The band from Los Angeles, California, USA, a pared-down version of the theatrical troupe The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, released eight major albums and two live compilations, each containing songs that varied from fast-paced ska to soulful jazz to emotional rock to off-kilter pop.
Starting in 1980, Oingo Boingo spent their first three albums establishing themselves as a band with quirky, bizarre, sarcastic, and anti-conformist vocals, lyrics, and instrumentation, among other things lambasting "normal" society and politics for their many hypocrisies and encouraging people to think for themselves. The band made a change toward a different sound when frontman Danny Elfman recorded So-lo in collaboration with the band and a new label, beginning a trio of "new wave"-ish albums containing ballads and songs about life and mortality, including the famous Dead Man's Party. The band went on to record Dark at the End of the Tunnel, a change toward a sort of Boingo-esqe "spirituality", and finally recorded their last album: dark, guitar-driven, hornless, influenced by the Beatles and Pink Floyd, eponymous with the new band name Boingo.
Now mostly known for their frequent contribution to movie soundtracks (including their most successful song "Weird Science"), Oingo Boingo formally broke up in 1995 after their last Halloween live concert, the reason being that 'it was time.'
Throughout the years, the following joined Elfman and Bartek as members of Oingo Boingo:
Leon Schneiderman - baritone and alto saxophones, percussion, backing vocals
John 'Vatos' Hernandez - drums, percussion
Kerry Hatch - bass, bass synthesizer, percussion, backing vocals
Sam 'Sluggo' Phipps - tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet, percussion, backing vocals, flute
Dale Turner - trumpet, trombone, percussion, guitar, backing vocals
Richard Gibbs - keyboards, synthesizer, trombone, percussion, backing vocals
John Avila - bass, bass synthesizer, percussion, accordion, backing vocals
Michael Bacich - keyboards, backing vocals
Carl Graves - keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals, electronic percussion pad
Warren Fitzgerald - guitar
Doug Lacy (aka Doug Legacy) - percussion, trombone, accordion
Marc Mann - keyboards, samples
Aftermath
Since the band's dissolution, frontman Danny Elfman has continued to find success in his career writing film scores, particularly in collaboration with director Tim Burton; he almost exclusively employs Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek as orchestrator. His film scores have included Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Good Will Hunting, Men in Black, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, Big Fish, and dozens more. Elfman also wrote the themes for more than a dozen TV series, including The Simpsons, Batman: The Animated Series, Desperate Housewives, Tales from the Crypt, and Sledge Hammer!.
Steve Bartek, besides working with Danny, has composed music for various TV shows, including Tales from the Crypt and Desperate Housewives, and movie scores, such as The Art of Travel, Meet the Deedles and Cabin Boy.
Vatos formed a concert show along with Sluggo, Bartek, and Avila in California. The concert show features performances of Oingo Boingo's most popular songs. This has led to speculation about a reunion. In early 2007, Danny Elfman said there would not be a reunion. He has irreversible hearing loss and is worried that playing live would exacerbate it. He stated that some members may also suffer from the condition.
The Oingo Boingo spirit is kept alive by tribute band Dead Man's Party, which performs regularly in Southern California - occasionally with original Boingos Steve Bartek, John Avila, and John Hernandez. Lead singer Robert Elfaizy sings quite impressive "Danny Elfman" vocals.
Other Projects
John Avila and Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez were two members of the trio Food For Feet. They also formed the rhythm section of Tito & Tarantula, a Los Angeles band fronted by Tito Larriva of The Plugz and the Cruzados. Avila and Hernandez also joined Larriva and guitarist Stevie Hufstetted in a one-off project band called Psychotic Aztecs. The Aztecs released one album on the Grita called Santa Sangre.
After the break-up, John Avila, guitarist Steve Bartek, drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, and saxophonist Sam Phipps (along with Doug Lacy and other musicians) formed a band called Doug & The Mystics. They recorded one album, New Hat, which included a cover of the Oingo Boingo song "Try to Believe," original songs, and covers of songs by Frank Zappa and other artists.
During the Halloween 2005 season, Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez put together a tribute to the band (and to Halloween itself), joined by former Oingo Boingo members Steve Bartek, John Avila, and Sam "Sluggo" Phipps which took place at the Grove of Anaheim. Standing in for Elfman was Bt4, a young man whom many fans call "the Danny byproduct." During the Halloween 2006 season, there were two Johnny Vatos Tribute to Halloween shows, one in Los Angeles and one in Orange County, with Vatos, Bartek, Avila, Phipps, Legacy, and Bt4 once again on vocals. "Vatos" has announced his intentions of hosting yet another concert along these lines in the 2007 Halloween season, this time at the House of Blues branches on the Sunset Strip and in Anaheim.
In 2005, John Avila, Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, and Steve Bartek joined the list of performers on the soundtrack of the 2003 re-imagination of the classic sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica. Richard Gibbs joined at this time as well, but is credited as both a performer and composer. Their performances can be heard in seasons two and three, and will likely be heard on subsequent seasons of the series as well.
Soundtrack Appearances
•The studio recording of "Goodbye, Goodbye" appears on the soundtrack to the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The song can only be found elsewhere on Boingo Alive and Best O' Boingo as a live recording.
•"Bachelor Party" and "Something Isn't Right" appear on the soundtrack to the 1984 film Bachelor Party. These songs can not be found on any Oingo Boingo albums. The soundtrack also includes "Who Do You Want To Be" from the album Good for Your Soul.
•In the 1984 John Hughes film Sixteen Candles, the character of Farmer Ted dances spastically to "Wild Sex (In The Working Class)" from the album Nothing To Fear.
•"Hold Me Back" and "Only A Lad" are featured during the opening and closing credits, respectively, of the 1984 film Surf II.
•"No One Lives Forever" can be heard during the bridge scene in the 1986 film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
•"Not My Slave" can be heard on the car radio during a scene in the 1986 film Something Wild.
•"Happy" appears on the soundtrack to the 1987 film Summer School. This song cannot be found on any Oingo Boingo albums.
•"Better Luck Next Time" appears on the soundtrack to the 1982 film The Last American Virgin. This song cannot be found on any Oingo Boingo albums.
•"Who Do You Want To Be" appears on the soundtrack to the 1987 film Teen Wolf Too.
•"Try To Believe" (performed by Oingo Boingo under the alias "Mosley and the B-Men") can be heard in the 1988 film Midnight Run, which was scored by Danny Elfman. This version of the song is different from the version on the album Dark at the End of the Tunnel.
•"Same Man I Was Before" can be heard in the 1988 film My Best Friend Is a Vampire.
•The studio version of "Winning Side" appears on the soundtrack to the 1989 film She's Out of Control.
•"Flesh 'N Blood" appears on the soundtrack to the 1989 film Ghostbusters II. A short snippet is played as background music during the film.
•"Skin" can be heard on the radio (though not performed by Oingo Boingo) during a scene in the 1990 Clive Barker film Nightbreed.
•Susanna Hoffs covered "We Close Our Eyes" for the soundtrack to the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The song can be heard during the closing credits.
•"No One Lives Forever" can be heard in the 1997 television film Casper: A Spirited Beginning.
•"Home Again" appeared in the John Hughes film Home Alone 3 in 1997.
•A slightly altered version of "Forbidden Zone" was the theme song to the animated television show Dilbert (1999).
•"Stay" can be heard in the director's cut of the 2001 film Donnie Darko.
•"Violent Love" can be heard in the 1990 film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.
•"Capitalism" appears on the soundtrack to the 2005 film Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.
•"Dead Man's Party" can be heard during a costume party in the "Witch Hunt" (2006) episode of the television show NCIS.
•The live recording of "Who Do You Want To Be" (from the album Boingo Alive) appears on the soundtrack to the 2005 video game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. It is also featured in the 2005 Nintendo DS version of Tony Hawk's American Sk8land.
•"Dead Man's Party" is a selectable song in the 2006 Xbox video game Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 4.
•"Only A Lad" was featured in the 2007 video game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the '80s.
•"Weird Science" made an appearance in Beavis and Butthead as a music video. However, the duo disliked the song because Butthead believes that "this guy (Danny Elfman) thinks he's smart." Beavis disliked it because he said that "college music sucks." The duo decided to change the channel.
•"Home Again" can be heard at the end credits of the 1986 film Wisdom, written and directed by Emilio Estevez. The soundtrack to Wisdom is also the first all electronic film score that Danny Elfman created for the film.
•"Not My Slave" plays during the 1987 film Like Father Like Son starring Kirk Cameron.
•"Dead Man's Party" is also performed by Oingo Boingo in the movie back to school staring Rodney Dangerfield.
Only A Lad
Oingo Boingo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everyone said, "If you don't get straight
You'll surely go to hell."
But Johnny didn't care,
He was an outlaw by the time that he was ten years old,
He didn't want to do what he was told
Just a prankster, juvenile gangster.
His teachers didn't understand,
They kicked him out of school at a tender early age,
Just because he didn't want to learn things
He had other interests
He liked to burn things!
The lady down the block,
She had a radio that Johnny wanted oh so bad,
So he took it the first chance he had.
Then he shot her in the leg,
And this is what she said
"Only a lad. You really can't blame him."
"Only a lad. Society made him."
"Only a lad. He's our responsibility."
Oh, oh, oohh oh oh oh
"Only a lad. He really couldn't help it."
"Only a lad. He didn't want to do it."
"Only a lad. He's underprivileged and abused."
Perhaps a little bit confused?
Oh oh ohhh, oohhh oh oh ohh whoa whoa whoa
Oh oh ohhh, oohhh oh oh ohh whoa whoa whoa
His parents gave up, they couldn't influence his attitude,
Nobody could help.
The little man had no gratitude.
And when he stole the car,
Nobody dreamed that he would try to take it so far.
He didn't mean to hit the poor man,
Who had to go and die.
It made the judge cry.
"Only a lad. He really couldn't help it."
"Only a lad. He didn't want to do it."
"Only a lad. He's underprivileged and abused."
Perhaps a little bit confused?
Oh oh oh, ohh ohh ohh
It's not his fault that he can't believe,
It's not his fault that he can't behave,
Society made him go astray.
Perhaps if we're nice he'll go away,
Perhaps he'll go away,
He'll go away
"Only a lad. You really can't blame him."
"Only a lad. Society made him."
"Only a lad. He's our responsibility."
Hey there Johnny you really don't fool me,
You get away with murder,
And you think it's funny!
You don't give a damn if we live or if we die
Oh oh oh, ohh ohh ohh oh oh,
Hey there Johnny boy,
I hope you fry!
Oh oh oh, ohh ohh ohh oh oh,
Oh oh oh, ohh ohh ohh oh oh.
The song "Only A Lad" by Oingo Boingo is a highly impactful and thought-provoking song that addresses the issue of juvenile delinquency in society. The lyrics describe the character Johnny, who is a young boy who exhibits delinquent behavior from a young age. This behavior is blamed on Johnny's environment, including the lack of guidance from his parents, poor schooling, and the influence of his peers. Despite his behavior, the song seems to want to emphasize that society is responsible for Johnny's downfall, rather than Johnny himself. The lyrics weave together to create a narrative that emphasizes society's crumbling ethics and values, and how we are all responsible for keeping our youth on the right track.
The song begins by introducing Johnny as a child who is bad and rebellious, pointing out that everyone around him saw the writing on the wall that he was headed for trouble. At a young age, Johnny's unruly behavior meant that the teachers, who failed to understand his needs or interests, expelled him. The lyrics then begin to explore Johnny's love for drama and fire by revealing his predilection for burning things. The song takes a dark turn when Johnny shoots a neighbor in the leg and sets the stage for the song's chorus. This confrontation prompts the neighborhood to come together and provide commentary on Johnny's actions, portraying Johnny as a product of his environment.
