Tesla's music fit well with the blasting sounds of their 80s hair metal and glam rock contemporaries. Yet it was more bluesy and lyrics dealt with other themes than just the usual, girls, alcohol and violence. But what set them even more apart from their contemporaries was their t-shirt and jeans image, a 'street' look reminiscent of the Ramones (and other 70s punk groups) that was in strong contrast of the leather, spandex, and flashy-make type look of the time.
The band's early lifespan as City Kidd brought them considerable frustration, with them failing to break into the musical mainstream while also competing with another band with the same name. Their mutation into Tesla provided a clear shot at success. 'Mechanical Resonance', their debut that the boys released in 1986, became a commercial smash while also receiving significant critical praise. That album was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 5, 1989.
In total, the group has released six studio albums with original music, the latest of them being 2008's 'Forever More'. They have also created a a double-disc covers album, titled 'Real To Reel', as well as a number of compilations and live albums. Their sound has focused on a particularly melodic and accessible kind of hard rock with strong shades of classic heavy metal as well.
Tesla's popular 1990 remake of Signs, originally recorded by the Five Man Electrical Band (who also inspired the album which the remake came from, Five Man Acoustical Jam), is probably the most mainstream of Tesla's hits. However, many fans remember fondly Tesla's other hits such as Gettin' Better, Modern Day Cowboy, Little Suzi, Edison's Medicine and Love Song.
The band derived their name, certain album and song names (e.g. The Great Radio Controversy, Mechanical Resonance, etc), and some song content from events relating to Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer born in the 19th century in Smiljan, Austria-Hungary, modern day Croatia.
Government Personnel
Tesla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All you government personnel,
Sittin' awf'ly well
In your big, white house up on the hill.
You say now, give me a home
Where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and antelope play.
Fuck it up until it's bent,
Then a-wonder where it went.
Thinkin' you was a-heaven sent, ha ha ha,
You're nothin' but hell!
Go straight to hell.
The song "Government Personnel" by Tesla is a politically charged rock anthem that aggressively criticizes the government and its personnel. The chorus of the song repeats the line "Go straight to hell, All you government personnel," with the lead singer Jeff Keith accusing them of sitting comfortably in the "big, white house up on the hill" while the rest of the country struggles. The second verse sarcastically mentions the government's desire for the American West, "Where the buffalo roam, Where the deer and antelope play", which they ended up exploiting and destroying. The song concludes with the message that the government is doing more harm than good to the country.
The lyrics of "Government Personnel" are a protest against the government and their policies in the late 80s and early 90s, specifically about the invasion of Iraq during the Gulf War. The song laments the government's corporate interests and their working against the common people. Tesla, as a hard rock band, was known for their sociopolitical commentary, but this song is particularly direct and confrontational. The repetition of the phrase "Go straight to hell" acts as a call to action for the common man to stand up to the government and its personnel.
Line by Line Meaning
Go straight to hell.
A harsh rejection to all government personnel.
All you government personnel,
A direct attack on government officials.
Sittin' awf'ly well
Highlighting how well the government officials are doing while the common people suffer.
In your big, white house up on the hill.
Referring to the government officials' luxurious lifestyles.
You say now, give me a home
Sarcasm towards the government's promises of providing a good living.
Where the buffalo roam,
Reference to the Native American people who were displaced and their homes destroyed by the government.
Where the deer and antelope play.
Reference to the government's exploitation of the natural resources.
You can bet your ass we'll blow them all away.
The government has no respect for nature and will destroy everything for their gain.
Fuck it up until it's bent,
The government's tendency to ruin things.
Then a-wonder where it went.
The government appears clueless about the consequences of their actions.
Thinkin' you was a-heaven sent, ha ha ha,
Mocking the government's self-righteous attitude.
You're nothin' but hell!
Summing up the government's negative impact on society.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANK HANNON, JEFFREY KEITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christopher N. Savage
on Getting' Better
A shame that you can't see the original video, but this tune has the passion and power to lift you up and brighten your day!!!!!