Members
Richard Manitoba - lead vocals (1973-2008)
Ross "The Boss" Friedman - lead guitars/backing vocals (1973- 2008)
Scott "Top Ten" Kempner - rhythm guitars (1973-2008)
Andy Shernoff - bass (1973-1975, 1976-2008), keyboards/backing vocals (1973-2008)
Stu Boy King - drums (1974-1975; died 2018)
Ritchie Teeter - drums (1976-1980; died 2012)
Mark Mendoza - bass (1976-1977)
Mel Anderson - drums (1979)
Frank Funaro - drums (1995-1998)
J.P. Patterson - drums (1998-2008)
Discography
Go Girl Crazy (1975)
Manifest Destiny (1977)
Bloodbrothers (1978)
Fuck 'Em If They Can't Take a Joke (ROIR, 1981)
The Dictators Live, New York, New York (ROIR, 1998)
D.F.F.D. (2001)
Viva Dictators (2005)
Every Day Is Saturday (2007)
Teengenerate
The Dictators Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You won't miss me, even though you can
He could make a dead dog laugh
And watch me kick my mother on her ass
He's no boy and yet he ain't no man.
He don't know what he's gonna do
In three years, I'm gonna be twenty-two-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo
I'm their favorite degenerate
You might say he's just too crazy for you
BRIDGE
I'm the most outrageous
Hope it's not contagious
All the world's got a one-way ticket to heck, to heck, to heck
You can bet that he's no Mickey Mouse
Give me an hour, and I'll destroy your house
Eatin' eggs (?) all day long
Sleepin' with the TV on
He looks just like you, turn him inside out (x 3).
The Dictators' "Teengenerate" is a punk rock song that muses on the youthful exuberance and reckless behavior that characterizes adolescence. The song begins by introducing us to a young man with a sandwich in his hand, who exudes a sense of carefree behavior that makes him instantly noticeable. He has a sense of humor that could make a dead dog laugh and seems careless of the world around him, ready to take on anyone who crosses his path. He's no boy, and yet he's not quite a man, caught in the limbo of being too young to be an adult but too old to be a kid, a feeling that many of us may have gone through.
As we move through the lyrics, it becomes clear that the singer of the song is aware of his age and is already planning on what to do next, even though he's not entirely sure what he wants. His friends seem to think he's great, and he is their favorite degenerate, implying that they all enjoy his company and find him entertaining. However, he is not everyone's cup of tea, as some might find him too wild and crazy for their taste. The bridge of the song takes a more nihilistic turn, with the singer stating that the world is doomed to go to heck, and he is the most outrageous, hoping that his attitude doesn't become contagious.
In conclusion, "Teengenerate" is a song that captures the essence of youthful rebellion, angst, and recklessness, reminding us of the invincibility and sense of freedom that we once had as teenagers, even though it might not have always led us down the safest paths.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's that boy with the sandwich in his hand?
Who is that unusual person who's holding a sandwich?
You won't miss me, even though you can
Although you can see me, you won't be able to ignore me
He could make a dead dog laugh
He is very funny, even a dead dog would be entertained by him
And watch me kick my mother on her ass
He is observing me disrespect my mother by kicking her
He's no boy and yet he ain't no man.
Although he's not a child, he's not exactly a grown-up either
He don't know what he's gonna do
He has no idea what the future holds for him
In three years, I'm gonna be twenty-two-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo
I am going to be 22 in three years
All his friends think he's great
His friends adore him
I'm their favorite degenerate
I am the most infamous member of their group
You might say he's just too crazy for you
He might be too wild for your taste
I'm the most outrageous
I am the most unconventional
Hope it's not contagious
Let's hope I'm not a bad influence on others
All the world's got a one-way ticket to heck, to heck, to heck
We are all headed towards damnation or chaos
You can bet that he's no Mickey Mouse
He is definitely not a conventional or generic person
Give me an hour, and I'll destroy your house
If you give him an hour, he could seriously damage your property
Eatin' eggs (?) all day long
He spends the entire day munching on eggs
Sleepin' with the TV on
He falls asleep with the TV still broadcasting
He looks just like you, turn him inside out (x 3).
He resembles you in appearance, but his personality is completely different
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREW SHERNOFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
slant40
Every one of my friends laughed out loud when I brought this LP around back in 1975 - NOW look who's got the last laugh! This is the cream of this crop of classic punkers. Still playing it after 36 years.
FreeWorldarchitect
@Andrew Phuck they thought it was queer shit forsure 🎉😂
rocknroll_jezus9
Dude that's sick, this album is awesome
Andrew Phuck
What did people think of the ny dolls and jt & the Heartbreakers back then?
BMC
One of the best bands/albums to come out of NYC. That guitar screams, those melodies and lyrics. CBGB’s before it was all pristine with $300 jeans,Dictators, Ramones, Shirts, come on!
TheRealSatanicpanic
This is one of the greatest songs ever written
Charlie Jenkins
One of the greatest opening lines in rock n roll!
Moshe Barak
These guys nailed it like no other!!!!
TOBERT001
Years ahead of its time. Wonderful. As fresh and great as when it was released.
pudman31
Greatest opening line to any song ever