The band was unique in that all of the members had sung lead vocals on at least one recording and the songwriting responsibilities were distributed throughout, though Mike Park was generally regarded as the front man.
Skankin' Pickle's lyrics range from silly, in songs such as "Fakin' Jamaican" and "Asian Man", to sociopolitical, in songs like "Racist World" and "Ice Cube, Korea Wants a Word With You". As a band, Skankin' Pickle promoted racial equality in the tradition of two-tone ska bands, such as The Specials, in late 1970s England.
Following their breakup in 1996, Knackstedt and Nylander started another skacore band called 78 RPMs. Mike Park released an album and toured with The Bruce Lee Band, a side project consisting of Park and members of Less Than Jake. Later, Park started a short-lived, all-Asian ska band called The Chinkees. Lundquist went on to play trombone for Mu330.
Rest of the World
Skankin' Pickle Lyrics
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Rest of the World [4x]
And the rest of the world can go screw themselves, just like
I will any day. The rest of the world can go screw
themselves, just like I will, just like I will any day.
I know that hate and war are bad but I can't convince the
Rest of the World [4x]
And the rest of the world can go screw themselves, just like
themselves, just like I will, just like I will any day.
The rest of the world watches too much T.V. and the rest of
the world doesn't care about me and the rest of the world is
an unfamiliar place. NO ONE DOWN HERE RECOGNIZES MY FACE!
I know we have to change or die but I can't convince the
Rest of the world [4x]
I know this song is really great but I can't convince the
I know this song is really great but I can't convince the
I know this song is really special but I can't convince the
I know this song is really great but I can't convince the
Rest of the World. . . .
The lyrics of Skankin' Pickle's "Rest of the World" express frustration and isolation. The first verse sets the tone with the admission that the singer has a friend "inside my head" that they can't convince the rest of the world of. This idea of being unable to communicate with the world around them is reinforced throughout the song with the repetition of the phrase "I can't convince the Rest of the World." The lyrics also express a sense of nihilism with lines like "The rest of the world can go screw themselves, just like I will any day." The third verse points to a sense of alienation with lines like "NO ONE DOWN HERE RECOGNIZES MY FACE!" and "the rest of the world is an unfamiliar place."
Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of frustration and disconnection. The singer recognizes that there are problems in the world like hate, war, and the need for change, but feels powerless to do anything about it. The repetition of the phrase "I can't convince the Rest of the World" highlights this inability to connect and communicate with others.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a friend inside my head but I can't convince the
Rest of the World [4x]
Despite having a certain idea or belief in his head, the singer is unable to convince the rest of the world to share the same opinion.
And the rest of the world can go screw themselves, just like
I will any day. The rest of the world can go screw
themselves, just like I will, just like I will any day.
The singer is frustrated with the lack of understanding and empathy from the rest of the world, and says that they can all go to hell, just like he does on some days.
I know that hate and war are bad but I can't convince the
Rest of the World [4x]
The singer acknowledges the negative impact of hatred and war, but laments his inability to persuade others of the same.
The rest of the world watches too much T.V. and the rest of
the world doesn't care about me and the rest of the world is
an unfamiliar place. NO ONE DOWN HERE RECOGNIZES MY FACE!
The singer derides the rest of the world for being too preoccupied with television and not showing any concern towards him, citing a sense of detachment and anonymity from the rest of the world.
I know we have to change or die but I can't convince the
Rest of the world [4x]
The singer acknowledges the need for change in order to survive, but is unable to get others on board with this idea.
I know this song is really great but I can't convince the
Rest of the World. . . .
In a somewhat ironic twist, the singer expresses confidence in the quality of his song, but still doubts his ability to sway the opinions of the rest of the world.
Contributed by Nathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.