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.
Rotten Banana Legs
Skankin' Pickle Lyrics
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Why you can look me in the eye with your plastic face
NAKED EYES-TEETH A GLEEM
I never wanted to be half as cool
If you only knew who were to be
So much for friends Hope you live life to the end
Cause you're too far gone to see.
No one to blame yeah it's always the same
Soon you will see in your life with degree
If your dreams come true
Ken and YOU!-MALIBU!
The Skankin' Pickle's song "Rotten Banana Legs" highlights the idea that material possessions cannot make up for the lack of happiness and fulfillment in one's life. The lyrics suggest that the character being addressed in the song has a "plastic face," indicating that they have lost their individuality and genuine emotions due to their materialistic desires. The line "naked eyes-teeth a gleem" suggests that they may try to appear happy and content with their life, but it is all superficial. The singer reveals that they never wanted to be as "cool" or materialistic as the person they are addressing, and if only they knew who they really were, they may be able to find true happiness.
Despite their "plastic face," the person being addressed is unable to find fault within themselves and may not realize the detrimental effects of their materialistic lifestyle. The line "so much for friends, hope you live life to the end cause you're too far gone to see" suggests that the person's obsession with material possessions may have caused them to lose sight of what really matters, including genuine human connections. The last line of the song, "Ken and YOU!-MALIBU!" is a reference to Barbie's boyfriend, Ken, and the affluent beach town of Malibu. These references emphasize the idea of superficiality and materialism.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't pacify what your soul is denied with material things now I know
I realize that you cannot satisfy the needs of your soul by buying material things.
Why you can look me in the eye with your plastic face
I don't understand how you're able to make eye contact with me while wearing a fake expression.
NAKED EYES-TEETH A GLEEM
Your eyes and teeth are bright and noticeable.
I never wanted to be half as cool
I never aspired to be half as trendy as you.
If you only knew who were to be
If you only knew your true role in life.
So much for friends Hope you live life to the end
It looks like we're not really friends, but I still hope you live a long life.
Cause you're too far gone to see.
You're too out of touch to realize what's going on around you.
No one to blame yeah it's always the same
There's no one to point the finger at, it's always been like this.
You can find no fault with you
You refuse to take accountability for any of your actions.
Soon you will see in your life with degree
Eventually you will come to realize the way things truly are.
If your dreams come true
If your aspirations become a reality.
Ken and YOU!-MALIBU!
A reference to Ken and Barbie, and the idea of making an artificial life in Malibu.
Contributed by David Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.