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.
Paranoid
The Dickies Lyrics
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'Cause she couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane
Because I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
I think I will lose my mind
Can you help me
Help me with my brain
And so as you hear these words
Telling you of my fate
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it's too late
Make a joke I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal
I must be paranoid
The Dickies's song Paranoid expresses the feelings of a person who has lost control over their life and cannot find satisfaction or happiness. The singer is talking about ending his relationship with his partner because they could not help him with his inner turmoil. The person is seen as insane by those around him, most probably because he is always frowning and cannot take pleasure in anything. The singer talks about how he thinks he's going to lose his mind if he doesn't find something to make him feel alive. He asks for help from those listening to the song to help him with his brain.
As the song progresses, the singer talks about how he tells others to enjoy life, but it's too late for him. He is incapable of feeling happiness, and love to him is a foreign concept. The line "Make a joke I will sigh, and you will laugh, and I will cry" showcases the singer's condition where he can no longer find humor in anything. Happiness is a feeling that he cannot grasp, and love feels unreal. Paranoid is a song about a person who has reached his breaking point and cannot hold on any longer.
Paranoid by The Dickies became an enormous hit after its release in 1977, and it remains one of the most well-known songs in punk rock history. The song highlighted the angst and frustration of many punk rock bands and became a classic hit for the genre.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm finished with my woman
I have ended my relationship with my girlfriend.
'Cause she couldn't help me with my mind
I broke up with her because she couldn't help me solve my personal problems.
People think I'm insane
Others consider me irrational or mentally unstable.
Because I am frowning all the time
I have a constant scowl or an expression of disapproval.
All day long I think of things
I spend my days lost in thought on a variety of topics.
But nothing seems to satisfy
Regardless of what I contemplate, it fails to bring me any fulfillment.
I think I will lose my mind
I'm worried I will go crazy or lose control of my thoughts.
If I don't find something to qualify
Unless I can find something to validate my existence, I will not be able to maintain my sanity.
Can you help me
Could you offer some aid or assistance?
Help me with my brain
Assist me in managing my thoughts and mental state.
And so as you hear these words
As these lyrics are spoken to you.
Telling you of my fate
Sharing with you the story of my destiny.
I tell you to enjoy life
I recommend that you take pleasure in every day and live to the fullest.
I wish I could but it's too late
I would like to follow my own advice, but it's too late for me.
Make a joke I will sigh
If you attempt to be humorous, I will breathe out in disappointment.
And you will laugh and I will cry
You may find it amusing, but I'll find it depressing.
Happiness I cannot feel
I am incapable of feeling joy or pleasure.
And love to me is so unreal
To me, romantic love seems to be something that only exists in fantasy.
I must be paranoid
I am exhibiting symptoms of paranoia or irrational distrust.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, William Ward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind