The Dead Milkmen's songs found moderate success on alternative and college radio stations. Videos, notably Punk Rock Girl, even found their way onto MTV in the late 1980s. Topics for their music include satire on the 1980s music scene, toxic waste, jellyfish afterlifes, UFOs, conspiracy theories, and cover bands.
Irreverent absurdity fueled their initial popularity, particularly among college DJs. However, this genre was somewhat abandoned with the 1992 release of Soul Rotation, a much more subtle album.
After the Dead Milkmen went on indefinite hiatus in 1994, Genaro and Sabatino formed a new band, Butterfly Joe. Sabatino was also in the punk rock bands Narthex, Big Mess Orchestra, and Hunger Artists. Genaro was in a band called Touch Me Zoo. Linderman was in a band called Burn Witch Burn. Schulthise left music in the early 1990s after developing tendonitis, preventing him from playing bass, and committed suicide in 2004.
The Dead Milkmen took the stage again for two consecutive nights in November 2004 at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia to play a show in memory of Dave Schulthise. Proceeds were donated to a variety of mental health organizations and to a Serbian monastery that Schulthise supported.
The band reunited in 2008 and released a new album (The King in Yellow) in 2011.
RC's Mom
The Dead Milkmen Lyrics
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I'm gonna beat my wife now
Gonna smack her with a lead pipe
Gonna smack her with a 2x4
Run her over with a Brink's truck
Chase her down with a lawn mower
Gonna beat my wife
Wife beatin'
Mistreatin'
Wife slappin'
It happens
Gonna beat my wife
Gonna beat your wife
Gonna beat his wife
Gonna beat her wife
Gonna beat my wife
Gonna slap my wife
Gonna kick my wife
Good God, y'all!
Gonna beat my wife
Gonna beat my wife
At the shelter
Helter skelter
Wife kickin'
Finger lickin'
Wife killin'
It's thrillin'
Oh baby please don't beat me, baby
I promise I'll never sleep with the moon in my face no more!
I'm gonna beat my wife
Heh heh heh
It is important to note that the lyrics to The Dead Milkmen's song "RC's Mom" are highly offensive and should not be taken literally. The song is a satirical commentary on domestic violence and the societal attitudes towards it. The lyrics are meant to be intentionally outrageous in order to highlight the absurdity of violence towards women and the lack of consequences for the perpetrators.
The lyrics are sung from the perspective of an abusive husband who boasts about his intentions to hurt his wife. He mentions using various weapons such as a lead pipe and a lawnmower to inflict harm. The repeated phrase "good God, y'all" is used sarcastically to underscore the disturbing nature of the lyrics. The final verse is delivered with a sense of manic urgency, suggesting that the abusive behavior has escalated to the point of seeking refuge at a shelter.
Beyond the lyrics, the song also features a punk-infused sound with driving guitar riffs and a catchy chorus. It is often cited as one of the Dead Milkmen's most controversial songs, as it provokes strong reactions from listeners and has been banned in some countries. It is important to understand the song's satirical context and not condone or promote the message of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna beat my wife
I am going to physically harm my partner, who I am in a relationship with.
I'm gonna beat my wife now
I am about to physically harm my partner, who I am in a relationship with.
Gonna smack her with a lead pipe
I plan to use a heavy metal object to strike my partner.
Gonna smack her with a 2x4
I plan to use a thick piece of wood to strike my partner.
Run her over with a Brink's truck
I plan to use a large armored truck to run over my partner.
Chase her down with a lawn mower
I plan to use a lawn mower to chase and harm my partner.
Gonna beat my wife
I intend to harm my partner.
Look out!
Beware of my violent intentions.
Wife beatin'
Physically harming one's partner in a relationship.
Mistreatin'
Treating one's partner with cruelty and disrespect.
Wife slappin'
Physically striking one's partner in a relationship.
It happens
Physical violence and mistreatment in relationships is unfortunately not uncommon.
Gonna beat your wife
I plan to harm someone else's partner who is in a relationship.
Gonna beat his wife
I plan to physically harm the partner of another person who is in a relationship.
Gonna beat her wife
I plan to harm someone else's partner who is in a same-sex relationship.
Gonna slap my wife
I plan to physically strike my partner with an open hand.
Gonna kick my wife
I plan to physically strike my partner with my foot.
Good God, y'all!
An exclamation expressing enthusiasm for my violent intentions.
At the shelter
A reference to a domestic violence shelter, where victims of domestic abuse seek safety.
Helter skelter
Chaos and confusion that is often associated with violent acts.
Wife kickin'
Kicking one's partner in a relationship with the intention of causing physical harm.
Finger lickin'
A mocking reference to the fast-food chain, KFC, and the pleasure one supposedly feels from harming their partner.
Wife killin'
Taking one's partner's life, which is the ultimate form of violence and mistreatment.
It's thrillin'
A disturbing excitement and pleasure in causing harm to another person.
Oh baby please don't beat me, baby
A plea from the victim of domestic violence to their abuser to stop the mistreatment.
I promise I'll never sleep with the moon in my face no more!
An absurdly irrelevant and nonsensical statement, likely meant to downplay the seriousness of domestic violence.
Heh heh heh
A callous laugh, indicating that I do not take the subject of domestic violence seriously.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GENARO, LINDERMAN, SABATINO, SCHULTHISE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind