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.
Land of Treason
The Germs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are breathing fire
We're packs of dogs
We're enemies of men, we are not desired
Our face show
We've grown cold, but
Have not conspired
Old hearts gone
I like a recepticle for the chosen dead
We find our bodies clawed
And with the scent of death
We find that we are not so very awed
Loyalties burned
The words our blurred, overturn your own
Walk like dogs and watch the doors
Have your other stone
Stop the toys that match disordered
Calculate the thrones
Feel the pulse descending
Decaying hallowed tomes
In the starving sense you worship
The nations of debris
You wear a coat of sewage
That you've never ever seen
The time is now, the vicious here
A stolen dinner code
The license of the savage land
That you've always sold
So bite the hand that needs you
And bless another coal
The virus never issues
From a cotton so very old
As the lights come down the guilty displayed nervous in a row
You wash your hands and start to climb
The ladder that you stole
Slip the latch-and spin the sword
The money lords are poor
Push the top that rolls downhill
Their sense of dream absorbed
Still the cat that breaks the night
Tie him to the core
Chase the virtues that believe
That what's right is scored
It's a senseless cash in of right for wrong
What's right is never gone
And left is just a bastion for the fools
Golden dawn
The Germs’ song “Land of Treason” is a commentary on the state of America in the late 70s, when the song was released. The lyrics speak of a nation that has become a “land of treason,” where allegiances have been burned and loyalties have been blurred. The song is a critique of the country’s political and social landscape, where lawlessness reigns and corruption is rampant.
The first verse of the song speaks of the singer’s group as being “packs of dogs,” enemies of men, not desired. Here, we see a distinction between the oppressed and the oppressor. The singer sees his group as being predatory because they are hunted by the oppressive forces that were prevalent at the time. The second verse talks about the decay of hallowed tomes, exploring the theme of decay and downfall. The third verse speaks of the vicious here, a reality where the oppressed are forced to become as evil as their oppressors to survive.
Overall, “Land of Treason” is a song that reflects the disillusionment of the era it was written in. It seeks to shed light on the issues that were affecting society and the country at large, aiming to inspire change and action.
Line by Line Meaning
Land of treason, waste no reason
We exist in a land of betrayal, where logic does not matter.
We are breathing fire
We are angry and dangerous.
We're packs of dogs
We are a group of animals, not accepted by society.
We're enemies of men, we are not desired
We are hated by society and not wanted.
Our face show
Our faces reflect our emotions.
We've grown cold, but
We have become numb to emotion, but still exist.
Have not conspired
We have not plotted or planned anything wrong.
Old hearts gone
We have lost our innocence and compassion.
The future's on-mother nations mired
The future for other nations is bleak and uncertain.
I like a recepticle for the chosen dead
I am like a container for those who die before their time.
We find our bodies clawed
We discover our bodies destroyed and damaged.
And with the scent of death
We can smell death nearby.
We find that we are not so very awed
We realize we are not scared, despite the situation.
Loyalties burned
Our loyalties have been destroyed.
The words our blurred, overturn your own
Our language is unclear, so you should question your own beliefs.
Walk like dogs and watch the doors
Move and behave like an outcast, and always be alert.
Have your other stone
Possess another weapon for self-defense.
Stop the toys that match disordered
Prevent the items that can cause disorder.
Calculate the thrones
Plan your move to leadership positions.
Feel the pulse descending
Notice the decrease in hope and optimism.
Decaying hallowed tomes
Rotten, sacred books filled with secrets.
In the starving sense you worship
You honor and cherish the feeling of starvation.
The nations of debris
The countries ruined by war and poverty.
You wear a coat of sewage
You're covered in filth and anxiety.
That you've never ever seen
That you've never experienced before.
The time is now, the vicious here
Today is the day of cruelty and chaos.
A stolen dinner code
An illegal and secret way of enjoying a meal.
The license of the savage land
The permission given by powerful people to create chaos and destruction.
That you've always sold
That you've always supported and accepted.
So bite the hand that needs you
Attack the person who relies on you.
And bless another coal
And help another person suffer less.
The virus never issues from a cotton so very old
The disease doesn't come from an innocent and harmless item.
As the lights come down the guilty displayed nervous in a row
As the situation worsens, the guilty become more anxious and exposed.
You wash your hands and start to climb
You pretend to be clean and start to rise in power.
The ladder that you stole
The success you attained through dishonest means.
Slip the latch-and spin the sword
Open the lock and start to fight fiercely.
The money lords are poor
The wealthy people are morally poor and corrupted.
Push the top that rolls downhill
Support the idea that's already successful.
Their sense of dream absorbed
Their dream was taken away from them.
Still the cat that breaks the night
Stop the person who tries to destroy and conquer at night.
Tie him to the core
Extinguish their motivation and energy.
Chase the virtues that believe
Pursue the characteristics that are based on faith and belief.
That what's right is scored
That goodness is known and acknowledged.
It's a senseless cash in of right for wrong
It's a useless exchange of good for evil.
What's right is never gone
What's correct and ethical never fades away.
And left is just a bastion for the fools
What's remaining is just a place for the ignorants.
Golden dawn
The beautiful sunrise, symbolizing a new beginning.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Darby Crash, Georg Ruthenberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vladimirploppers5789
Unbelievable lyrics
Land of treason, waste no reason
We are breathing fire
We're packs of dogs
We're enemies of men, we are not desired
Our face show
We've grown cold, but
Have not conspired
Old hearts gone
The future's on-mother nations mired
I like a recepticle for the chosen dead
We find our bodies clawed
And with the scent of death
We find that we are not so very awed
Loyalties burned
The words our blurred, overturn your own
Walk like dogs and watch the doors
Have your other stone
Stop the toys that match disordered
Calculate the thrones
Feel the pulse descending
Decaying hallowed tomes
In the starving sense you worship
The nations of debris
You wear a coat of sewage
That you've never ever seen
The time is now, the vicious here
A stolen dinner code
The license of the savage land
That you've always sold
So bite the hand that needs you
And bless another coal
The virus never issues
From a cotton so very old
As the lights come down the guilty displayed nervous in a row
You wash your hands and start to climb
The ladder that you stole
Slip the latch-and spin the sword
The money lords are poor
Push the top that rolls downhill
Their sense of dream absorbed
Still the cat that breaks the night
Tie him to the core
Chase the virtues that believe
That what's right is scored
It's a senseless cash in of right for wrong
What's right is never gone
And left is just a bastion for the fools
Golden dawn
@JMarinelli
Probably my favorite song lyrics ever. This shit is mind blowing — beyond the beyond.
@JMarinelli
@Rowan Melton My copy of GI came with a lyric sheet.
@sderoski1
Really? It seems nonsensical to me. What is it about?
@MrBooYa-yd5er
@@sderoski1decadence and conformity amidst a corporate stranglehold
@slipknotcrazy72
Darby Crash wasn't a singer....he was an artist...a poet...and an icon!
@daveyd7350
Amen!
@myyummybiologicallyfemalep6577
Existentialist!
@CartoonManWhoo
I have his face tattooed on my right bicep surrounded by the words, Lexicon Devil.
@benjaminschaub9412
Well said.
@sderoski1
Well I agree that he wasn't a singer...