After Subhumans split up, Lucas formed the bands Culture Shock and Citizen Fish. The Subhumans reform for live performances, including at least two major tours of North America in the 21st Century, (Live in a Dive is a product of the first) and they continue to command a strong following. Subhumans are known for their thought-provoking, anarchic lyrics.
2) The Subhumans (Canada):
In Vancouver, Canada’s long and glorious history of punk rock, few bands were more punk, or more rockin’ than the Subhumans. The Subhumans gigs were a riot, sometimes literally; years later, their records still seethe with raw power. The Subhumans were angry and hilarious, often simultaneously, the living embodiment of everything that was great about punk rock circa 1978-82.
The band formed in the spring of 1978. Their first show was at an “anti-Canada Day” celebration sponsored by anarchists, on July 1st. The band’s line-up consisted of Brian Goble (a.k.a. “Wimpy-Roy”) on vocals, Ken Montgomery (a.k.a. “Dimwit”) on drums, Gerry Hannah (a.k.a. “Gerry Useless”) on bass and Mike Graham on guitar. The mix of personalities and talents was perfect. Wimpy was a born front man, delivering unbelievably funny off-the top-of-his-head rambles while he hunched around the stage. His penchant for diving into the audience often left him bruised and battered and, at least once, completely nude. The rhythm section was lethal. Dimwit bashed his drums with sticks the size of baseball bats and locked in with Gerry’s bass to create a deafening rumble and crunch. Mike sprinkled gas on the fire with electrifying bursts of guitar.
The Subhumans and the handful of other punk bands that exploded into being in Vancouver as part of the world-wide punk movement built a local scene that was wild, raucous, and tempestuous. Venues came and went after gigs that left audiences exhilarated and club-owners and police appalled. The now-familiar punk ethos that held that anyone could be in a band, and that any band could change your life, was new and shocking.
The Subhumans quickly became one of the scene’s leading bands, plunging into DIY and small-label recording to get their music out. Like the other genuine punk bands of the time, they avoided the tired and self-centred subject matter of the stereotypical pop song. Always engaged with the ferment of the times, often political with a satiric edge, The Subhumans songs like “Fuck You” and “Slave to My Dick” became anthems for their audience. “Fuck You” was the ultimate give-the-finger-to-authority punk song, a musical buzz bomb with a chorus that summed up the attitude of disillusioned youth everywhere: “We don’t care, what you say, fuck you!” Gerry’s “Slave to My Dick” was a critical look at gender roles from the point of view of a suddenly self-aware male; a wicked satire of horny men and the lengths they will sometimes go to get laid: “I do a lot of talking but I don’t say much. I can’t be real ’cause I’m such, you know I’m such a slave, to my dick. It really makes me, sick!”
Everyone sang along to that chorus. Other crowd favourites included “Firing Squad”, a song about the hypocrisies and fanaticism unleashed by the Iranian revolution, “Inquisition Day”, which warns against the possible rise of state totalitarianism here or in any country, and “Death To The Sickoids”, a rampaging semi-serious call to arms against the mainstream press: “They’re hanging a noose around our necks, by gluing our minds to the front page.”
The first version of the band recorded an independent single, Death to the Sickoids / Oh Canaduh\, now fervently sought after by collectors, and contributed tracks to the landmark Vancouver Complication collaborative LP. After Jim Imagawa replaced Ken Montgomery on drums, the Subhumans put out a 12″ EP, The Subhumans, and another single, Firing Squad / No Productivity, on local Vancouver label, Quintessence Records.
The Subhumans and the other local bands were all plugging into a burgeoning underground network of punk scenes and venues across the continent, and several tours through western Canada and up and down the west coast started to establish them among the front-line bands of the time. The band recorded its debut album, Incorrect Thoughts, for another small Vancouver label, and hit the road for more touring through much of the U.S. and Canada. They ground out endless hours in a stuffy van to play with such bands as Black Flag, Husker Du, Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, X, and Bad Brains. They did particularly well on the west coast, building up large followings in places such as Seattle and San Francisco.
