All of the band members adopted pseudonyms ending with the surname "Ramone", though none of them were related. They performed 2,263 concerts, touring virtually nonstop for 22 years. In 1996, after a tour with the Lollapalooza music festival, the band played a farewell concert and disbanded. By a little more than eight years after the breakup, the band's three founding members—lead singer Joey Ramone, guitarist Johnny Ramone, and bassist Dee Dee Ramone—had died. Drummer Tommy Ramone, the last surviving original member, died in 2014.
Their only record with enough U.S. sales to be certified gold was the compilation album Ramones Mania. However, recognition of the band's importance built over the years, and they are now cited in many assessments of all-time great rock music, such as the Rolling Stone list of the 50 Greatest Artists of All Time and VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. In 2002, the Ramones were ranked the second-greatest band of all time by Spin magazine, trailing only The Beatles. On March 18, 2002, the Ramones—including the three founders and drummers Marky and Tommy Ramone—were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2011, the group was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Formation: 1974–1975
Forest Hills High School, attended by the four original members of the Ramones
The original members of the band met in and around the middle-class neighborhood of Forest Hills in the New York City borough of Queens. John Cummings and Tamás Erdélyi had both been in a high-school garage band from 1966 to 1967 known as the Tangerine Puppets. They became friends with Douglas Colvin, who had recently moved to the area from Germany, and Jeffry Hyman, who was the initial lead singer of the glam rock band Sniper, founded in 1972.
The Ramones began taking shape in early 1974, when Cummings and Colvin invited Hyman to join them in a band. The initial lineup featured Colvin on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Cummings on lead guitar, and Hyman on drums. Colvin, who soon switched from rhythm guitar to bass, was the first to adopt the name "Ramone", calling himself Dee Dee Ramone. He was inspired by Paul McCartney's use of the pseudonym Paul Ramon during his Silver Beatles days. Dee Dee convinced the other members to take on the name and came up with the idea of calling the band the Ramones. Hyman and Cummings became Joey Ramone and Johnny Ramone, respectively.
A friend of the band, Monte A. Melnick (later their tour manager), helped to arrange rehearsal time for them at Manhattan's Performance Studios, where he worked. Johnny's former bandmate Erdélyi was set to become their manager. Soon after the band was formed, Dee Dee realized that he could not sing and play his bass guitar simultaneously; with Erdélyi's encouragement, Joey became the band's new lead singer.
Dee Dee would continue, however, to count off each song's tempo with his signature rapid-fire shout of "1-2-3-4!" Joey soon similarly realized that he could not sing and play drums simultaneously and left the position of drummer. While auditioning prospective replacements, Erdélyi would often take to the drums and demonstrate how to play the songs. It became apparent that he was able to perform the group's music better than anyone else, and he joined the band as Tommy Ramone.
The Ramones played before an audience for the first time on March 30, 1974, at Performance Studios. The songs they played were very fast and very short; most clocked in at under two minutes. Around this time, a new music scene was emerging in New York centered around two clubs in downtown Manhattan—Max's Kansas City and, more famously, CBGB (usually referred to as CBGB's). The Ramones made their CBGB debut on August 16. Legs McNeil, who cofounded Punk magazine the following year, later described the impact of that performance: "They were all wearing these black leather jackets. And they counted off this song...and it was just this wall of noise.... They looked so striking. These guys were not hippies. This was something completely new."
The band swiftly became regulars at the club, playing there seventy-four times by the end of the year. After garnering considerable attention for their performances—which averaged about seventeen minutes from beginning to end—the group was signed to a recording contract in late 1975 by Seymour Stein of Sire Records. Stein's wife, Linda Stein, had seen the band play at CBGB; she would later co-manage them along with Danny Fields. By this time, the Ramones were recognized as leaders of the new scene that was increasingly being referred to as "punk". The group's unusual frontman had a lot to do with their impact. As Dee Dee explained, "All the other singers [in New York] were copying David Johansen [of The New York Dolls], who was copying Mick Jagger.... But Joey was unique, totally unique."
