The Dickies' style was campy and humorous with obvious influences from the Ramones. They were extremely popular in the UK and had a top 10 hit with "Banana Splits (Tra La La Song)" in 1979; oddly enough, many of their lyrics were about aspects of Southern California life not easily decipherable to those unfamiliar with the region, in songs like "Waterslide", "I'm A Chollo", "Manny, Moe and Jack", and "(I'm Stuck in a Pagoda with) Tricia Toyota", which is about a local TV news anchorwoman.
Drug problems slowed them down considerably in the 1980s, but they have continued playing and recording sporadically to the present day. In 1988 they did the theme music for the cult classic movie Killer Klowns from Outer Space.
Former Dickies guitarist Steven Fryette, who laughingly claims to have been one of the few who "survived" being in The Dickies, now designs and manufactures guitar amplifiers from his FRYETTE Amplification studios in Burbank, California. His FRYETTE (formerly VHT) amps are known worldwide, and have been used by many of today's top Heavy Metal and Rock touring acts, including Helmet, Danzig, Prong, Children Of Bodom, and many others.
Booby Trap
The Dickies Lyrics
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she has a novel way of leaving her calling card
sing along by the campfire
she'll leave her mark while she's stealing your heart
forget her lies about not drinking wine
you love her though you're gonna turn blue
her madness grows like the thorns on a rose
i'd wear a cross if i were you
if you want to date her
you better get her home before she sees the first light of day
but sooner or later
the best laid plans of mice and men go astray
she's the kind of girl put your head in a whirl
she's bound by tradition of victorian morals
the daughter of the devil and the mother of pearl
i'd let her alone if i were you
don't look back
it's a trap
it a fact
it's a booby trap booby trap
don't turn around or she'll surely roll you over
there's no doubt about when i found out i got wise
hypnotized all of the time
but you better get it through your head
she's out to control your mind
nosferatu - she's undead
she'll get your love like a hand in a glove
the fangs of a bat and the heart of a dove
from hell below or heaven above
i wouldn't let her in if i were you
what's it about? does it snow in transylvannia?
try to chill her out when i found out i got wise
The Dickies' song "Booby Trap" is a warning about Estelle, a vampire who seduces men and leaves a trail of destruction in her wake. The singer advises caution when dealing with her, encouraging listeners to wear a cross and not to let her into their homes. Despite her lies about not drinking wine, the singer acknowledges that people fall in love with her despite the risks. Estelle is represented as a dangerous force, the thorns on a rose, and the daughter of the devil and the mother of pearl.
The lyrics suggest that Estelle is a difficult woman to resist, with an enchanting quality that ensnares anyone who crosses her path. She is portrayed as a traditionalist who adheres to Victorian morals, but who is also bound by the rules of her vampiric condition. The chorus warns the listener not to look back, as Estelle is a master of manipulation, and anyone who falls under her spell is in for a nasty surprise.
The song is a classic example of the punk rock genre, with fast-paced, energetic music and irreverent lyrics. It is reminiscent of classic horror films, from Nosferatu to the Hammer horror movies of the 1960s. Despite the tongue-in-cheek tone, the song is a warning of the dangers of falling for someone who is not what they seem.
Line by Line Meaning
estelle is a vampire
The girl Estelle is compared to a vampire, meaning she is seductive but dangerous.
she has a novel way of leaving her calling card
Estelle has a unique way of making her mark, showing that she is not an ordinary girl.
sing along by the campfire
Despite her dark nature, Estelle appears like a fun person to hang out with.
she'll leave her mark while she's stealing your heart
Estelle is not only charming but is also destructive, and her love will cause more harm than good.
forget her lies about not drinking wine
Estelle might pretend to be harmless, but she is anything but, and people should not trust her.
you love her though you're gonna turn blue
Despite knowing that Estelle is dangerous, people keep falling for her charm, which ultimately causes them harm.
her madness grows like the thorns on a rose
Estelle's craziness only gets worse over time, similar to how the thorns on a rose bush grow and become more formidable.
i'd wear a cross if i were you
The artist is warning the listener to be cautious when dealing with Estelle and suggests taking precautions like wearing a cross to protect oneself from her evil intentions.
if you want to date her
The artist is addressing someone who might be interested in romantically pursuing Estelle.
you better get her home before she sees the first light of day
Estelle is portrayed as a creature of the night, and it's implied that she might be dangerous during daylight hours.
but sooner or later
This line suggests that no matter what precautions someone might take when dealing with Estelle, eventually, things will not go according to plan.
the best laid plans of mice and men go astray
This is an idiomatic expression that means that even with careful planning, things can still go wrong.
she's the kind of girl put your head in a whirl
Estelle is so enchanting that she can confuse and disorient people.
she's bound by tradition of Victorian morals
Despite her vampiric nature, Estelle still follows the moral codes of her upbringing, which are Victorian in nature.
the daughter of the devil and the mother of pearl
This line is a play on words, contrasting Estelle's dark nature with a symbol of purity (the pearl).
i'd let her alone if i were you
The artist is advising the listener to stay away from Estelle due to her dangerous nature.
don't look back
This line is a warning to not dwell on the past since it cannot be changed.
it's a trap
The singer is warning the listener that there might be hidden dangers lurking in their situation.
it a fact
This line reinforces that there is no denying the danger present.
it's a booby trap booby trap
A booby trap is a trap that's triggered unintentionally, and the repetition of the term emphasizes the danger present.
don't turn around or she'll surely roll you over
This line warns the listener not to let their guard down since Estelle is dangerous and can be deadly.
there's no doubt about when i found out i got wise
The artist is sharing their experience with Estelle and how they realized her true nature and should not make the same mistake again.
hypnotized all of the time
Estelle can be so enchanting that people can become easily captivated by her.
but you better get it through your head
The artist is warning the listener that they need to understand the danger at hand.
she's out to control your mind
Estelle's intentions are to control and manipulate those around her.
nosferatu - she's undead
The name Nosferatu is associated with vampires, and the line emphasizes that Estelle is undead and not like ordinary people.
she'll get your love like a hand in a glove
Estelle will make people fall in love with her easily.
the fangs of a bat and the heart of a dove
This line reinforces the contrast between Estelle's deadly nature (the bat) and her enchanting personality (the dove).
from hell below or heaven above
Estelle is portrayed as a creature that's neither good nor evil, but somewhere in between.
i wouldn't let her in if i were you
The singer is advising the listener to stay away from Estelle and not let her into their lives, implying that she might be trouble.
what's it about? does it snow in Transylvania?
This line breaks away from the main narrative, questioning the validity of the situation and the appropriateness of it all.
try to chill her out when i found out i got wise
The artist attempted to calm down Estelle, but upon realizing her true nature, they realized it was best to step away from the situation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEONARD GRAVES PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind