Members
* Lee Hobson Hollis â vocals
* Frank Rahm â guitar
* Roger Ingenthron â guitar
* Markus Weilemann â bass
* Matthias "Beppo" GĂśtte â drums
Discography
* Don't Forget the Fun 7" EP split with Walterelf (1985) X-Mist Records
* Something to Prove (1986) We Bite Records
* Get on the Stage live 7" EP (1987) We Bite Records
* Nothing Is Easy (1987) We Bite Records
* Common Thread (1990) X-Mist Records
* Thanks live album (1990) Dead-Eye Records
* Eating Glass (1992) X-Mist Records
* Joe (1992) X-Mist Records
* Shit For Sale (1994) G.U.N. Records
* Family Values (1995) G.U.N. Records
* Get Off the Stage live (1996) G.U.N. Records
* Coffee, Hair and Real Life compilation (1997)
* Set An Example (2004) Common Thread Records
* A Columbus Feeling (2010) Rookie Records
You're Not a Punk
Spermbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're not a punk my friend
First it was leather and spikey hair
But isn't that a skateboard there?
Bermuda short and Converse shoes
Is this what i've got to do?
Forget it man, you can't do enough
Gee, this punk rock shit is tough
You're not a punk, so just stop tryin'
You're clothes are good but your brain is dyin'
You're an embarresment to what we believe
Just take your skateboard and - leave X2
So you drink your sprudle I'll drink my beer
And i don't even want to hear
How you're more fuckin' punk than me
Cause any stupid shit can see
That you changed cause your friends change first
And i don't know which is worse
The way youlook now or the way you look then
But you're not a punk my friend
You're not a punk, so just stop tryin'
You're clothes are good but your brain is dyin'
You're an embarresment to what we believe
Just take your skateboard and - Fuck off!
You're not a punk, so just stop tryin'
You're clothes are good but your brain is dyin'
You're an embarresment to what we believe...
The Spermbirdsâ song, âYouâre Not a Punk,â is a scathing critique of a wannabe punk who is more concerned with the aesthetics and superficial aspects of the punk subculture than the actual values and principles it espouses. The lyrics expresses the frustration of someone who sees through the facade of this individual and is tired of their performative punk persona. The repetition of the phrase, âYouâre not a punk, my friend,â emphasizes the point being made and highlights the irony of someone trying so hard to fit in with a subculture that prides itself on individuality and non-conformity.
The first verse points out the irony of the person trying to look punk with their leather and spikey hair, but then having a skateboard which is more associated with skate culture. The line âis this what Iâve got to do?â challenges the notion of conforming to a certain image to be part of a particular subculture. The verse ends with the honest admission that âpunk rock shit is tough,â acknowledging that being a true punk is about more than just the clothes that you wear.
In the second verse, the contrast between the singer and the wannabe punk is highlighted. The singer is content to drink beer while the other person drinks sprudle, an apparent attempt to be different or more punk. The line âany stupid shit can see that you changed cause your friends change firstâ suggests that the wannabe punk is not genuine in their attempt to be punk, but rather is just following the trends within their social group. The chorus again emphasizes that the person is not truly a punk, and their attempt to fit in is an embarrassment to those who actually believe in the values and principles of punk.
Line by Line Meaning
I've said it before and i'll say it again
This is not the first time I've addressed this and I will continue to do so.
You're not a punk my friend
You don't fit the criteria to be a punk, my friend.
First it was leather and spikey hair
At first, you were trying to look punk with leather and spikey hair.
But isn't that a skateboard there?
But I see that you have a skateboard, which is not a punk accessory.
Bermuda short and Converse shoes
You're wearing Bermuda shorts and Converse shoes, which are not punk clothing items.
Is this what i've got to do?
Do I also have to dress like this to appear punk?
Forget it man, you can't do enough
You're not trying hard enough to fit the punk image.
Gee, this punk rock shit is tough
Being punk is harder than it seems.
So you drink your sprudle I'll drink my beer
You can have your non-alcoholic drink, and I'll have my beer.
And i don't even want to hear
I'm not interested in hearing any justification for why you think you're punk.
How you're more fuckin' punk than me
I don't think you're more punk than me.
Cause any stupid shit can see
Even the most oblivious person can see that you're trying too hard to fit the punk look.
That you changed cause your friends change first
You changed your style because your friends changed theirs, not because you truly believe in punk culture.
And i don't know which is worse
I can't decide whether your current style or your previous style was worse for trying to look punk.
But you're not a punk my friend
Regardless of your style, you don't fit the criteria to be a punk, my friend.
You're not a punk, so just stop tryin'
Stop trying to fit the punk image because you don't meet the requirements to be a punk.
You're clothes are good but your brain is dyin'
You might look good, but your adherence to punk culture is lacking.
You're an embarresment to what we believe
Your attempt to be punk is shameful to those of us who truly believe in punk culture.
Just take your skateboard and - leave X2
Please leave with your non-punk skateboard.
Just take your skateboard and - Fuck off!
Please leave with your non-punk skateboard and don't come back.
You're not a punk, so just stop tryin'
Stop trying to be punk since you don't meet the criteria to be a punk.
You're clothes are good but your brain is dyin'
Your attire might be acceptable, but you're not truly embracing punk culture.
You're an embarresment to what we believe...
You should be ashamed of your attempt to fit the punk image, as it does not align with what we believe in.
Contributed by Carson S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@drashke
I've said it before and I'll say it again
You're not a punk my friend
First it was leather and spikey hair
But isn't that a skateboard there?
Bermuda short and Converse shoes
Is this what I've got to do?
Forget it man, you can't do enough
Gee, this punk rock shit is tough
You're not a punk, so just stop tryin'
You're clothes are good but your brain is dyin'
You're an embarresment to what we believe
Just take your skateboard and - leave
So you drink your sprudle I'll drink my beer
And I don't even want to hear
How you're more fuckin' punk than me
Cause any stupid shit can see
That you changed cause your friends change first
And I don't know which is worse
The way you look now or the way you look then
But you're not a punk my friend
You're not a punk, so just stop tryin'
You're clothes are good but your brain is dyin'
You're an embarresment to what we believe
Just take your skateboard and - Fuck off!
You're not a punk, so just stop tryin'
You're clothes are good but your brain is dyin'
You're an embarresment to what we believe
@ekosystemy
Thx! Found it after like 20 years!
@shirleylaird4859
Superb albumđ
@derekturner3278
this is an amazing song đ
@spacecadet6930
Used to party with these guys back in ktown west Germany . great american slash german punk scene in the late 80s and early 90s. Ktown!
@chooky4626
Any good stories?
@lukefenn
48yo punk what we belive
@drashke
I've said it before and I'll say it again
You're not a punk my friend
First it was leather and spikey hair
But isn't that a skateboard there?
Bermuda short and Converse shoes
Is this what I've got to do?
Forget it man, you can't do enough
Gee, this punk rock shit is tough
You're not a punk, so just stop tryin'
You're clothes are good but your brain is dyin'
You're an embarresment to what we believe
Just take your skateboard and - leave
So you drink your sprudle I'll drink my beer
And I don't even want to hear
How you're more fuckin' punk than me
Cause any stupid shit can see
That you changed cause your friends change first
And I don't know which is worse
The way you look now or the way you look then
But you're not a punk my friend
You're not a punk, so just stop tryin'
You're clothes are good but your brain is dyin'
You're an embarresment to what we believe
Just take your skateboard and - Fuck off!
You're not a punk, so just stop tryin'
You're clothes are good but your brain is dyin'
You're an embarresment to what we believe
@TheAdamw69
Legend
@meike7532
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