The group was formed primarily to play a battle of the bands at the local Queens Village church Our Lady of Lourdes in 1988. Most songs were jokes and paid tribute to the legendary local bands Norman Bates and the Showerheads and Six and Violence. After a surprising turnout and mass appeal they decided to continue to play locally and record demo tapes and 7-inch records. At this point they acquired drummer Vinnie Value, second vocalist Mike Dixon and bassist Scott Cumbo to replace the members who left the original line-up. No Redeeming Social Value had a run on the local Queens Heavy Metal circuit in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Eventually, with the help of the Lower East Side band Warzone and local punk DJ Johnny Stiff, they began to play many hardcore punk matinee shows in Manhattan. The band's first LP release "Rocks the Party" on SFT Records led to opportunities for national and international tours. No Redeeming Social Value currently plays shows sporadically throughout the year.
The band is featured in the hardcore punk documentary "N.Y.H.C."
The band's song "Clueless" is used in the video game "Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes the Neighborhood".
Chicken
No Redeeming Social Value Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking for a late night bite
Slam the door, open the 'fridge
All you see is stale bread
Wait a second there's something in foil
I hope to god it isn't spoiled
Half way there i know what it is
It's the chicken i ate with Johnny Stiff
I like it too
We eat more chicken
Than your whole damn crew
We eat much chicken
Just ask these musicians
Eating chicken es Redeeming religion
A leg, a wing, a breast, a thigh, a back
We love chicken - that's a fact
Suck the meat right off the fucking bone
It's fun to eat with friends or dine alone
Throw it on the 'que and burn it u
Crispy on the outside then it's donde
A plate of wings and a bucket of hot sauce too
And to wash it down and stinky brew will do
The lyrics to No Redeeming Social Value's song "Chicken" describe the late-night search for a satisfying meal that results in the discovery of leftover chicken in foil. The excitement and joy of finding a tasty treat in the fridge is palpable in the lyrics as the singer expresses their love for chicken and declares that they eat more chicken than anyone else. The song praises the simple pleasure of eating chicken, whether it be with friends or alone, and celebrates the various ways it can be prepared - from grilling to drowning it in hot sauce.
While the lyrics may seem silly or lighthearted, they can also be seen as a commentary on the power of food to bring people together and create a sense of community. The repeated refrain of "we eat more chicken than your whole damn crew" could be interpreted as a form of solidarity among those who share a love for the food. Additionally, the line "eating chicken es Redeeming religion" suggests that, for some, consuming chicken is a kind of spiritual experience - one that brings them closer to their fellow chicken enthusiasts.
Line by Line Meaning
Stumble in the middle of the night
Walking aimlessly at night
Looking for a late night bite
Searching for something to eat at night
Slam the door, open the 'fridge
Closing and opening the refrigerator quickly
All you see is stale bread
The only food visible is old and stale bread
Wait a second there's something in foil
Noticing something wrapped in foil
I hope to god it isn't spoiled
Wishing that the food isn't bad or rotten
Half way there i know what it is
Realizing what the food is while walking towards it
It's the chicken i ate with Johnny Stiff
Recognizing that it's chicken eaten with someone named Johnny Stiff
I love chicken
Affirming love for chicken
I like it too
Someone else expressing their liking for chicken
We eat more chicken
Eating a lot of chicken
Than your whole damn crew
Eating more chicken than other groups of people
We eat much chicken
Eating a significant amount of chicken
Just ask these musicians
Referring to other musicians who eat chicken often
Eating chicken es Redeeming religion
Eating chicken is like a religious experience
A leg, a wing, a breast, a thigh, a back
Listing different parts of a chicken
We love chicken - that's a fact
Expressing a love for chicken as a true statement
Suck the meat right off the fucking bone
Eating chicken in a particular manner, taking off all the meat from the bones
It's fun to eat with friends or dine alone
Enjoying eating chicken with others or on one's own
Throw it on the 'que and burn it u
Cooking chicken on a grill and taking it to the point of being burnt
Crispy on the outside then it's donde
Stating how the chicken should be cooked
A plate of wings and a bucket of hot sauce too
Eating chicken wings with a lot of hot sauce
And to wash it down and stinky brew will do
Drinking a foul-smelling beer to go with the chicken
Contributed by Jackson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.