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.
Turning Japanese
Skankin' Pickle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You wrote I love you, I love you too
I sit and stare at it, there's nothing else to do
Oh, it's in color, your hair is brown
Your eyes are hazel and soft as clouds
I often kiss you when there's no one else around
I'd like a million of you all over myself
I want a doctor to take your picture
So I can look at you from inside as well
You've got me turning up, I'm turning down
I'm turning in, I'm turning out
I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
I've got your picture, I've got your picture
I'd like a million of you all over myself
I want a doctor to take your picture
So I can look at you from inside as well
You've got me turning up, I'm turning down
I'm turning in, I'm turning out
I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women
No fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it's dark
Everyone around me is a total stranger
Everyone avoids me like a psyched Lone Ranger, everyone
Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
The lyrics to Skankin' Pickle's song "Turning Japanese" explore the singer's intense love for someone they cannot be with. The opening lines describe a photo that was given to them that they stare at constantly because they have nothing else to do. The photo is in color, and it depicts the person they love with brown hair and hazel eyes that are as "soft as clouds." The singer often kisses the picture when they are alone.
The chorus of the song is where the famous phrase "I think I'm turning Japanese" comes in. It's unclear exactly what the singer means by this phrase, but based on the context of the song, it could be interpreted as a metaphor for being so consumed with love and desire for someone that it's causing them to lose their sense of identity and culture. The lyrics also mention feeling isolated and alone ("Everyone around me is a total stranger"), which could contribute to the feeling of being disconnected from themselves and their culture.
Overall, the song is a catchy and upbeat tune that explores themes of love, isolation, and identity. While it's unclear exactly what the lyrics mean, they leave a lot of room for interpretation and have become a popular reference in pop culture.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got your picture of me and you
I possess this photo of us
You wrote I love you, I love you too
In this photo, you wrote that you love me and I responded that I love you too
I sit and stare at it, there's nothing else to do
I often stare at this photo with nothing else to do
Oh, it's in color, your hair is brown
This photo is in color and it shows that your hair is brown
Your eyes are hazel and soft as clouds
This photo reveals that your eyes have a hazel color and they look soft as clouds to me
I often kiss you when there's no one else around
When I'm alone, I often imagine kissing you
I've got your picture, I've got your picture
I have a copy of this photo
I'd like a million of you all over myself
I desire many copies of this photo all over my body
I want a doctor to take your picture
I would like a medical professional to take an X-ray or scan of your body
So I can look at you from inside as well
So that I can explore your insides through this medical scan
You've got me turning up, I'm turning down
You evoke emotions in me that make me feel both high and low
I'm turning in, I'm turning out
You make me feel conflicted and confused about my emotions
I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so
Your effect on me is causing me to feel like I'm adopting some aspects of Japanese culture and identity
No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women
I'm refraining from some common vices like sex, drugs, wine, and women
No fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it's dark
The absence of pleasure, wrongdoing, and you in my life is making everything feel overwhelming and negative
Everyone around me is a total stranger
I don't feel connected to the people around me
Everyone avoids me like a psyched Lone Ranger, everyone
People are avoiding me like I'm some kind of eccentric, solitary outlaw
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID FENTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind