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.

Saturday Night
Misfits Lyrics

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Ooh-ooh
Whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa

There's 52 ways to murder anyone
One and two are the same
And they both work as well
I'm coming clean for Amy
Julie doesn't scream as well

And the cops won't listen all night
And so maybe (maybe) I'll be over
Just as soon as I fill them all in

And I can remember when I saw her last
We were running all around and having a blast, having a blast
But the backseat of the drive-in is so lonely without you
I know when you're home
I was thinking about you
There was something I forgot to say
I was crying on Saturday night
I was out cruising without you
They were playing our song
Crying on Saturday night

As the moon becomes the night time
You go viciously, quietly away
I'm sitting in the bedroom
Where we used to sit and smoke cigarettes
Now I'm watching
Watching you die, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

I can remember when I saw her last
We were running all around and having a blast
But the backseat (backseat)
Of the drive-in (of the drive-in) is so lonely without you
I know when you're home
I was thinking about you
There was something I forgot to say
I was crying on Saturday night
I was out cruising without you
They were playing our song
Crying on Saturday night

Yeah, crying on Saturday night
Crying on Saturday night

Overall Meaning

The Misfits’ “Saturday Night” is a song with a somber tone that contains lyrics that tell a complex story of love, loss, and guilt. The lyrics hint at themes of violence, murder, and the pain of watching someone you love deteriorate. The opening lines set a dark and chilling mood as the singer talks about the different ways one can end someone's life. The lyrics then segue to the second verse, where the singer admits to feeling guilty about something that he never got to confess to his significant other before they passed away. He reminisces about their time together and how much they enjoyed each other’s company, but it is evident that he is still tortured by her loss. The song's tone then shifts as the singer talks about watching someone he cares about slowly fade away, and his helpless feeling to stop it.

The lyrics to “Saturday Night” are open to interpretation, but it is clear that they were written about the pain of losing someone and the guilt that often accompanies such a loss. The song's verses provide a glimpse into the way the singer thinks and feels, while the chorus emphasizes his pain and longing for the person he lost. It is a sad and melancholic piece that takes the listener on a journey through the ups and downs of love and loss.

Line by Line Meaning

There's 52 ways to murder anyone
There are many ways to harm another person.

One and two are the same
Two methods of harm are equivalent.

And they both work as well
Both of these methods are effective.

I'm coming clean for Amy
I am confessing on behalf of Amy.

Julie doesn't scream as well
Julie does not react as dramatically.

And the cops won't listen all night
The authorities are not willing to pay attention for long.

And so maybe (maybe) I'll be over
Perhaps I will get over it.

Just as soon as I fill them all in
Once I reveal all the information.

And I can remember when I saw her last
I recall the final time I saw her.

We were running all around and having a blast, having a blast
We were having a great time together.

But the backseat of the drive-in is so lonely without you
The place where we used to be intimate is empty without you.