The Misfits were known for their sing-along "Whoa-oh-oh" choruses after the 1982 "Walk Among Us" LP -- and although Naked Raygun are often cited as having been influenced by The Misfits in this regard, the reverse is the case.
Haggerty and Kezdy would later join with Larry Damore of the Bhopal Stiffs to form Pegboy. Pezzati fronted The Bomb. A reunion in the late 90s produced the live album Free Shit!. The band reunited for Riot Fest 2006 on November 5, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, and is playing a west coast tour in December, 2007.
Official Site: http://www.nakedraygun.org
Only in America
Naked Raygun Lyrics
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Only in America
Mixing chemicals a new way
Only in America
It's good for the economy
Only in America
Makin' cancer everyday
Only in America
With the cure for your bad luck
When you're born you start to die
Don't know from what
And you don't know why
So you start your own religious cult
Only in America
Live on the San Andreas Fault
Only in America
Eat your own weight in salt
Only in America
Pick your boogers in your car
Only in America
Then someone can make a buck
With the cure for your bad luck
You buy a couch with food stamps
Be the woman with Midol cramps
It happens only in the U.S.A.
Only in America
Only in the U.S.A.
Only in America
Only in the U.S.A.
Only in America
Only in the U.S.A.
The lyrics of Naked Raygun's song "Only in America" are a critique of the American way of life, highlighting the paradoxes and absurdities of its culture. The song starts with the idea of entrepreneurship and how it's only in America that one can start their own company and make a fortune out of mixing chemicals in a new way, even if it leads to making cancer every day, which is clearly not good for the economy. The song goes on to say that in America, someone can make a profit from your personal misfortune and offer a cure for your bad luck.
The song's second verse expresses how in America, one can start a new religious cult and be living on the San Andreas Fault, an area known for its frequent earthquakes. The lyrics then talk about how it's only in America that one can eat their weight in salt, pick their noses in their cars, and still have someone make a profit from it. The song concludes with the idea that it's only in America where one can buy furniture with food stamps and be the woman suffering from menstrual cramps.
In summary, Naked Raygun's "Only in America" is a satirical commentary on the paradoxes and absurdities of American culture, focusing on the notions of entrepreneurship, self-reliance, religion, and healthcare.
Line by Line Meaning
You start your own company
A statement that one can start their own successful business in America.
Mixing chemicals a new way
Implies innovation and creativity with chemicals to create new products, potentially harmful ones.
It's good for the economy
Creating jobs and boosting the economy but at the cost of the health and lives of citizens.
Makin' cancer everyday
The chemicals being used are contributed to the prevalence of cancer in America.
Then someone can make a buck
There's always someone out there willing to make money even at the cost of people's lives and health.
With the cure for your bad luck
In America, everything can be monetized, even finding a cure for a disease that was caused by someone making money.
When you're born you start to die
The inevitability of death which people don't understand what or when it will happen.
Don't know from what
People don't know what will cause their death.
And you don't know why
People don't know why they have to face death.
So you start your own religious cult
People turn to religion and spirituality in search of answers to life's mysteries.
Live on the San Andreas Fault
A metaphor to say living in America is like living on a fault line, a danger that could happen at any moment.
Eat your own weight in salt
Shows the extreme and unhealthy practices Americans indulge in, such as overeating and consuming too much salt.
Pick your boogers in your car
A humorous and gross representation of the ridiculous behavior of some Americans.
You buy a couch with food stamps
A negative stereotype of people who rely on government assistance to live their life.
Be the woman with Midol cramps
A sarcastic tone that implies life is tough and women have to deal with monthly menstrual cramps.
It happens only in the U.S.A.
The culmination of all the preceding examples of absurdity and excess that is a unique feature found only in America.
Only in America
Repeated to emphasize the uniqueness and impossible-to-find-anywhere-else behavior of Americans.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind