The Queers play a Ramones style of pop punk with songs about girls and beer. King has often collaborated with Ben Weasel, from Screeching Weasel. The band begun with a notoriety primarily in their own backyard, but with the release of Love Songs for the Retarded, recorded by legendary punk producer Mass Giorgini, their following grew to international proportions. They have collaborated with Mass Giorgini several times since.
Along with his casual acquaintance Ben Weasel, Joe King has criticized the re-emergence of the street punk scene and what he sees as the glorification of violence and class warfare by certain bands. The song, "Little Rich Working Class Oi Boy" from the album Beyond the Valley of the Assfuckers takes aim at the working class pretensions and bellicose attitudes of some members of the Oi! scene. In a 2005 post to The Queers official website, King criticizes the effect of Boston punk band, the Dropkick Murphys. Writes King, "With all this stupid fucking Irish/Dropkick BS these days the whole punk scene (what's left of it) is full of assholes that just wanna fight."
Bonehead
The Queers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know how to dance.
I'm never gonna work.
I wear designer pants.
Oh, my head is empty,
And my brain, it hurts.
I wanna be a real cool guy
Wear alligator shirts.
I don't care what you say.
I just wanna be this way.
I don't care just what you said.
I just wanna be a bonehead.
Now I got a job.
My foreman's name is Bob.
He's really quite a guy.
He blows me all the time.
My girlfriend says she loves me.
Her mother says so, too.
I'm lifting weights most every day.
Won't take no shit from you.
I don't care what you say.
I just wanna be this way.
I don't care just what you said.
I just wanna be a bonehead.
The Queers' song "Bonehead" reveals the identity of the singer as someone who wants to be perceived as cool and trendy, but at the same time, is aware of his lack of intellect. He expresses his desire to wear designer clothes, be muscular, and arrogant. The opening line could be interpreted in several ways; while the singer claims to be "not a jerk," it could also imply that he is aware that others may perceive him that way.
In the second verse, he expresses his desire to maintain his lifestyle of not having to work and just live off his boneheaded glory. However, he soon finds employment and claims to have a sexual relationship with his foreman, Bob. The verse also reveals that the singer has a girlfriend, but it is not clear if his relationship is genuine or if he is just trying to impress others. The chorus reiterates his desire to be a "bonehead" and disregard others' opinions of him.
The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the pressure some people feel to conform to societal norms of intelligence and hard work. It speaks to those who feel like they can't keep up and who want to opt-out of the rat race to live a simpler life. Additionally, it could be seen as a sarcastic and humorous take on the stereotype of "boneheads," who are known for being tough, uneducated, and sometimes involved in criminal activity.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm really not a jerk.
I may seem like a jerk, but I promise I'm not. Don't judge a book by its cover.
I know how to dance.
I have some level of confidence and talent when it comes to dancing.
I'm never gonna work.
I don't want to work and would rather focus on having fun and living my life my own way.
I wear designer pants.
Despite my carefree attitude, I still prioritize fashion and looking good in expensive clothing.
Oh, my head is empty,
I may not have a lot of deep thoughts or intellectual depth.
And my brain, it hurts.
However, I still experience pain or discomfort, possibly from partying or taking part in other reckless behavior.
I wanna be a real cool guy
I have a desire to be seen as cool and popular by others, and may be willing to go to great lengths to achieve this status.
Wear alligator shirts.
One way I might try to be cool is by wearing flashy or expensive clothing that stands out.
I don't care what you say.
I'm not interested in hearing your opinions or judgments about me or my behavior.
I just wanna be this way.
I know I may not be perfect, but I'm happy and content with who I am and how I live my life.
Now I got a job.
Despite my earlier claims of not wanting to work, I've since found a job to earn money and support myself.
My foreman's name is Bob.
I have a boss named Bob who oversees my work at the job I now have.
He's really quite a guy.
Despite being a boss, Bob seems like a good person and someone I might admire or look up to.
He blows me all the time.
This line has a double meaning, either that Bob is giving the singer a lot of praise and compliments, or that they have a sexual relationship.
My girlfriend says she loves me.
I have a girlfriend who is affectionate towards me and seems to really care about me.
Her mother says so, too.
Even her mother approves of me, so I must be doing something right or have a likable personality.
I'm lifting weights most every day.
I'm taking steps to improve my physical appearance and build muscle by working out regularly.
Won't take no shit from you.
I won't let anyone bully or push me around, and I'm willing to stand up for myself if necessary.
I just wanna be a bonehead.
Despite any potential criticisms or judgments from others, I'm content with being myself and living my life as a self-proclaimed "bonehead".
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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