Gee Officer Krupke!
Original Broadway Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To them we ain't even human. We're cruddy juvenile delinquents.
So that's what we give 'em
SNOWBOY (imitating Krupke)
Hey, you!
ACTION
SNOWBOY
Yeah you! Gimme one good reason for not dragging you down to the
station house, ya punk.
ACTION (sung)
Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke
You gotta understand
It's just our bringin' upke
That gets us out of hand
Our mothers all are junkies
Our fathers all are drunks
Golly Moses!
Natcherly we're punks!
ALL
Gee, Officer Krupke, we're very upset
We never had the love that every child oughtta get
We ain't no delinquents, we're misunderstood
Deep down inside us there is good!
ACTION
There is good!
ALL
There is good, there is good
There is untapped good
Like inside, the worst of us is good!
SNOWBOY (spoken)
That's a touchin' good story
ACTION
Lemme tell it to the world!
SNOWBOY
Just tell it to the judge!
ACTION (sung)
Dear kindly Judge, your Honour
My parents treat me rough
With all their marijuana
They won't give me a puff
They didn't want to have me
But somehow I was had
Leapin' lizards!
That's why I'm so bad!
DIESEL (imitating a judge)
Right!
Officer Krupke, you're really a square
This boy don't need a judge, he needs an analyst's care
It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed
He's psychologically disturbed!
ACTION
I'm disturbed!
ALL
We're disturbed, we're disturbed
We're the most disturbed
Like we're psychologically disturbed!
DIESEL (spoken)
Hear ye, hear ye! In the opinion of this court, this child is depraved
on account he ain't had a normal home.
ACTION
Hey, I'm depraved on account I'm deprived!
DIESEL
So take him to a headshrinker!
ACTION (sung)
My father is a bastard
My ma's an S.O.B.
My grandpa's always plastered
My grandma pushes tea
My sister wears a mustache
My brother wears a dress
Goodness gracious!
That's why I'm a mess!
A-RAB (imitating a psychiatrist)
Yes!
Officer Krupke, you're really a slob
This boy don't need a doctor, just a good honest job
Society's played him a terrible trick
And sociologically he's sick!
ACTION
I am sick!
ALL
We are sick, we are sick
We are sick, sick, sick
Like we're sociologically sick!
A-RAB (spoken)
In my opinion, this child does not need to have his head shrunk at
all. Juvenile delinquency is purely a social disease
ACTION
Hey, I got a social disease!
A-RAB
So take him to a social worker!
ACTION (sung)
Dear kindly social worker
They say go earn a buck
Like be a soda jerker
Which means like be a schmuck
It's not I'm anti-social
I'm only anti-work
Glory osky!
That's why I'm a jerk!
BABY JOHN (imitating female social worker)
Eek!
Officer Krupke, you've done it again!
This boy don't need a job, he needs a year in the pen
It ain't just a question of misunderstood
Deep down inside him, he's no good!
ACTION
I'm no good!
ALL
We're no good, we're no good
We're no earthy good
Like the best of us is no damn good!
DIESEL
The trouble is he's lazy!
A-RAB
The trouble is he drinks!
BABY JOHN
The trouble is he's crazy!
DIESEL
The trouble is he stinks!
A-RAB
The trouble is he's growing!
BABY JOHN
The trouble is he's grown!
ALL
Krupke, we got troubles of our own!
Gee, Officer Krupke
We're down on our knees
'Cause no one wants a fella with a social disease
Gee, Officer Krupke
What are we to do?
Gee, Officer Krupke -
Krup you!
The lyrics of "Gee Officer Krupke!" from the Original Broadway Cast's song tell the story of a group of troubled youths who are misunderstood and marginalized by society. The song opens with Action expressing how they are seen as "cruddy juvenile delinquents" and are not perceived as human beings. They attribute their behavior to their upbringing, with lyrics like "Our mothers all are junkies, our fathers all are drunks," suggesting that their home environments have led them astray.
The characters address Officer Krupke, who represents authority figures in their lives, and express their frustrations with the lack of love and support they have received growing up. They argue that deep down, there is goodness within them that is not being recognized. Action tells his story to the judge, blaming his behavior on his parents' neglect and dysfunctional family dynamics, which is met with skepticism and a suggestion for psychological analysis rather than punishment.
As the song progresses, other characters take on the roles of a judge, psychiatrist, and social worker, each providing their perspective on the reasons behind the youths' behavior. They point out various issues such as deprivation, societal expectations, and mental health struggles that have contributed to the youths' troubles. The characters express their frustration and sense of being misunderstood, highlighting how they are perceived as lazy, crazy, and no good by society.
Overall, "Gee Officer Krupke!" sheds light on the complexities of juvenile delinquency and the underlying issues that contribute to the behavior of troubled youths. It addresses themes of neglect, societal expectations, and the cycle of dysfunction that can perpetuate harmful behaviors. The song serves as a poignant commentary on the need for understanding and support for marginalized individuals who are often overlooked and labeled as troublemakers.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke
Respectful address to you, Officer Krupke
You gotta understand
You have to comprehend
It's just our bringin' upke
It's just how we were raised
That gets us out of hand
That leads us to misbehave
Our mothers all are junkies
Our mothers are addicts
Our fathers all are drunks
Our fathers are alcoholics
Golly Moses!
Goodness gracious!
Natcherly we're punks!
Naturally, we are troublemakers!
Gee, Officer Krupke, we're very upset
We are genuinely disturbed, Officer Krupke
We never had the love that every child oughtta get
We lacked the affection every child deserves
We ain't no delinquents, we're misunderstood
We are not criminals, we are simply misunderstood
Deep down inside us there is good!
Beneath the surface, we have goodness within us!
That's a touchin' good story
That's quite a touching tale
Lemme tell it to the world!
Let me share it with everyone!
Just tell it to the judge!
Save it for the judge!
Dear kindly Judge, your Honour
Respectful address to you, Judge
My parents treat me rough
My parents mistreat me
With all their marijuana
Considering their drug use
They won't give me a puff
They won't even share with me
They didn't want to have me
They didn't plan to have me
But somehow I was had
But here I am
Leapin' lizards!
Good heavens!
That's why I'm so bad!
That's why I misbehave!
Hey, I'm depraved on account I'm deprived!
I am morally corrupt because I lack basic needs!
My father is a bastard
My father is an unpleasant person
My ma's an S.O.B.
My mother is difficult
My grandpa's always plastered
My grandfather is always drunk
My grandma pushes tea
My grandmother is into drugs
My sister wears a mustache
My sister exhibits masculine traits
My brother wears a dress
My brother has feminine tendencies
Goodness gracious!
Oh my goodness!
That's why I'm a mess!
That's why I'm in a chaotic state!
Yes!
Indeed!
Officer Krupke, you're really a square
Officer Krupke, you are outdated
This boy don't need a judge, he needs an analyst's care
This boy needs therapy, not legal action
It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed
It's his mental condition that needs to be controlled
He's psychologically disturbed!
He has emotional issues!
Officer Krupke, you're really a slob
Officer Krupke, you are messy
This boy don't need a doctor, just a good honest job
This boy needs a job, not medical help
Society's played him a terrible trick
Society has mistreated him
And sociologically he's sick!
And he is socially ill!
Hey, I got a social disease!
I have a societal issue!
Dear kindly social worker
Respectful address to you, social worker
They say go earn a buck
They expect me to make money
Which means like be a schmuck
Basically, be a fool
It's not I'm anti-social
It's not that I dislike people
I'm only anti-work
I just don't want to work
Glory osky!
Goodness gracious!
That's why I'm a jerk!
That's why I act like a fool!
Eek!
Yikes!
Officer Krupke, you've done it again!
Officer Krupke, you are at fault once more!
This boy don't need a job, he needs a year in the pen
This boy requires a year in prison, not employment
It ain't just a question of misunderstood
It's not just a matter of being misunderstood
Deep down inside him, he's no good!
At his core, he's not a good person!
The trouble is he's lazy!
The issue is that he's lazy!
The trouble is he drinks!
The problem is his drinking!
The trouble is he's crazy!
The difficulty lies in his mental state!
The trouble is he stinks!
The challenge is his lack of cleanliness!
The trouble is he's growing!
The problem is his development!
The trouble is he's grown!
The issue is that he's already an adult!
Krupke, we got troubles of our own!
Officer Krupke, we have our own issues to deal with!
Gee, Officer Krupke
Wow, Officer Krupke
We're down on our knees
We're pleading with you
'Cause no one wants a fella with a social disease
Because nobody wants someone with societal issues
Gee, Officer Krupke
Wow, Officer Krupke
What are we to do?
How should we proceed?
Gee, Officer Krupke - Krup you!
Wow, Officer Krupke - dismiss you!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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