In 1981, just back from a grueling tour across the continent which included a full-scale police riot in LA and other harrowing events, Gerry and Jim left the band. They were replaced by bassist Ron Allan and drummer Randy Bowman for more gigs and touring, working up to a second album, No Wishes, No Prayers, recorded for Black Flag’s SST Records. The new set of songs never got much exposure; just prior to its release, front man Brian Goble was lured away to become DOA’s bass player and the band played its last gig in the fall of 1982.
In 1983 Gerry Hannah was in the news, but not as a musician. Always involved in political issues, including environmentalism (one of his nicknames was “Nature Punk”), he linked up with a group of political activists called Direct Action, whose frustration led them toward armed struggle. Among other actions, the group blew up an environmentally-unfriendly hydro-electric substation on Vancouver Island and bombed the Litton plant near Toronto, which manufactured parts for the American cruise missile, a “first strike” nuclear weapon. Canadian authorities eventually arrested the group, known in the press as the Squamish Five, and Gerry was sentenced to ten years in jail. He was released after serving five years.
In 1995, Gerry and Brian reformed the dormant band for a western Canadian tour, with Jon Williams on guitar and David Macanulty on drums. Audiences were as enthusiastic as ever, with one gig at the Starfish Room in Vancouver drawing so many fans that three hundred people were turned away at the door. The following year the band released a “best of” CD, Pissed Off … With Good Reason, on the Essential Noise/Virgin label. The disc included the band’s singles, their EP, and other popular songs, including many from their two previous albums.
In 2005, the band reformed with a different purpose; not just to play the old material, but to write and record again, bringing their music-making skills to bear on the modern age. This time, the line-up includes original members Brian Goble on vocals, Gerry Hannah on bass, and Mike Graham back on guitar, with punk veteran and powerhouse drummer Jon Card (formerly with SNFU/DOA) on drums. After recording a demo of new material, the band played a spate of shows in the Vancouver area and throughout Western Canada, including a performance as a featured main stage act at the Under the Volcano Arts and Activism Festival. The Subhumans recorded a full-length CD of new material in early 2006, entitled New Dark Age Parade. The CD is set to be released in September 2006 on Alternative Tentacles in the U.S. and G7 Welcoming Committee Records in Canada, with more extensive touring planned.
Mickey Mouse Is Dead
Subhumans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got kicked in the head
'cause people got too serious
They planned out what they said
They couldn't take the fantasy
Tried to accept reality
Analyzed the laughs
'cause pleasure comes in halves
They had to take it seriously
Changed the words around
Tried to make it look profound
The comedian is onstage
Pisstaking for a wage
The critics think he's great
But the laughter turns to hate
Mickey Mouse is on TV
And the kids stare at the screen
But the pictures are all black and white
And the words don't mean a thing
'cause Mummy's got no money
And daddy is in jail
He couldn't afford the license
She can't afford the bail, no
The kids out in the road
Their minds have all gone cold
'cause Mickey Mouse is dead
They shot him through the head
With ignorance and scorn
They believed in something new
They read the papers, watched the films
And thought they knew the truth
Look what you've done to Mickey Mouse
But reality deceives
Whatever you believe
There's always another idea
And theirs is based on fear
The fear of being sussed
For what they really are
The fear of being laughed at
When they go too far
They call it paranoia
You can't laugh it away
Until you come to realize
Everyone's the same
People hide their problems under faces of contempt
They hide 'em, till it kills 'em, and no one is exempt
Not even you
Look what you've done to Mickey Mouse
1, 2, 3, 4, look what you've done to Mickey Mouse
1, 2, 3, 4, can't you even laugh it away?
The lyrics of Subhumans's song "Mickey Mouse Is Dead" are a criticism of those who take things too seriously and cannot appreciate the value of laughter and escapism. The title is a metaphor for the death of innocent fun and entertainment, and the song suggests that people kill it by trying to analyze and intellectualize the humor that is meant to be enjoyed simply for what it is. The first verse describes how people have become too serious and critical of comedy, trying to make it deep and meaningful instead of accepting it as a source of joy and laughter. The second verse tells the story of children who cannot enjoy the simple pleasure of watching Mickey Mouse on TV because of their parents' financial struggles and legal problems, which highlight the effects of societal issues on people's ability to enjoy life's simple pleasures.
