The band members actually started out as punks drawing some inspiration from Swedish folk music, but gradually the Oi! genre started having a greater influence on their development and around 1997/1998 Perkele became skinheads.
Despite their Swedish origin, perkele—the noun used for the band's name—is, in fact, a Finnish profanity. In a 2003 interview, lead vocalist and founding member Ron Halinoja cited his "roots in Finland" and the word's expressively vulgar nature as the main reasons behind choosing this for the band's name. Perkele claim to be strongly against all kinds of racism, nationalism, fascism, sexism, and homophobia as well as being opposed to hate, war, and environmental pollution. Despite this, in the past their appearance at traditionally left-wing events has caused controversy due to some of their songs featuring lyrical themes of Swedish and Finnish nationalist sentiments. Due to the background of their bassist Chris as an adoptee originally from Sri Lanka, the band have at one point experienced racist abuse from the audience at a concert in Belgium.
Shithead
Perkele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're using your power to try to brake us down
Full of corruption, full of lies, you suppose to rule our land
And give us a future - We're going straight to hell
We'll get a nightmare and it is because of you
Ref (4x):
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit ... Shithead!
Ref (repeat)
The lyrics to Perkele's song "Shithead" are a scathing critique of those in power who abuse their authority by using corruption and lies to control and manipulate the masses. The song highlights the fact that these individuals were supposed to be governing with the interest of the people in mind and bringing about a better future for them, but instead, their actions are leading everyone towards a disastrous fate. The repeated chorus of "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit ... Shithead!" emphasizes the disgust and frustration felt towards those in power who have been letting everyone down.
Line by Line Meaning
You're using your power to try to brake us down
You use the authority bestowed upon you to oppress and weaken us
Full of corruption, full of lies, you suppose to rule our land
You are replete with dishonesty and malfeasance, yet you claim to be governing our nation
And give us a future - We're going straight to hell
You promise us a bright tomorrow, yet we're headed towards doom because of your actions
We'll get a nightmare and it is because of you
The calamities and hardships we face are the direct consequences of your poor leadership
Ref (4x):
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit ... Shithead!
Refrain: Expletives in chorus repeatedly calling you out for being a worthless leader
Contributed by Austin W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.