misfits had more of a heavy metal sound, and released the albums American Psycho (1997) and Famous Monsters (1999) before dissolving in 2000. Jerry Only then took over lead vocals and recruited former Black Flag guitarist Dez Cadena and former Ramones drummer Marky Ramone for a Misfits 25th anniversary tour.

This lineup released an album of cover songs titled Project 1950 and toured for several years. In 2005, Marky was replaced by Robo, who had played with Black Flag in the early 1980s and had also previously been Misfits' drummer from 1982 to 1983. This lineup released a single titled "Land of the Dead" in 2009. The Misfits' lineup of Only, Cadena, and drummer Eric "Chupacabra" Arce released a new album titled The Devil's Rain in October 2011. In 2015, it was announced that Cadena would be taking a break from music after receiving a cancer diagnosis, and was replaced by Only's son Jerry Caiafa II, presented as Jerry Other. That same year Soulfly's Marc Rizzo joined the band, also playing guitar. He filled in for Cadena, before Caiafa would move on to become the sole guitarist for the band.

In September 2016, for the first time in 33 years, Danzig, Only, and Doyle reunited for two headlining shows as the Original Misfits at that year's edition of Riot Fest, along with drummer Dave Lombardo and second guitarist Acey Slade. The Original Misfits lineup continued performing sporadically through 2019.

Each incarnation of the Misfits has made use of horror film and science fiction film-inspired themes and imagery, with makeup, clothing, artwork, and lyrics drawn from B movies and television serials, many from the 1950s through 1970s. Musically the band are often recognized as progenitors of the horror punk and psychobilly subgenres and have drawn from punk rock, heavy metal, and 1950s rock and roll and rockabilly to inform their style. Rolling Stone describes them as "the archetypal horror-punk band of the late 1970s and early '80s", and they are considered icons in punk music and culture.

Great Balls of Fire
Misfits Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will, but what a thrill
Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire

I laughed at love 'cause I thought it was funny
You came along and moved me honey
I've changed my mind, this love is fine

Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire

Kiss me baby
Hooo feels good
Hold me baby
Well I want to love you like a lover should
Your fine, so kind
I want to tell this world that your mine mine mine mine

I chew my nails and and I twiddle my thumbs
I'm real nervous, but it sure is fun
Come on baby, drive me crazy
Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire

Kiss me baby
Hooo feels good
Hold me baby
Well I want to love you like a lover should
Your fine, so kind
I want to tell this world that your mine mine mine mine

I chew my nails and and I twiddle my thumbs
I'm real nervous, but it sure is fun

Come on baby, drive me crazy
Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Misfits' song "Great Balls of Fire" captures the essence of both the excitement and anxiety that comes with falling in love. The opening line, "You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain", is a direct declaration of the power that the person being referred to holds over the singer, causing him to feel anxious and on edge. However, this is quickly followed by the realization that the love he is experiencing is worth the rollercoaster of emotions, as it is something new and thrilling. The lyrics convey that the singer's love interest has transformed his perspective on love, and he goes from mocking and laughing at it, to embracing it wholeheartedly.

The chorus of the song, "Goodness gracious, great balls of fire", is an expression of excitement and exhilaration, and it is as if the singer is exclaiming that his love interest sets his world ablaze. The lines "Kiss me baby, feels good. Hold me baby, I want to love you like a lover should" reflects the physical and emotional depth of the love he is experiencing.

All in all, the lyrics to "Great Balls of Fire" are a celebration of the intense and exciting emotions that come with falling in love. The song is an ode to passion, vulnerability and the joys that come with opening yourself up to another person.

Line by Line Meaning

You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
The person singing this song is very agitated by the presence of the person they're singing about.

Too much love drives a man insane
The intensity of their feelings for this person is causing the singer to feel a little crazy.

You broke my will, but what a thrill
Even though this person has taken control of the singer's emotions, it still feels exciting and pleasurable.

Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire
This is an expression of how overwhelmed the singer is by their emotions - it's like they're on fire.

I laughed at love 'cause I thought it was funny
The singer used to view love as a bit of a joke and not take it seriously.

You came along and moved me honey
But this person has changed their mind and now they're completely smitten.

I've changed my mind, this love is fine
They're not laughing at love anymore - in fact, they're really enjoying the experience of being in love.

Kiss me baby Hooo feels good Hold me baby Well I want to love you like a lover should Your fine, so kind I want to tell this world that your mine mine mine mine
This is the singer expressing their deep love and desire for the person they're singing to - they want the whole world to know that this person belongs to them.

I chew my nails and and I twiddle my thumbs I'm real nervous, but it sure is fun
Being in love is making the singer nervous, but they're also having a great time - it's a bit of a rollercoaster ride.

Come on baby, drive me crazy Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire
The singer is urging their lover to keep doing what they're doing - even if it's driving them insane - because it feels so good.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jack Hammer, Otis Blackwell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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