The chorus takes a darker turn, saying that people's paranoia and fear of being exposed for who they truly are, can ruin even innocent things like Mickey Mouse. The repetition of "Look what you've done to Mickey Mouse" is a plea for people to recognize and take responsibility for the destruction of something pure and innocent. The last verse is a reminder that everyone has problems, and it is crucial to find healthy ways to deal with them instead of allowing them to fester and consume us.
In summary, "Mickey Mouse Is Dead" is a commentary on how society's issues can affect our ability to enjoy life's simple pleasures, and the importance of not taking things too seriously or letting our problems consume us.
Line by Line Meaning
Mickey Mouse is dead
The symbolic, idealistic figure of Mickey Mouse is no more due to people taking things too seriously.
Got kicked in the head
The idealism of Mickey Mouse was destroyed.
'cause people got too serious
The reason why Mickey Mouse died was because people no longer saw the value in idealism and took things too seriously.
They planned out what they said
People analyzed and over-thought things, reducing the purity of the original fantasy.
They couldn't take the fantasy
People could no longer appreciate the imaginative and spiritual value of Mickey Mouse.
Tried to accept reality
People abandoned idealism in favor of practicality and realism.
Analyzed the laughs
People over-analyzed the sources of their enjoyment, leading to a loss of innocence.
'cause pleasure comes in halves
The satisfaction of joy was partitioned by overly analytical and serious thought processes.
The purity of comedy
The innocence and simplicity of comedy was destroyed by over-analysis.
They had to take it seriously
People were forced to take the things that brought them joy seriously, losing the innocence of enjoyment.
Changed the words around
The original purity and power of the words and meanings of Mickey Mouse were changed and distorted.
Tried to make it look profound
People tried to mask their distortion of Mickey Mouse's ideals by claiming it to be more profound than it really was.
The comedian is onstage
A comedian still performs, but the innocence and purity of the art form has been lost due to over-analysis.
Pisstaking for a wage
The comedian's work is to make fun of people, but the act of humor is now dark and cynical.
The critics think he's great
The critics and cynics of society believe the comedian is phenomenal despite the loss of innocence and purity.
But the laughter turns to hate
The joy of laughter is now corrupted by the new era of darkness and cynicism.
Mickey Mouse is on TV
Mickey Mouse reemerges on television, but it isn't what it used to be.
And the kids stare at the screen
The children still watch television but are no longer captivated by the innocence and purity of Mickey Mouse.
But the pictures are all black and white
The once colorful and imaginative world of Mickey Mouse is now drab and monochrome.
And the words don't mean a thing
The language and dialogue that used to bring joy is now meaningless and empty.
'cause Mummy's got no money
A mother can't afford the cost of watching and enjoying Mickey Mouse with her child due to financial struggles.
And daddy is in jail
The father is missing and in prison, leading to a dysfunctional household and further loss of joy.
He couldn't afford the license
The father couldn't afford the cost of watching and enjoying Mickey Mouse with his child due to financial struggles.
She can't afford the bail, no
The mother can't afford to release her husband from jail, further perpetuating her financial struggles.
The kids out in the road
The children are left to wander on their own without supervision.
Their minds have all gone cold
The children no longer have the imaginative and joyous spirit of youth due to the lack of exposure to Mickey Mouse and the loss of innocence in society.
They shot him through the head
The idealism and purity of Mickey Mouse was destroyed by a jaded and cynical society.
With ignorance and scorn
The destruction of Mickey Mouse was due to a misguided and cynical society that failed to see the value of idealism.
They believed in something new
The society chose to abandon the old ideals of Mickey Mouse for something new and different.
They read the papers, watched the films
People were influenced by mass media sources and chose to abandon the purity of Mickey Mouse.
And thought they knew the truth
People over- valued their own interpretation of the truth, causing the loss of innocence and the destruction of ideals.
Look what you've done to Mickey Mouse
The societal lack of respect and appreciation for idealism is exemplified by the destruction of Mickey Mouse.
But reality deceives
The harsh reality of life masks the innocence and idealism lost over time.
Whatever you believe
People should stay true to their beliefs despite the harshness of reality.
There's always another idea
Ideals will continue to evolve and change over time.
And theirs is based on fear
The new ideals are misguided and based on fear of the unknown.
The fear of being sussed
People are afraid of being discovered as fraudulent or hypocritical.
For what they really are
People fear being exposed for who they truly are rather than who they claim to be.
The fear of being laughed at
People are afraid of being ridiculed for what they truly believe.
When they go too far
People fear being criticized for their extreme beliefs or actions.
They call it paranoia
People dismiss these fears as paranoia.
You can't laugh it away
These fears can't be dismissed by laughter or humor.
Until you come to realize
People need to come to a realization about the loss of innocence and ideals in society.
Everyone's the same
People are all the same in their struggle with reality and loss of idealism.
People hide their problems under faces of contempt
People mask their inner struggles with outward contempt.
They hide 'em, till it kills 'em, and no one is exempt
People hide their struggles until it is too late, and nobody is immune to this fate.
Not even you
Even the listener is not immune to the loss of innocence and purity in society.
1, 2, 3, 4, look what you've done to Mickey Mouse
The chorus reiterates the societal loss of ideals and innocence, culminating in the loss of Mickey Mouse.
1, 2, 3, 4, can't you even laugh it away?
The chorus questions whether laughter and humor can cure the societal loss of ideals and innocence.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@urphakeandgey6308
That's exactly what it's about. It's about the censorship and death of comedy, arguably one of the purest forms of entertainment and people's best coping mechanism for harsh realities. That's why it constantly alludes to childhood and children having their innocence and wonder robbed of them. That's exactly what the powers that be want to rob from us when they censor comedy.
_"They couldn't take the fantasy
Tried to accept reality
Analyzed the laughs
'cause pleasure comes in halves
The purity of comedy
They had to take it seriously
Changed the words around
Tried to make it look profound"_
This is pointing out how people began over-analyzing comedy because of the stupid and pretentious notion that "all jokes have meaning" ("pleasure comes in halves.") That's why they had to take the "purity of comedy" seriously. That's why they had to be offended by a joke.
@e.rosalestv2922
Mickey Mouse is dead
Got kicked in the head
'cause people got too serious
They planned out what they said
They couldn't take the fantasy
Tried to accept reality
Analyzed the laughs
'cause pleasure comes in halves
The purity of comedy
They had to take it seriously
Changed the words around
Tried to make it look profound
The comedian is onstage
Pisstaking for a wage
The critics think he's great
But the laughter turns to hate
Mickey Mouse is on TV
And the kids stare at the screen
But the pictures are all black and white
And the words don't mean a thing
'cause Mummy's got no money
And daddy is in jail
He couldn't afford the license
She can't afford the bail, no
The kids out in the road
Their minds have all gone cold
'cause Mickey Mouse is dead
They shot him through the head
With ignorance and scorn
They believed in something new
They read the papers, watched the films
And thought they knew the truth
Look what you've done to Mickey Mouse
But reality deceives
Whatever you believe
There's always another idea
And theirs is based on fear
The fear of being sussed
For what they really are
The fear of being laughed at
When they go too far
They call it paranoia
You can't laugh it away
Until you come to realize
Everyone's the same
People hide their problems under faces of contempt
They hide 'em, till it kills 'em, and no one is exempt
Not even you
Look what you've done to Mickey Mouse
1, 2, 3, 4, look what you've done to Mickey Mouse
1, 2, 3, 4, can't you even laugh it away?
@Deepdarkbasement
I dare someone who works at any Disney park to play this at the park on loop... you'll probably get fired but I feel it would be worth it... just a little bit.
@rockingchairsofpiss1404
Worth it
@Imnottapinata
Swiatek702 No doubt they’d be killed on the spot.
@scootover7
If i never ever needed a job again and I worked at Disney I would.
@danielscissorhands
Everyone should quit their job like Steven Slater (the JetBlue employee). Look it up
@skunk69x29
Yep, he done SNAPPED....
@onrop6452
Now the first Mickey Mouse animation is in the public domain, this song has never made so much sense
@punkbedfilms
Who know that this song would be so relevant today with Disney making nonoriginal movies and live action remakes of their old classics. Disney and Mickey Mouse is truly dead
@metalfansavarani
When has Disney has made anything original?
@kenlieck7756
@@metalfansavarani Ironically, the new Mickey Nouse cartoons are incredible (and free on Youtube) but they have no cultural impact whatsoever so to the public they might as well be dead.