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.
Hang on to Yourself
The Germs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comes to the show tonight
Praying to the light machine
She wants my honey not my money
She's a funky-thigh collector
Laying on the 'lectric dream
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
If you think we're gonna make it
You better hang on to yourself
Oh, we don't dance or talk much, we just ball and play
And then we move around like tigers on vaseline
Y'know, the bitter comes out better on a stolen guitar
You're the blessed, we're the Spiders From Mars
Come on, come on
We really got a good thing going
Come on, come on
If you think we're gonna make it
You better hang on to yourself
C'mon
Come on, come on
Really got a good thing going
Come on, come on
If you think we're gonna make it
You better hang on to yourself
Come on, come on
We really got a good thing going
Come on, come on
If you think we're gonna make it
You better hang on to yourself
The Germs' song "Hang on to Yourself" can be interpreted as an ode to rock 'n' roll hedonism, with Iggy Pop-esque lyrics about sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. The mysterious and seductive woman described in the first verse can be seen as a representation of the wild and unpredictable aspects of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle. The singer describes being in her presence as akin to being caught in a storm, and she is described as a "tongue twisting storm." The reference to the "light machine" could be interpreted as a nod to stage lights, creating an otherworldly atmosphere for the performance. The line "She wants my honey not my money" speaks to the sexual nature of the encounter, with the woman more interested in the singer's bodily offerings than his material possessions.
The second verse further reinforces the idea of rock 'n' roll as a wild and primal pursuit, with lyrics about "balling and playing," and "moving around like tigers on vaseline." The reference to a "stolen guitar" implies a rebellious attitude towards authority and traditional values, with the guitar serving as a symbol of creative freedom. The final lines of the song, "You're the blessed, we're the Spiders From Mars," references David Bowie's backing band, The Spiders From Mars, further emphasizing the anarchic spirit of the song.
Overall, "Hang on to Yourself" can be interpreted as an affirmation of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, with its emphasis on living in the moment, indulging in pleasure, and rejecting societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, she's a tongue twisting storm
She is a woman who speaks quickly and powerfully.
Comes to the show tonight
She is coming to the concert tonight.
Praying to the light machine
She is using the light machine to elevate her experience.
She wants my honey not my money
She is not interested in my wealth, only my affection.
She's a funky-thigh collector
She collects funky females.
Laying on the 'lectric dream
She is laying down, listening to electric music, and in a dream-like state.
Come on, come on. We really got a good thing going
Things are going well, so let's keep going.
If you think we're gonna make it. You better hang on to yourself
If you believe in our success, make sure you're ready for the ride.
Oh, we don't dance or talk much, we just ball and play
We don't do much besides party and have fun.
And then we move around like tigers on vaseline
We dance wildly and smoothly, like tigers on slippery surfaces.
Y'know, the bitter comes out better on a stolen guitar
Music sounds better when it is rebellious or non-conforming.
You're the blessed, we're the Spiders From Mars
The listener is lucky, we are the unique and other-worldly Spiders From Mars.
Contributed by Jacob I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cormac Gillis
Amazing, I always thought a punk cover of this song would be spectacular, didn't know the Germs ever covered it. Thanks so much for the upload 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Terry P Music
Nice one, keep it up!
Harlan Miller
Thanks for posting this, I saw this show
I saw them do this cover
Maciej Falczyński
Super... 👍
James Gretsch
Horrible version.