The chorus repeats the sentiment that there is no point in blaming Johnny, and that society is ultimately responsible for how he turned out. The lyrics examine the gradual decline of Johnny's character, which ultimately resulted in the death of an innocent man when he stole an automobile in a scene that traumatized the community. The song takes the discussion further by asking tough questions about Johnny's life and what led him down this path. The song ends on a desperate and solemn note, suggesting that the audience has to learn from Johnny's story to prevent other kids from going astray.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny was bad, even as a child everybody could tell,
Johnny’s bad character easily showed even as a child.
Everyone said, 'If you don't get straight you'll surely go to hell.'
The community considered Johnny's behavior as improper, and warned him of the afterlife consequences.
But Johnny didn't care, He was an outlaw by the time that he was ten years old, He didn't want to do what he was told Just a prankster, juvenile gangster.
Johnny was defiant, and his rebellious nature pushed him into delinquency and a life of crime.
His teachers didn't understand, They kicked him out of school at a tender early age, Just because he didn't want to learn things He had other interests He liked to burn things!
Johnny was expelled from school for his disinterest in education and fascination with dangerous activities.
The lady down the block, She had a radio that Johnny wanted oh so bad, So he took it the first chance he had. Then he shot her in the leg, And this is what she said 'Only a lad. You really can't blame him.' 'Only a lad. Society made him.' 'Only a lad. He's our responsibility.' Oh, oh, oohh oh oh oh 'Only a lad. He really couldn't help it.' 'Only a lad. He didn't want to do it.' 'Only a lad. He's underprivileged and abused.' Perhaps a little bit confused?
Johnny stole from his neighbor and shot her, but many dismissed his actions and blamed society, responsibility, and other factors for his behavior. They question whether his troubled upbringing led to his confusion.
His parents gave up, they couldn't influence his attitude, Nobody could help. The little man had no gratitude.
Johnny's parents struggled to guide him and make a positive impact on his life, and their efforts proved futile due to his ungrateful nature.
And when he stole the car, Nobody dreamed that he would try to take it so far. He didn't mean to hit the poor man, Who had to go and die. It made the judge cry.
Johnny stole and drove a car recklessly, leading to an accident that took a life. Everyone was surprised by the extent of his criminal behavior, and the judge was emotional at the end result.
'Only a lad. He really couldn't help it.' 'Only a lad. He didn't want to do it.' 'Only a lad. He's underprivileged and abused.' Perhaps a little bit confused? Oh oh oh, ohh ohh ohh
As Johnny is portrayed as a victim of society and his upbringing, some feel he didn't have control of his actions and was confused about his behavior.
It's not his fault that he can't believe, It's not his fault that he can't behave, Society made him go astray. Perhaps if we're nice he'll go away, Perhaps he'll go away, He'll go away
Johnny's deviant behavior is not entirely his fault, but rather a result of societal influence. The song suggests that he may change his ways if treated kindly.
'Only a lad. You really can't blame him.' 'Only a lad. Society made him.' 'Only a lad. He's our responsibility.'
The community continues to shift blame from Johnny and onto society, and they realize their responsibility for Johnny's actions and well-being.
Hey there Johnny you really don't fool me, You get away with murder, And you think it's funny! You don't give a damn if we live or if we die Oh oh oh, ohh ohh ohh oh oh, Hey there Johnny boy, I hope you fry! Oh oh oh, ohh ohh ohh oh oh, Oh oh oh, ohh ohh ohh oh oh.
At the end of the song, the perspective shifts and the lyrics imply the singer's anger towards Johnny, who continues to harm others and show no remorse for his actions. The song ends on a vengeful note as the singer wishes ill will upon Johnny.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANNY ELFMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kino
on make it right
I believe this line says "If I have to, then I'll fight!"
Kino
on make it right
I believe this line says "I go where I'm not wanted"