The Germs disbanded following Crash's suicide on December 7, 1980. Their music was influential to many later punk rock acts. Pat Smear went on to greater fame performing with Nirvana and the Foo Fighters.
In 2005, actor Shane West was cast to play Crash in the Germs biographical film What We Do Is Secret (named after a song by the Germs). He performed with Smear, Doom, and Bolles at a production party for the film, after which the Germs reformed with West as singer. The new lineup of the band has performed a number of tours in the United States, including performances on the 2006 and 2008 Warped Tours.
On January 16, 2019, bassist Lorna Doom (born as Teresa Ryan) passed away.
Dragon Lady
The Germs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know the way in cause you're the son of God
She opens the door with a sardonic glance
You drop to the floor making your plans
It's a real cool parody
That's my dragon lady
In a low society with no variety
There's something in her eyes
That nature denied
She's a whirlwind creature of cultural ties
A preacher of schemes and self denial
She talks up a storm with news and Belial
It's a real cool parody
That's my dragon lady
In a low society with no variety
She lives a tongue on cheek dream
The clock on the mantle hands crossed
The rug on the floors a resting place for the dust
The talk of the town yet she's never been seen
A loving relation with a well meaning machine
It's a real cool parody
That's my dragon lady
In a low society with no variety
She lives a tongue on cheek dream
The Germs' song Dragon Lady tells the story of a man who sees himself as the son of God and walks confidently to a temple on the boulevard. When he gets there, he is greeted by a woman known as the Dragon Lady who opens the door with a sardonic glance. He falls to the floor in order to make his plans. The Dragon Lady is described as a "whirlwind creature of cultural ties" who talks up a storm with news and Belial (which is a demon in Jewish and Christian traditions).
The lyrics suggest that the Dragon Lady is a parody of sorts, as she lives in a low society with no variety and dreams in a tongue-in-cheek way. Even so, there's something in her eyes that nature denied, which implies that she has a unique and interesting perspective that is not often seen. The clock on the mantle hands are crossed, and the rug on the floor is a resting place for the dust, suggesting that nothing much happens in the world of the Dragon Lady. The song ends on the note that she has a "loving relation with a well-meaning machine," leaving the listener to speculate about what that means.
Line by Line Meaning
You walk to the temple on the boulevard
You confidently strut down the street, knowing exactly where you're going
You know the way in cause you're the son of God
You feel like you're all-powerful and can do anything you want
She opens the door with a sardonic glance
Your Dragon Lady welcomes you with a sarcastic look in her eyes, as if to say she knows exactly what you're up to
You drop to the floor making your plans
You immediately start scheming and plotting your next move, lying prostrate on the ground as if deep in thought
It's a real cool parody
The situation you find yourself in is ironic and amusing, in a strange way
That's my dragon lady
You take pride and ownership in this woman, who is both fierce and alluring
In a low society with no variety
The world you inhabit is dull and monotonous, lacking in any excitement or adventure
She lives a tongue on cheek dream
Your Dragon Lady knows how to be cheeky and playful, enjoying her own sense of humor
There's something in her eyes
You detect a certain quality or characteristic about her, conveyed through her gaze
That nature denied
This quality is something that goes against what would be considered natural or normal
She's a whirlwind creature of cultural ties
She is a dynamic force of energy, connected to various cultural traditions and influences
A preacher of schemes and self denial
She is a master of manipulation, using her words to convince others to sacrifice their own desires or needs for hers
She talks up a storm with news and Belial
She can talk a lot and fill the air with her words, sometimes using dark or demonic references
The clock on the mantle hands crossed
The clock on the mantle indicates that time is not moving, standing still and with no progress being made
The rug on the floors a resting place for the dust
The floor is dirty and not well-maintained, with dust and debris accumulating on the rug
The talk of the town yet she's never been seen
People discuss your Dragon Lady and her actions, although they've never actually met her in person
A loving relation with a well meaning machine
Your relationship with her is complicated and strange, like a bond between a person and a machine
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Darby Crash, Georg Ruthenberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ericks9979
Germs are so fucking good. Best pumk band ever imo.
@brendendavis8596
Agreed. Never forget the first time hearing this well into a my first year into finding punk and i remember thinking this is it. The epitome of punk imo
@EarlSmith2469
@SidThe1337 I like them both too, I remember getting Bloodied but unbowed by D.O.A. in the 80s that record really changed my life. that and of course the Germs GI Album, I especially like the later anthology that has the Cruising soundtrack songs included it's the complete anthology and totally rocks!
@THExViCExSHOW
"We did this show so you new people could see what it was like when we were around. You're not going to see it again"-Darby Crash, December 3rd, 1980, The final gig.....
@Anthonybchannel
Well the final gig with Darby. They did come back a couple of times
@heartbreakkid5757
RIP Darby & Lorna
@georgefrank5711
Great band, greatest lyricist, nothing ever will match! Darby, thank you!
@GageNescher-ew3sb
These guys saw life for what it truly was and lived it to the fullest
@TheStrainers
I missed the show that night, got the call next day "Darby is dead." He was a great writer and to me I thought he would go on to writing some of best poetry the world. Which to me he was already doing it
@slipknotcrazy72
best Germs song ever!!!!