My Brain is Hanging
Ramones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
C'mon, sort your trash
You better pull yourself back together
Maybe you've got too much cash
Better call, call the law
When you gonna turn yourself in? Yeah
You're a politician
Don't become one of Hitler's children
Bonzo goes to Bitburg then goes out for a cup of tea
As I watched it on TV somehow it really bothered me
Drank in all the bars in town for an extended foreign policy
Pick up the pieces
My brain is hanging upside down
I need something to slow me down
Shouldn't wish you happiness, wish her the very best
Fifty thousand dollar dress
Shaking hands with your highness
See through you like cellophane
You watch the world complain, but you do it anyway
Who am I, am I to say
Bonzo goes to Bitburg then goes out for a cup of tea
As I watched it on TV somehow it really bothered me
Drank in all the bars in town for an extended foreign policy
Pick up the pieces
My brain is hanging upside down
I need something to slow me down
If there's one thing that makes me sick
It's when someone tries to hide behind politics
I wish that time could go by fast
Somehow they manage to make it last
My brain is hanging upside down
I need something to slow me down
The Ramones are known for their unique way of delivering blunt commentary on societal issues, and "My Brain is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)" is no exception. The song was written in response to President Reagan's decision to visit a German military cemetery, where many SS officers were buried. The president claimed that he was unaware of the cemetery's history, but this claim was met with skepticism from many around the world. The song's lyrics touch on the themes of politics, war, and greed.
The opening lines of the song, "You've got to pick up the pieces, C'mon, sort your trash," may seem unrelated to the song's broader message, but they suggest the need for individuals to take responsibility for cleaning up their own messes. The next lines, "You better pull yourself back together, Maybe you've got too much cash," suggest that people who have too much money may start to lose sight of what's important in life.
The next verse specifically references President Reagan's controversial cemetery visit, using the name "Bonzo" to refer to the president. The song asks, "When you gonna turn yourself in?" and comments on the absurdity of a politician visiting a cemetery where many SS officers are buried. The chorus repeats the line "My brain is hanging upside down, I need something to slow me down," suggesting that the world is moving too fast and people need to take a step back and reflect.
The song's bridge continues to criticize politicians and the wealthy, using phrases like "fifty-thousand-dollar dress" and "shaking hands with your highness." The final verse expresses frustration with the slow pace of political change and the way that politicians avoid taking responsibility for their actions. The song concludes with another repetition of the chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got to pick up the pieces
You need to get yourself back on track
C'mon, sort your trash
Take responsibility for your actions and clean up your mess
You better pull yourself back together
Get your act together and fix your problems
Maybe you've got too much cash
You might be too wealthy for your own good
Better call, call the law
You should turn yourself in and face the consequences
When you gonna turn yourself in? Yeah
Why haven't you taken responsibility for your actions yet?
You're a politician
You're a public figure with power and influence
Don't become one of Hitler's children
Don't perpetuate evil and hateful ideologies
Bonzo goes to Bitburg then goes out for a cup of tea
Even after committing a controversial action, people can still go about their daily lives as though nothing happened
As I watched it on TV somehow it really bothered me
Watching injustice or morally questionable behavior can be disturbing
Drank in all the bars in town for an extended foreign policy
Instead of focusing on important political matters, some people prefer to drink and avoid responsibility
Pick up the pieces
Take responsibility and fix your problems
My brain is hanging upside down
My mind is in a state of confusion
I need something to slow me down
I need something to calm me or help me think more clearly
Shouldn't wish you happiness, wish her the very best
I shouldn't harbor negative feelings towards someone else's happiness, but rather wish them the best
Fifty thousand dollar dress
Symbolic of excessive wealth and materialism
Shaking hands with your highness
Being overly subservient to those in power
See through you like cellophane
I understand your true motives and intentions
You watch the world complain, but you do it anyway
You ignore the concerns of others, and continue your actions regardless
Who am I, am I to say
Who am I to judge or criticize?
If there's one thing that makes me sick
Something that I find extremely repulsive or frustrating
It's when someone tries to hide behind politics
Using politics as an excuse for one's actions or avoiding responsibility
I wish that time could go by fast
I wish that this unpleasant situation could be over with quickly
Somehow they manage to make it last
Sadly, the situation seems to drag on in spite of my wishes
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEE DEE RAMONE, JEAN BEAUVOIR, JOEY RAMONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BHAKTIBROPHY
I remember when this tune came out in 1986... we obviously didn't have the internet back then, but it was pretty easy to figure out that "Bonzo" was referring to Reagan (if anyone knew anything about his movie career) and his disgraceful speech at Bitburg, Germany.
This came out the year after I first met Joey and Johnny (carrying Dee Dee home on Broadway between 11th-10th streets)... just eight years later I'd be a pro photographer in the city living near Joey. Insane how life works out. Once while at Veselka, Joey told me Johnny didn't like the tune. No wonder fans (of this tune) never heard much about its origin from them until years later; Johnny and Sire quashed that from the get-go.
I've been a Ramones fan for over four decades. This is definitely one of my fav tunes by them.
BTW- I took the photos of Joey's Memorial shrine at CBGBs that were in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek, etc. I was the only pro who took photos; my rep said, "Who's going to want these?" I told her to take them... I knew the Ramones were much more loved than anyone in magazines etc, ever imagined while they were all alive. It's a real shame they didn't get their due until after they all died (except Marky, who was not an original member).
