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.
I Turned Into a Martian
Misfits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Possession of the mind is a terrible thing
It's a transformation with an urge to kill
Not the body of a man from earth
Not the face of the one you love, 'cause
Well, I turned into a Martian
Whoa oh oh
Whoa oh oh
Times I never hardly sleep at night
Whoa oh oh
Well, I turned into a Martian today
I walk down city streets
On an unsuspecting human world
Inhuman in your midst
This world is mine to own, 'cause
Well, I turned into a Martian
Whoa oh oh
Well, I can't even recall my name
Whoa oh oh
Times I never hardly sleep at night
Whoa oh oh
Well, I turned into a Martian today
Go go
Well, I turned into a Martian
Whoa oh oh
Well, I can't even recall my name
Whoa oh oh
Times I never hardly sleep at night
Whoa oh oh
Turned into a martian
Whoa oh oh
Can't even recall my name
Oh, won't you tell me what the fuck is my name, Martian
Whoa oh oh
Whoa oh oh
The song "I Turned Into a Martian" by The Misfits tells a story of a transformation and a possession of the mind which leads to having an urge to kill. The transformation is not physical but rather a psychological shift that occurs in the mind of the singer. The lyrics describe the feeling of being inhuman and alienated in a human world. The singer has changed so much that they cannot recall their name or sleep at night, indicating a drastic change in their personality and behavior. The chorus repeats the line "Well, I turned into a Martian" several times, emphasizing the sense of difference and alienation the singer feels in their new form.
The song can be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling out of place in the world, or going through a significant change that makes a person feel like they are a different person altogether. The use of the word "Martian" is particularly fascinating since it implies a foreignness that separates the singer from the rest of the human race, emphasizing their otherness. The song's bridge "This world is mine to own" can be interpreted as a comment on the singer's newfound power and how they feel like they can control or dominate those around them. Overall, the song is a haunting commentary on the feeling of losing one's identity and being consumed by an alter-ego that has a will to harm.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh go
Let's embark on this strange and exciting journey
Possession of the mind is a terrible thing
Losing control of one's thoughts can be a frightening experience
It's a transformation with an urge to kill
The process of turning into something else comes with a desire to harm others
Not the body of a man from earth
The new form is not human in origin
Not the face of the one you love, 'cause
The transformation results in an appearance that is no longer recognizable to those who know you
Well, I turned into a Martian
I underwent a drastic metamorphosis into an extraterrestrial being
Whoa oh oh
Expressing awe and amazement
I can't even recall my name
The change was so drastic, that even my identity was erased from my memory
Times I never hardly sleep at night
The shock of this transformation has made sleep difficult to obtain
Well, I turned into a Martian today
The event was recent and it's still fresh in my mind
I walk down city streets
I now roam around urban areas
On an unsuspecting human world
The people of this planet have no idea what has arrived among them
Inhuman in your midst
My presence is marked by otherworldly characteristics
This world is mine to own, 'cause
I consider this new land to be under my control
Go go
Motivating oneself to take action
Oh, won't you tell me what the fuck is my name, Martian
Asking for assistance in reestablishing one's identity
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: GLENN DANZIG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind