The band changed its name to Wayne County & The Electric Chairs in 1978, recorded as Jayne County & The Electric Chairs by 1979, but the 1979 single 'So Many Ways' was released under the Electric Chairs moniker, without the arcticle 'The'. The name The Electric Chairs (with the article 'The') was on the sleeve of their 1977 début single 'Fuck Off' and their eponymous 1978 LP. It depends on the release...
Speed Demon
The Electric Chairs Lyrics
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Terror strikes when nobody knows
Speed demon
Blasting out with dynamite blows
EEC gonna put it in motion
Mark of the beast right across the ocean
Speed demon
Speed demon
Lake of fire and brimestone
World War I,World War II,
World War III,that's me and you
Speed demon
Economic war goes higher
Speed demon
Ressurected Roman empire
We're too stoned,baby. We can't knock it
Ain't no way that we can stop it
An Old World power
Grows bigger by the hour
The whore and her harlots
Take babylon much higher
Economic union and military stand
Religious,political
Mark of the beast
Speed demon
Written in the hearts of men
Speed demon
The lightbringer strikes again
Well,license to buy written on your forehead
Tommorow:the United States of Europe
Speed demon
Speed demon
Speed demon
Speed demon
[repeat with violent hacking and gasping in the background to fade]
The Electric Chairs's song "Speed Demon" is a powerful statement about the destructive power of speed and the inevitable consequences of human greed and ambition. The lyrics are a fierce indictment of the modern world, with its wars, economic inequality, and political oppression. The speed demon of the title is a symbol of the frenzied pace of modern life, where there is no time for contemplation or reflection, only for the pursuit of wealth, power, and pleasure.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the song, with its references to terror, dynamite, and the mark of the beast. The EEC (European Economic Community) is mentioned, suggesting a critique of capitalist globalization, as well as the threat of totalitarianism. The second stanza invokes the imagery of hell and the apocalypse, with its references to World Wars I, II, and III. The speed demon is seen as the cause of all this human misery and suffering.
The third stanza adds another layer to the song's critique, with its references to economic war, the resurrected Roman Empire, and the power of the ruling class. The last two stanzas are even more explicitly apocalyptic, with their references to the religious and political aspects of the mark of the beast, and the coming United States of Europe. The song ends with violent hacking and gasping, suggesting the final collapse of human civilization.
Line by Line Meaning
Speed demon
The singer is referring to a fast driving or racing car.
Terror strikes when nobody knows
The speed and danger of the car can strike fear into those who witness it.
Blasting out with dynamite blows
The car is roaring and explosive.
EEC gonna put it in motion
The European Economic Community is pushing for faster transportation.
Mark of the beast right across the ocean
The apocalyptic idea of the 'mark of the beast' is being associated with the international push for faster transportation.
Hell is for heroes, I'm told
The singer doesn't see themselves as a hero and is not afraid of going to hell.
Lake of fire and brimstone
Reference to the fiery punishment in hell.
World War I, World War II, World War III, that's me and you
The artist implies that the push for faster transportation will ultimately lead to another world war.
Economic war goes higher
The global competition for economic power is escalating.
Resurrected Roman empire
The idea that Europe is becoming a new empire similar to that of ancient Rome.
We're too stoned, baby. We can't knock it
The singer and others around them are too high to care or put up a fight against this development.
Ain't no way that we can stop it
Despite the concerns of the artist, they feel that the push for faster transportation is unstoppable.
An Old World power grows bigger by the hour
Europe is becoming a more powerful force in the world.
The whore and her harlots take Babylon much higher
An allusion to the biblical story of Babylon and its association with immorality and corruption.
Economic union and military stand, religious, political
The integration of European nations is occurring across multiple domains, not just economic or military.
Mark of the beast
The artist is again associating the push for faster transportation with the apocalyptic idea of the 'mark of the beast'.
Written in the hearts of men
The artist sees this development as a fundamental part of human nature.
The lightbringer strikes again
A reference to Lucifer and the idea of darkness and destruction associated with this development.
Well, license to buy written on your forehead
Continuation of the association with the 'mark of the beast', suggesting that there will be required identification for this transportation.
Tomorrow: the United States of Europe
The artist predicts that Europe will become a more unified entity.
Speed demon
Repetition of the title, emphasizing the speed and danger of this development.
Speed demon
Speed demon
Speed demon
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ELLIOTT MICHAELS, WAYNE COUNTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind