During the near decade the group spent in Dog Fashion Disco, Smith and his merry band of misfits would amass a loyal underground following of fans (dubbed the “mushroom cult”) through countless tours with the likes of Slayer, Mindless Self Indulgence, Nothingface and Lacuna Coil. Although Dog Fashion Disco never achieved commercial success, their musical legacy gained the respect of musical contemporaries like Serj Tankian of System of a Down (who made a guest appearance on Anarchists of Good Taste), Mushroomhead and American Head Charge, while the group's music lives on through the internet and continues to create new members of the “mushroom cult” long after the band's demise.
While Smith and company may have become sick of living the vagabond lifestyle that a touring metal band requires, the thought of giving up music entirely never even crossed their minds. Within mere months of their former outfits demise the group had created a new group, Polkadot Cadaver to unleash their schizophrenic musical madness.
“Jasan and I decided to start a studio band and Polkadot Cadaver started as shells of songs on Jasan’s computer. After we fleshed out the songs we pitched it Rotten Records, because we loved how they handled the last Dog Fashion Disco album,” says Smith about the formation of the group. “They immediately got behind us and as soon as received a recording budget we went to Wrightway Studios to work and complete the record. Polkadot Cadaver is very similar to Dog Fashion Disco stylistically. The songs are still very quirky and different from each other.” Recorded in the bowels of Baltimore with producer Steven Wright (Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, SR-71), Polkadot Cadaver’s debut album picks up right where Dog Fashion Disco left off. The brilliance of the band’s musical output lies within their ability to sonically shape shift like a musical chameleon that can adapt to any music style. “What’s The Worst Thing” blisters with thrashing Slayer like riffage and then spills into the soothing folk-pop melodies of "Chloroform Girl". The album’s lyrical insanity the delivers homicidal blow to Polkadot Cadaver’s musical homicide, covering gamut of topics ranging from plane crashes, narcissistic models, Christ, the devil and good old Baltimore, MD.
After fulfilling their contractual duties with Rotten Records, The guys decides that they'd had enough of working for the man. Smith and Stepp have since started their own record label, called Razor To Wrist Records, and now record and release albums, all on their own. Every project they now have will be releasing albums under Razor To Wrist [Polkadot Cadaver, El-Creepo! (Todd's Solo Project), Knives Out! (Super Group), and Deimos (Jasan's Solo Project)]. For more info on Polkadot Cadaver and the rest of their happenings, be sure to check out RazorToWrist.com.
Bring Me the Head of Andy Warhol
Polkadot Cadaver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see you smilin' at me and your front teeth are missin'
Snapshots and flash bulbs ignite along the runway
And you freeze like a pale mannequin,
I think you like what you see
The plastic surgeons all whispered to each other and blushed
Malevolence breeds contempt into a deviant crush
Fifteen minutes of fame is now the name of the game
Post mortem penetration,
Rigamortis sets the scene
Now get under the microscope,
All writhe and squirm in Vaseline
In a city full of rats,
all feeding on the narcissism
I lit the match,
I lit the fire that burned your Hollywood to the ground
(Burn it all down)
IV drippin' like cocaine down the back of your throat
Drama queen all dressed up with nowhere to go
Street walkin', night stalkin', cold-blooded killer
There's a murder in the room of your polkadot cadaver
Bring me the head of Andy Warhol
Bring me the head of Andy Warhol
Nightmares shapeshift into oblivion
You have not even seen the last of me
What do you want me to say?
I wouldn't have it any other way
One day they'll find you with a candle burning inside of your skull
Are you happy now?
You're finally the talk of the town
Search lights in the sky
Your fame will turn this blood into wine
Fashionistas deliver the death blow,
Penetrate you like it's your birthday
Playtime for children in the graveyard
You have not even seen the last of me
What do you want me to say?
I wouldn't have it any other way
One day they'll find you with a candle burning inside of your skull
Cold, pale Jesus,
Sodom and Gomorrah
Headless Horseman,
Death is at your doorstep
The best rehabs are
All in California
Junkies pushing up
Daisies in the garden
Can you dig it?
I've come here to eat your heart out,
Slit your throat,
And fuck your brains out
Keep your voice down or you'll wake them
(So now we're starting to get somewhere)
If LSD was as popular as cocaine,
I wouldn't drive a Delorean
Cold, pale Jesus,
Sodom and Gomorrah
Headless Horseman,
Death is at your doorstep
The best rehabs are
All in California
Junkies pushing up
Daisies in the garden
Fashionistas deliver the final death blow,
Penetrate you like it's your birthday
Playtime for children in the graveyard
You have not even seen the last of me
What do you want me to say?
I wouldn't have it any other way
One day they'll find you with a candle burning inside of your skull
The lyrics of "Bring Me the Head of Andy Warhol" by Polkadot Cadaver tell a story of a fame-obsessed culture and its dark consequences. The song opens with a portrayal of the psychological warfare that takes place in the entertainment industry, where competition is fierce and superficial beauty is highly prized. The image of the "pale mannequin" frozen by the camera captures the idea that fame can turn people into mere objects of desire, rather than individuals with self-worth.
The middle section of the song takes a more violent turn, as the singer invokes images of death and decay to comment on the darker side of celebrity culture. The lines about post-mortem penetration and rigamortis suggest a fascination with the grotesque, as does the reference to a "murder in the room of your polkadot cadaver." The repeated phrase "Bring me the head of Andy Warhol" is a reference to the pop art icon and his controversial approach to fame and consumer culture.
The final lines of the song emphasize the singer's sense of purpose and determination. The violent imagery continues, becoming more personal and explicit, as the singer declares their intent to "eat your heart out, slit your throat, and fuck your brains out." The reference to LSD and cocaine suggests that the singer sees society as a drug-addled and morally bankrupt place, where celebrity worship is just another form of addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
This is beginning to feel just like a competition
The singer feels like they are in a competition with someone
I see you smilin' at me and your front teeth are missin'
The singer notices someone smiling at them, but they are missing their front teeth
Snapshots and flash bulbs ignite along the runway
Photographs are being taken and flashes are going off at a runway show
And you freeze like a pale mannequin, I think you like what you see
The person being photographed freezes like a mannequin, and the artist thinks they enjoy the attention
The plastic surgeons all whispered to each other and blushed
Plastic surgeons are gossiping and blushing
Malevolence breeds contempt into a deviant crush
A bad attitude turns into a twisted infatuation
Mortals threaten suicide until they forget your name
People threaten suicide until they are no longer relevant or remembered
Fifteen minutes of fame is now the name of the game
Being famous for a short amount of time is the goal
Post mortem penetration, Rigamortis sets the scene
After death, medical examiners examine the body as it stiffens
Now get under the microscope, All writhe and squirm in Vaseline
The body is being examined in great detail, coated in Vaseline to make it easier to see
In a city full of rats, all feeding on the narcissism
In a city full of people obsessed with themselves
I lit the match, I lit the fire that burned your Hollywood to the ground (Burn it all down)
The artist is taking credit for destroying fame and Hollywood culture
IV drippin' like cocaine down the back of your throat
The singer describes a medical situation of having an IV drip into someone's throat
Drama queen all dressed up with nowhere to go
A person with exaggerated emotions and nowhere to showcase them
Street walkin', night stalkin', cold-blooded killer
A person who walks the streets at night and kills without emotion
There's a murder in the room of your polkadot cadaver
A murder has taken place in the room of the person being addressed
Bring me the head of Andy Warhol
The artist wants the head of Andy Warhol
Nightmares shapeshift into oblivion
Nightmares change into something indescribable
You have not even seen the last of me
The singer implies they will continue to be around and relevant
What do you want me to say?
The artist is asking for a response or direction
I wouldn't have it any other way
The artist is content with the current situation
One day they'll find you with a candle burning inside of your skull
The artist threatens a violent end for the person being addressed
Cold, pale Jesus, Sodom and Gomorrah
A reference to Biblical stories of death and devastation
Headless Horseman, Death is at your doorstep
A mythical figure and a symbol for imminent death
The best rehabs are All in California
The singer claims California is the best place for rehabilitation
Junkies pushing up Daisies in the garden
Drug addicts dying and buried in the garden
Fashionistas deliver the death blow, Penetrate you like it's your birthday
Fashion industry people are responsible for someone's downfall, and take pleasure in it
Playtime for children in the graveyard
A disturbing image of children playing in a cemetery
So now we're starting to get somewhere
The artist believes progress is being made on something
If LSD was as popular as cocaine, I wouldn't drive a Delorean
The singer is making a reference to the movie Back to the Future and shares a personal preference
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brandon Betz
This has always been my favorite song on this album!! Between this and What’s the Worst That Could Happen. This song is just so full... Perfect.
Aaron Wackenhut
This really just made my day. OMG! Great job again!!!
iamcuddles
so glad this album is back on spotify
Do0m
I think in this case the rawness of the original has the edge. Good work though boys! Sounds fantastic~!
Sage H.
This is so clean and crisp, I love this so much ♡
Rick T
Cannot wait for this release i need tl hear them both back to back. Ive loved every new version even though i have so much love and memories tied to the originals
Mayachan
ooooohhh... the lyrics...so clean... :3
Nonya Biddnuss
OOOO I've been waitin' for this one for a LONG time!
gamefreak18
relief sounding sigh I love both versions equally
ALIBEN
What a genius he is 🔥