Formed during the initial onslaught of U.K. punk in 1976, Manchester's Slau… Read Full Bio ↴Formed during the initial onslaught of U.K. punk in 1976, Manchester's Slaughter & the Dogs were the first group to release a single (the overlooked classic "Cranked Up Really High") on trailblazing hometown independent label Rabid Records. Clearly influenced by the more raucous end of glam rock -- the band's name was drawn from the albums Slaughter on 10th Avenue by Mick Ronson and Diamond Dogs by David Bowie -- the group's lineup consisted of vocalist Wayne Barrett, guitarist Mick Rossi, bassist Howard Bates, and drummer Mad Muffet.

Gigs at the noted London punk mecca the Roxy Club led to the band's inclusion in filmmaker Don Letts' documentary of that scene, The Punk Rock Movie, and they eventually received a contract from Decca Records. Further top-notch singles followed in "Where Have All the Bootboys Gone" and "You're Ready Now," and they recorded their debut album, Do It Dog Style, in 1978. However, disagreements with Decca and the departure of vocalist Barrett, a key to the group's sound, combined to sabotage a promising career. Guitarist Billy Duffy was added, and future Smiths leader Morrissey was briefly considered as a vocalist before the group decided to continue with Rossi singing. This arrangement lasted only briefly, though, and Rossi, Bates, and Duffy re-christened themselves, first as Slaughter and then as the Studio Sweethearts. After this unit's breakup in the summer of 1979, there was a Slaughter reunion late in the year with Barrett making a token appearance before being replaced by former Nosebleeds singer Ed Banger (born Eddie Garrity). This aggregation released the album Bite Back (under the name Slaughter) in 1980 to no avail and broke up permanently in 1981.

Duffy went on to co-found Theatre of Hate and later found success in the Cult. In 1991, Wayne Barrett and Mick Rossi began writing songs together again, and the two cut an album called Shocking, credited to Slaughter & the Dogs. In 1996, Barrett and Rossi assembled a new edition of Slaughter & the Dogs to perform at Blackpool's vintage punk festival Holidays in the Sun, with Nigel Mead on bass and Noel Kay on drums. (Their set was later released on the album Cranked Up Really High in Blackpool 1996.) Jean Pierre Thollet would later replace Mead on bass, and the group would record a studio album in 2001, Beware Of… In 2016, the original lineup of Slaughter & the Dogs reunited for a brief tour, while Barrett and Rossi announced they were at work on a new studio album

I'm Mad
Slaughter and the Dogs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Drunk A Lot Of Barley Wine
I'm Rather High And Feeling Fine
I Go Out On On To The Street
I Knock Some Bastard Of His Feet

I'm Mad Im'Mad Can't Control Myself
I'm Mad Im'Mad Call Me Physco
I'm Mad I'm Mad I Had To Let Go

I'm Mad I'Mad Put A Bottle In Your Face

Punk's Are All Right When You Won't To Fight
My Mind Is In A Mental State
I Give My Self Up I'm Going Insane
I Need Help I'm Not To Blame

I'm Mad Im'Mad Can't Control Myself
I'm Mad Im'Mad Call Me Physco
I'm Mad I'm Mad I Had To Let Go
I'm Mad Im'Mad Put A Bottle In Your Face

I Want To Get Out Of Here I Want To Get Out Of Here
I Want To Get Out Of Here But The Bastard's Won't Let Me Out

They Lock Me Up Behind Bar's
I'm All right Until I See The Star's
The Guy's With White Coat's Start To Smile
They're Going to Lock Me Up For Quite A While

I'm Mad Im'Mad Can't Control Myself
I'm Mad Im'Mad Call Me Physco
I'm Mad I'm Mad I Had To Let Go
I'm Mad Im'Mad Put A Bottle In Your Face

(You Wont Get Me)

I'm Mad Im'Mad Can't Control Myself
I'm Mad Im'Mad Call Me Physco
I'm Mad I'm Mad I Had To Let Go
I'm Mad Im'Mad Put A Bottle In Your Face
I'm Mad Im'Mad Knock It Out Of Place

I'm Mad Im'Mad Knock It Out Of Place
I'm Mad Im'Mad Knock It Out Of Place Woo

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Slaughter and The Dogs' song "I'm Mad" depict the mental state of the singer, who is in a frenzy and struggling to control his emotions. The first verse illustrates his drunken state and desire for violence, as he goes out into the street and knocks someone to the ground. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm Mad" and emphasizes his loss of control, with the singer acknowledging that he is a psycho and expresses a need to let go.

The second verse appears to reflect on the singer's state of mind, as he acknowledges his mental instability and seeks help. The line "Punk's are all right when you want to fight" may be a reference to the aggressive nature of punk music, which often features themes of rebellion and violence. However, the singer realizes that he needs assistance and is not to blame for his condition.

The final verse describes the singer's confinement and fear of being locked up. He is seemingly aware that he needs medical attention, as "the guys with white coats start to smile". The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the singer's uncontrollable rage and propensity for violence.

Overall, "I'm Mad" can be interpreted as a commentary on mental health and the dangers of unchecked aggression. The singer's struggles with his mental state reflect the difficulties faced by those with mental illness, particularly in a society that stigmatizes such conditions.

Line by Line Meaning

Drunk A Lot Of Barley Wine
After consuming a significant amount of barley wine, I am now intoxicated.

I'm Rather High And Feeling Fine
The alcohol has made me feel euphoric and carefree.

I Go Out On On To The Street
I leave the building and walk onto the street.

I Knock Some Bastard Of His Feet
I physically throw someone to the ground.

I'm Mad Im'Mad Can't Control Myself
I am feeling intense anger that I cannot effectively manage.

I'm Mad Im'Mad Call Me Physco
I acknowledge that my behavior is irrational and unpredictable.

I'm Mad I'm Mad I Had To Let Go
My anger has become overpowering and I have released it without restraint.

I'm Mad I'Mad Put A Bottle In Your Face
I am so angry that I have thrown a bottle at someone's face.

Punk's Are All Right When You Won't To Fight
In certain situations, it is acceptable to use violence.

My Mind Is In A Mental State
I am experiencing intense emotional turmoil that is affecting my mental health.

I Give My Self Up I'm Going Insane
I am losing control of my thoughts and actions, and becoming mentally unstable.

I Need Help I'm Not To Blame
Despite acknowledging that I need assistance, I refuse to accept responsibility for my actions.

I Want To Get Out Of Here I Want To Get Out Of Here
I am desperate to leave this situation.

I Want To Get Out Of Here But The Bastard's Won't Let Me Out
I am being physically trapped by those around me and am unable to leave.

They Lock Me Up Behind Bar's
I have been confined by authorities, possibly in a prison or psychiatric institution.

I'm All right Until I See The Star's
I maintain a sense of sanity until I see the stars at night, which trigger negative emotions.

The Guy's With White Coat's Start To Smile
Medical professionals have begin to take pleasure in my distress and will likely use it to justify keeping me confined longer.

They're Going to Lock Me Up For Quite A While
I have been deemed a danger to myself and others and will be kept in confinement for an indeterminate amount of time.

I'm Mad Im'Mad Knock It Out Of Place
I am still feeling intense anger and may resort to physically damaging objects.

I'm Mad Im'Mad Knock It Out Of Place Woo
My anger has reached a point of absurdity and I am losing control.

Contributed by Nathaniel E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS