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.
Make it So
The Dickies Lyrics
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Set the controls for the Neutral Zone-make it so
Where no one's gone before is where we'll boldly go
Kunta Kinte's blind and he's at the controls, oh no!
It's hard to navigate with an air filter stuck on your nose
CHORUS
Live long and prosper
Make it so
Gold-press latinem
Make it so
Assimilate all of them
Make it so
Secure the bridge 'cause we're moving faster than light
Alien gods of Cardassia are happy tonight
We're flying through the stars and we're hitting the bars, all right!
Data's going to tell me that the Romulans will put up a fight
CHORUS
We're going to fly the friendly skies
Take a word now to the wise
Where we're going no one knows
The Enterprise is out of control
Won't you make it so
Like Edgar Allen Poe
Or maybe G.I. Joe?
Hey everybody,
Let's go!
The Dickies's song "Make It So" is a playful homage to the science fiction television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation. The lyrics reference some of the show's key concepts, characters, and quotes. For example, the line "Set the controls for the Neutral Zone" invokes the show's central conflict between the Federation and its adversaries, the Romulans and the Klingons. The phrase "where no one's gone before is where we'll boldly go" echoes Captain Jean-Luc Picard's iconic opening speech, in which he promises to explore "strange new worlds" and "seek out new life and new civilizations."
The lyrics also make use of humor and satire to poke fun at the show's sometimes-stilted dialogue and broad characterizations. The line "Kunta Kinte's blind and he's at the controls, oh no!" is a reference to the character Geordi La Forge, who is famously blind but can see through a specialized visor. The phrase "gold-press latinum" refers to a valuable form of currency in the show's mythology, while the line "Assimilate all of them" alludes to the villainous Borg, a collective of cyborgs who seek to assimilate all other species.
Overall, "Make It So" is a lighthearted and affectionate tribute to Star Trek: The Next Generation, showcasing the enduring appeal and cultural resonance of the show.
Line by Line Meaning
Set the controls for the Neutral Zone-make it so
Let's set the proper course for our adventure and commence our journey.
Where no one's gone before is where we'll boldly go
We're going to explore new and uncharted territories.
Kunta Kinte's blind and he's at the controls, oh no!
The person in charge is impaired and we're in trouble.
It's hard to navigate with an air filter stuck on your nose
It's difficult to operate properly with impediments or obstacles in the way.
Make it so
Let's proceed forward as planned.
Live long and prosper
May you have a long and successful life.
Gold-press latinem
Let's obtain the most valuable resources available.
Assimilate all of them
Let's absorb or integrate anyone or anything that may be useful to our goals.
Secure the bridge 'cause we're moving faster than light
Let's make sure everything is secure because we're going at an incredibly high speed.
Alien gods of Cardassia are happy tonight
The gods of the place we're visiting are pleased with our presence.
We're flying through the stars and we're hitting the bars, all right!
We're traveling quickly to various locations and having a good time while doing it.
Data's going to tell me that the Romulans will put up a fight
I predict that we'll face resistance or opposition from the Romulans according to Data.
We're going to fly the friendly skies
We'll be traveling through space and the universe.
Take a word now to the wise
Listen carefully to what I'm about to say.
Where we're going no one knows
We're embarking on a journey with no certain destination.
The Enterprise is out of control
We've lost direction and things are getting chaotic.
Won't you make it so
Will you please ensure everything is in order?
Like Edgar Allen Poe
Let's do something with a dark or mysterious element.
Or maybe G.I. Joe?
Or perhaps something action-packed or adventurous like G.I. Joe?
Hey everybody, Let's go!
Come on everyone, let's get moving and start our mission!
Contributed by Amelia E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.