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.
Water
Oingo Boingo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm the cat's meow since I don't know when
I'm an instigator from a dead man's town
So when did the whole world turn upside down?
When did you change your mind?
When did you lose the juice?
Now, where did you get your attitude?
When did you give it away?
What did the old man say?
And how many babies did you kick today?
Now, how many nights can the full moon shine?
How many bottles of water can you turn to wine
When the blood has flowed against the tides of time
And the water flows forever? Hey, hey, hey
Now, I'm gonna build a boat, I'm gonna make it float
'Cause I'm getting the chase for a faraway place
Gonna set the sail, gonna catch some wind
And the big red sky's gonna be my only friend
With a boat for two, just me and you
You can be my teacher, I can teach you too
Gonna try a few things that I've never done
Maybe talk to the fishes, maybe have some fun
Maybe shake my pale fist at the angry stars
While I dance a jig under the eyes of Mars
When we get to an island where no one's ever been
We can get down and dirty in our animal skins
And I stand with my thing hanging out in the wind
Where the water's sweet like honey
Hey, hey, yeah, hey, hey, yeah, yeah, hey, now
I've been feeling a chill, from the East wind blue
Is it creeping up slow, have you felt it too?
Have you noticed the look, have you felt the feel?
Did it make you blush when the piggy squealed?
Have you heard what they say, did you read the news?
Said, the old man's coming home a singing the blues
Gonna whack your fanny, gonna tan your hide
Make your ears turn red and make you gonna cry
Now, well, how many children gonna lose their minds
How many crying girls will be left behind?
When the dead start walking and the full moon shines
When the dead start walking and the full moon shines
When the dead start walking and the full moon shines
When the dead start walking and the full moon shines
When the dead start walking, yeah
Now, everybody sing to the heavens above
And everybody dance to the sounds of love
Won't you clack your teeth, won't you smack your hands?
Won't you dig your little heads right out of the sand?
Won't you jiggle your butt, won't you wave your arms?
Won't you look like you just came off of the farm?
Won't you stop your fighting for a second or two?
Won't you help your neighbors, won't you do the do?
Won't you taste the sugar, won't you eat the cake?
Won't you get your ugly mug right out of my face?
Won't you tell your brothers and your sisters tonight
That you tasted the water and the water was right?
Won't you taste the sugar, won't you dance the dance?
Won't you wake up? Please and come on out of your trance
Everybody make believe that you disappear
For a second or two, gonna feel so queer
And you left behind all your rage and fear
And it made you feel like water
The lyrics to Oingo Boingo's song "Water" are complex and multi-layered, with a variety of themes and emotions woven together. The song seems to be about the search for freedom, both personal and universal, and the obstacles that stand in its way. The opening lines suggest a sense of rebellion and individuality, with the singer claiming to be an "instigator" and questioning when the world turned upside down. The chorus asks when the listener lost their spark, their "juice," and when they gave away their attitude.
The song continues with a series of questions about transformation and the passage of time. The middle section references biblical imagery, with the singer asking how many bottles of water one can turn to wine and how long the moon can shine. The idea of time passing and change happening is further emphasized with the lines "when the blood has flowed against the tides of time" and "water flows forever."
The final verses of the song seem to suggest a solution to the search for freedom and escape, with the singer building a boat and setting sail for a new, unexplored island. The imagery of animal skins and "shaking my pale fist at the angry stars" suggests a return to primal, instinctual ways of being, while the final lines urge listeners to "make believe that you disappear" and find freedom through imagination.
Overall, "Water" is a complex and layered song that touches on themes of rebellion, transformation, and freedom. The lyrics are open to interpretation and offer a variety of different possible meanings, making it a rich and rewarding listen.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, everybody tells you're the dog's best friend
Everyone thinks highly of you
I'm the cat's meow since I don't know when
I'm pretty great, and have been for a while
I'm an instigator from a dead man's town
I love causing trouble and chaos
So when did the whole world turn upside down?
When did everything go wrong?
When did you change your mind?
When did you start thinking differently?
When did you lose the juice?
When did you lose your passion or power?
Now, where did you get your attitude?
Where did your attitude come from?
When did you give it away?
When did you lose your edge or conviction?
What did the old man say?
What did a wise elder say that stuck with you?
And how many babies did you kick today?
How many times did you hurt someone weaker than you?
Now, how many nights can the full moon shine?
How many times can a familiar thing happen?
How many bottles of water can you turn to wine
How many miracles can you perform?
When the blood has flowed against the tides of time
Through all hardship and conflict
And the water flows forever? Hey, hey, hey
And life goes on endlessly?
Now, I'm gonna build a boat, I'm gonna make it float
I'm going to follow my dreams and make them reality
'Cause I'm getting the chase for a faraway place
Because I'm seeking adventure and change
Gonna set the sail, gonna catch some wind
Going to take advantage of opportunities and momentum
And the big red sky's gonna be my only friend
I'll be alone and soaring through the vastness of the world
With a boat for two, just me and you
It'll be an intimate journey between us
You can be my teacher, I can teach you too
We can learn from each other
Gonna try a few things that I've never done
Going to experiment and take risks
Maybe talk to the fishes, maybe have some fun
Maybe do something silly and unexpected
Maybe shake my pale fist at the angry stars
Maybe rebel against the very universe
While I dance a jig under the eyes of Mars
While I do something reckless and flamboyant
When we get to an island where no one's ever been
When we arrive at an unexplored place
We can get down and dirty in our animal skins
We can let loose and be primal
And I stand with my thing hanging out in the wind
And I'll be unabashed and free-spirited
Where the water's sweet like honey
Where everything is perfect and blissful
I've been feeling a chill, from the East wind blue
I've been sensing trouble or danger nearby
Is it creeping up slow, have you felt it too?
Are you also uneasy or alert?
Have you noticed the look, have you felt the feel?
Have you noticed any changes or vibes?
Did it make you blush when the piggy squealed?
Did it embarrass you when someone exposed your wrongdoings?
Have you heard what they say, did you read the news?
Have you been informed of what's going on?
Said, the old man's coming home a singing the blues
Said, things are about to get pretty bad
Gonna whack your fanny, gonna tan your hide
Gonna punish you physically
Make your ears turn red and make you gonna cry
Make you feel ashamed and regretful
Now, well, how many children gonna lose their minds
How many young people will fall apart?
How many crying girls will be left behind?
How many people will be hurt and abandoned?
When the dead start walking and the full moon shines
When the impossible happens and chaos reigns
Now, everybody sing to the heavens above
Let's all be joyful and expressive
And everybody dance to the sounds of love
Let's all move and celebrate
Won't you clack your teeth, won't you smack your hands?
Won't you make some joyful noise?
Won't you dig your little heads right out of the sand?
Won't you pay attention and be proactive?
Won't you jiggle your butt, won't you wave your arms?
Won't you be silly and carefree?
Won't you look like you just came off of the farm?
Won't you be authentic?
Won't you stop your fighting for a second or two?
Won't you let go of your anger for a moment?
Won't you help your neighbors, won't you do the do?
Won't you be kind and charitable?
Won't you taste the sugar, won't you eat the cake?
Won't you indulge in life's pleasures?
Won't you get your ugly mug right out of my face?
Won't you stop being confrontational?
Won't you tell your brothers and your sisters tonight
Won't you encourage others to love?
That you tasted the water and the water was right?
That you found something good in life?
Won't you taste the sugar, won't you dance the dance?
Won't you enjoy the moment and be carefree?
Won't you wake up? Please and come on out of your trance
Won't you be aware and alive?
Everybody make believe that you disappear
Imagine disappearing and letting go of anxieties
For a second or two, gonna feel so queer
For a moment, things will feel strange and different
And you left behind all your rage and fear
And you let go of anger and anxiety
And it made you feel like water
And it was liberating and calming
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANNY ELFMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@OingoBoingoTapes
Now everybody tells me I'm the dog's best friend
And the cat's meow since I don't know when
I'm an instigator from a dead man's town
So when did the whole world turn upside down
When did you change your mind
When did you lose the juice now
Where did you get your attitude
When did you give it away
What did the old man say
And how many babies did you kick today
Now how many nights can the full moon shine
How many bottles of water can you turn to wine
When the blood has flowed against the tides of time
And the water flows forever
Now, I'm gonna build a boat, I'm gonna make it float
'Cause I'm getting the chase for a faraway place
Gonna set the sail, gonna catch some wind
And the big red sky's gonna be my only friend
With a boat for two, just me and you
You can be my teacher, I can teach you too
Gonna try a few things that I've never done
Maybe talk to the fishes, maybe have some fun
Maybe shake my pale fist at the angry stars
While I dance a jig under the eyes of Mars
When we get to an island where no one's ever been
We can get down and dirty in our animal skins
And I stand with my thing hanging out in the wind
Where the water's sweet like honey
I've been feeling a chill from the East wind blue
It's been creeping up slow, have you felt it too
Have you noticed the look, have you felt the feel
Did it make you blush when the piggies squealed
Have you heard what they say, did you read the news
Said the old man's coming home to sing the blues
Gonna whack your fanny, gonna tan your hide
Make your ears turn red and make you gonna cry
Now well how many children gonna lose their minds
How many crying girls will be left behind
When the dead start walking and the full moon shines
When the dead start walking and the full moon shines
When the dead start walking, yeah
Now, everybody scream to the heavens above
Everybody dance to the sounds of love
Won't you clack your teeth, won't you smack your hands
Won't you dig your little heads right out of the sand
Won't you jiggle your butt, won't you wave your arms
Won't you look like you just came off of the farm
Won't you stop your fighting for a second or two
Won't you help your neighbors, won't you do the do
Won't you taste the sugar, won't you eat the cake
Won't you get your ugly mug right out of my face
Won't you tell your brothers and your sisters tonight
That you tasted the water and the water was right
Won't you taste the sugar, won't you dance the dance
Won't you wake up please, come on out of your trance
Everybody make believe that you disappeared
For a second or two you're gonna feel so queer
That you left behind all the rage and fear
And it made you feel like water
@OingoBoingoTapes
Now everybody tells me I'm the dog's best friend
And the cat's meow since I don't know when
I'm an instigator from a dead man's town
So when did the whole world turn upside down
When did you change your mind
When did you lose the juice now
Where did you get your attitude
When did you give it away
What did the old man say
And how many babies did you kick today
Now how many nights can the full moon shine
How many bottles of water can you turn to wine
When the blood has flowed against the tides of time
And the water flows forever
Now, I'm gonna build a boat, I'm gonna make it float
'Cause I'm getting the chase for a faraway place
Gonna set the sail, gonna catch some wind
And the big red sky's gonna be my only friend
With a boat for two, just me and you
You can be my teacher, I can teach you too
Gonna try a few things that I've never done
Maybe talk to the fishes, maybe have some fun
Maybe shake my pale fist at the angry stars
While I dance a jig under the eyes of Mars
When we get to an island where no one's ever been
We can get down and dirty in our animal skins
And I stand with my thing hanging out in the wind
Where the water's sweet like honey
I've been feeling a chill from the East wind blue
It's been creeping up slow, have you felt it too
Have you noticed the look, have you felt the feel
Did it make you blush when the piggies squealed
Have you heard what they say, did you read the news
Said the old man's coming home to sing the blues
Gonna whack your fanny, gonna tan your hide
Make your ears turn red and make you gonna cry
Now well how many children gonna lose their minds
How many crying girls will be left behind
When the dead start walking and the full moon shines
When the dead start walking and the full moon shines
When the dead start walking, yeah
Now, everybody scream to the heavens above
Everybody dance to the sounds of love
Won't you clack your teeth, won't you smack your hands
Won't you dig your little heads right out of the sand
Won't you jiggle your butt, won't you wave your arms
Won't you look like you just came off of the farm
Won't you stop your fighting for a second or two
Won't you help your neighbors, won't you do the do
Won't you taste the sugar, won't you eat the cake
Won't you get your ugly mug right out of my face
Won't you tell your brothers and your sisters tonight
That you tasted the water and the water was right
Won't you taste the sugar, won't you dance the dance
Won't you wake up please, come on out of your trance
Everybody make believe that you disappeared
For a second or two you're gonna feel so queer
That you left behind all the rage and fear
And it made you feel like water
@Romulan_type
Boingo needs to come back to release a remaster all of the old reject recordings bc they’re amazing
@NodiumAmoko
The old record burnt in the fire of the studios :/
@strangewayfaringstranger
@Nodium Amoko Then they need to record it again! haha
I bet you anything Danny has some copies though.
@farcebook1836
I agree 💯!!!
@FrenchToasted1995
i always talk to pictures
@Operator713
The live version does not compare to this one. Definitely needs a remaster and release. Adore this song. Can't remember where I first found it. Thank you for posting.
@matthewshoemaker2211
This song set me free in a very fucking real way that thousands of dollars worth of in-patient therapy wasn't able to
@volatilevulture8102
I've found it interesting that Oingo Boingo has done a bit of genre experimentation, and this song in particular has a bit of a bluegrass-like sound to it. Gotta say, I love it.
@FuryKat
I've only heard the Farewell version since I was kid, and this is incredible...thank you so much for posting this. It's hypnotic.