SPFU started in the small coastal town of Santa Cruz, California. The purpose of the band was to have something to do while drinking. Good reason to start a band. After a few lineup changes, the band finally settled into the final lineup playing their own brand of ska-influenced punk.
After marginal success of their first 7" soda popium fuckum youm and full length self titled album (which bears the cover of the 7" until the original image is sourced), the band moved to Oakland to be closer to the heart of California. In Oakland the band released a second full length album, Timing is Everything, while concurrently touring as much as they could.
Eventually due to the complications of growing up, the band broke up and went their separate ways. Rumor is they are all waiting for the 4th wave to generate enough attention to do a reunion tour.
albums -- http://www.last.fm/music/Soda+Pop+Fuck+You+%28SPFU%29
The Tail Of Billy B.
Soda Pop Fuck You Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sirens screaming
Red then blue
They pulled up with their lights on
Jane was with him, Mary too
And all that Billy knows is
(although he can't be sure)
His mouth has frozen solid
Behind bars of steel
His head is reeling
Voices screaming in his ear
The voice of some Big Brother man
Who only has the power to destroy his reputation in this cell
Incarcerated in jail number three
Dignity taken in jail number...
Heard the key turn in the door
Brick walls and a cement floor
Inmate with a funny feelin'
Gets the little piggy squealin'
Guard is nowhere to be found
Orange suits stand all around
Lifetime sentence firmly grips
Into the black hole he slips
There must be some mistake
The Tail of Billy B. is a gripping song by Soda Pop Fuck You that tells the story of Billy B, who is arrested by the police due to some unclear reasons. As the song starts, we see the police pulling up, sirens screaming, with their lights on, and they apprehend Billy B along with Jane and Mary. The situation is quite chaotic, and Billy is not sure of what is happening. He is frozen solid, his mouth is shut, and his head is reeling due to the screaming voices of people around him. The song then takes a darker turn as we understand that Billy has been incarcerated in jail number three. And while he's there, some big brother man is destroying his reputation in the cell, making him feel powerless and hopeless. The lyrics are powerful, and they perfectly capture the feeling of helplessness and despair that someone might experience when they're locked up in jail.
The second verse of the song starts with the sound of a key turning in the door, with Billy being surrounded by all the orange suits around him. A sense of dread and unease permeates the song as the guard is nowhere to be found, and Billy is surrounded by inmates with a "funny feelin'." The language used in the song is dark and vivid, describing brick walls and cement floors. And as the song nears its end, we learn that Billy's sentence is a lifetime, and he is slipping into the black hole of incarceration.
Line by Line Meaning
They pulled up with their lights on
Police arrived with sirens and flashing lights.
Sirens screaming
The police sirens were making a loud noise.
Red then blue
The police lights were flashing red and blue colors.
They pulled up with their lights on
Reiterating the fact that the police arrived.
Jane was with him, Mary too
Two women were with Billy B when he was arrested.
And all that Billy knows is
Billy's mind is in a state of confusion.
(although he can't be sure)
Billy is unsure about what is happening.
His mouth has frozen solid
Billy is immobile due to shock.
Behind bars of steel
Billy is being held in a jail cell with sturdy bars made of steel.
His head is reeling
Billy is feeling dizzy and unbalanced.
Voices screaming in his ear
Billy is hearing loud noises that are disturbing him.
The voice of some Big Brother man
The source of the noises is some authoritative figure.
Who only has the power to destroy his reputation in this cell
This figure has limited authority which only affects Billy's reputation within the jail.
Incarcerated in jail number three
Billy is being held in the third cell of the jail.
Dignity taken in jail number...
The sentence is left unfinished, but implies that Billy's dignity was taken away in jail.
Heard the key turn in the door
Someone opened the jail cell with a key.
Brick walls and a cement floor
The cell is made of bricks and the floor is made of cement.
Inmate with a funny feelin'
Another prisoner had a strange sensation after witnessing Billy's arrest.
Gets the little piggy squealin'
Billy was possibly trying to resist, but ultimately complied with the police.
Guard is nowhere to be found
The guard is missing from his post.
Orange suits stand all around
Other inmates, wearing orange suits, watched the events unfold.
Lifetime sentence firmly grips
Billy is facing a long prison sentence.
Into the black hole he slips
Billy metaphorically falls into a dark and negative void.
There must be some mistake
Billy believes that he is not guilty of what he has been arrested for and that there has been an error in the process.
Contributed by Liliana F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.