Teenage Lobotomy
The Ramones攀 Lyrics
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Lobotomy, lobotomy
DDT did a job on me
Now I am a real sickie
Guess I'll have to break the news
That I got no mind to lose
All the girls are in love with me
I'm a teenage lobotomy
Slugs and snails are after me
DDT keeps me happy
Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
That I got no cerebellum
Gonna get my Ph.D.
I'm a teenage lobotomy
Lobotomy, lobotomy
Lobotomy, lobotomy
DDT did a job on me
Now I am a real sickie
Guess I'll have to break the news
That I got no mind to lose
All the girls are in love with me
I'm a teenage lobotomy
The lyrics to The Ramones' song "Teenage Lobotomy" reflect a darkly humorous view of the popular medical procedure during the 1950s and 60s, which was used to treat a variety of mental and behavioral disorders. The song centers around the singer, who has undergone a lobotomy and is now a "real sickie" with "no mind to lose". The singer's thoughts are scattered and they seem unaware of the full extent of the procedure they have undergone. They quip that "all the girls are in love" with them, but also express a sense of rejection and isolation ("slugs and snails are after me") that may come from being perceived as different or abnormal.
The song's lyrics could be interpreted as a critique of the medical establishment and its willingness to experiment on vulnerable patients. Lobotomies were often performed on people who were deemed "difficult" or "unmanageable", and were considered a "treatment" for everything from schizophrenia to depression. However, the procedure often resulted in serious side effects, including seizures and personality changes. The Ramones may be mocking the idea that such a drastic and invasive procedure could "cure" someone's mental health issues, and highlighting the damage it could do instead.
Line by Line Meaning
Lobotomy, lobotomy
I've had a lobotomy, a surgical procedure in which a part of the brain is removed, and now I'm repeating the word over and over again.
DDT did a job on me
I've been exposed to DDT, a pesticide that was widely used in the 1960s, and it has affected my mental health.
Now I am a real sickie
As a result of the lobotomy and DDT exposure, I'm now mentally ill.
Guess I'll have to break the news
I need to tell others about my condition.
That I got no mind to lose
I've already lost my mind due to the lobotomy and DDT exposure.
All the girls are in love with me
Despite my condition, I am still popular with girls.
I'm a teenage lobotomy
I am a teenager who has undergone a lobotomy and has been affected by DDT exposure.
Slugs and snails are after me
I feel like I'm being pursued by these creatures, which could be a metaphor for my mental illness.
DDT keeps me happy
Despite the negative effects of DDT, I still feel happy because it has altered my brain chemistry.
Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
I am realizing that I need to be open about my mental health struggles.
That I got no cerebellum
The lobotomy has left me without a cerebellum, which plays a crucial role in motor control and coordination.
Gonna get my Ph.D.
Ironically, despite my mental health struggles, I still have aspirations to pursue higher education and obtain a Ph.D.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOMMY RAMONE, DEE DEE RAMONE, JOHNNY RAMONE, JOEY RAMONE
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