That was my last pro photo shoot before my spinal injury...
Love to every true Ramones fan from back in the day... no one who wasn't there truly gets what their music did for rock n roll (created punk for one) during the prog and disco eras, respectively. Might sound stupid, but we took a lot of grief for wearing our Converse All-Stars and Chuck Taylor's 30 years before they were trendy. We didn't do it to be cool. We didn't think about it, really. It's just what we loved.
To everyone else who gets happiness and joy from their music-- for people who discovered this tune two years after Joey's death, in School of Rock... From talking to Joey throughout the years, that's all he really wanted, was to make people happy. And no, he wasn't mad at Green Day, he told me in 1996 he was glad they were making money.
The Ramones were light-years ahead of their time.
Gabba Gabba HEY!
@Mraloucastro
You've got to pick up the pieces You've got to pick up the pieces
C'mon, sort your trash
You better pull yourself back together
Maybe you've got too much cash
Better call, call the law
When you gonna turn yourself in? Yeah
You're a politician
Don't become one of Hitler's children
Bonzo goes to Bitburg then goes out for a cup of tea
As I watched it on TV somehow it really bothered me
Drank in all the bars in town for an extended foreign policy
Pick up the pieces
My brain is hanging upside down
I need something to slow me down
Shouldn't wish you happiness, wish her the very best
Fifty thousand dollar dress
Shaking hands with your highness
See through you like cellophane
You watch the world complain, but you do it anyway
Who am I, am I to say
Bonzo goes to Bitburg then goes out for a cup of tea
As I watched it on TV somehow it really bothered me
Drank in all the bars in town for an extended foreign policy
Pick up the pieces
My brain is hanging upside down
I need something to slow me down
If there's one thing that makes me sick
It's when someone tries to hide behind politics
I wish that time could go by fast
Somehow they manage to make it last
My brain is hanging upside down
I need something to slow me down
C'mon, sort your trash
You better pull yourself back together
Maybe you've got too much cash
Better call, call the law
When you gonna turn yourself in? Yeah
You're a politician
Don't become one of Hitler's children
Bonzo goes to Bitburg then goes out for a cup of tea
As I watched it on TV somehow it really bothered me
Drank in all the bars in town for an extended foreign policy
Pick up the pieces
My brain is hanging upside down
I need something to slow me down
Shouldn't wish you happiness, wish her the very best
Fifty thousand dollar dress
Shaking hands with your highness
See through you like cellophane
You watch the world complain, but you do it anyway
Who am I, am I to say
Bonzo goes to Bitburg then goes out for a cup of tea
As I watched it on TV somehow it really bothered me
Drank in all the bars in town for an extended foreign policy
Pick up the pieces
My brain is hanging upside down
I need something to slow me down
If there's one thing that makes me sick
It's when someone tries to hide behind politics
I wish that time could go by fast
Somehow they manage to make it last
My brain is hanging upside down
I need something to slow me down
@michaelrossi9288
The riffs in this song still give me chills of pleasure.
@michaelrossi9288
Hey neighbors WAKE UP FRIDAY
@adamrushtonbevtown7497
I remember in 2017 I use to listen to this while riding my bike in the pissing rain going to a job I hate dreaming about having a car , career and a girlfriend... the other day I put this on sat next to my girl with a car on the drive and a welding career along side me and realised how far I’ve come... god bless this song... PICK UP THE PIECES!!!💪❤️
Update 5 months later: I’m so blown away by all the people who liked this commented and commented back, I honestly can’t tell you how much it means to me... cheers guys and girls🙏❤️
@pikesherlin6834
Fucking good for you man 🤙
@chrishorgan5860
That's happiness
Fkn awesome post
Wish you all the best
@johnharriel4485
Sounds like me, riding in my youth, blastin this great song, dreaming of where I wanted to be in life. Years later, lost all my friends from death, failed marraige with the mother of my children, lost my house, the job I liked being at, custody battle. Now, I'm about to be engaged to a girl that treats me great, won shared joint custody of both my Kids, just got a house with my new girl I'm soon to be married to, got my job back at the same place I loved as a nurse, still jammin this great song! Time to pick up the pieces......as well as inspired that you have as well my Bro! I so feel this post. Keep on picking up the pieces and live the best life you could ever imagine. Always keep one fist in the goal Brother!
@germanicelt
Geez 2017 is like nothing ago to me. I was picking up the pieces, from long issues with health from 2006 to 2014, then I just dropped the pieces again.
@redoz9768
Awesome man.
@SuperRichyrich11
RIP Kevin Clark, from School of Rock.... he tragically died a couple days ago but I just now learned of it.
@erickpavaosantana8151
The death of Kevin was a tragedy for funs of rock is School of rock 😞🤘