The Subhumans sprang from the moist … Read Full Bio ↴For the UK band, see Subhumans.
The Subhumans sprang from the moist and foetid undergrowth of the British Columbian rain forest in the spring of 1978, and were soon a vital part of the wild, raucous, and tempestuous Vancouver punk scene. Often political with a satiric edge, in 1980 the band recorded its debut album, "Incorrect Thoughts" for another small Vancouver label and toured through much of the U.S. and Canada, gigging with such bands as Black Flag, Husker Du, Minor Threat, the Dead Kennedys, X and Bad Brains.
In 1981, original bassist Gerry Hannah and drummer Jim Imagawa left the band, and were replaced by bassist Ron Allan and drummer Randy Bowman for a second album, "No Wishes No Prayers", recorded for SST Records. Just prior to its release, front man Brian Goble quit to become DOA's bass player and the original incarnation of band played its last gig in the fall of 1982.
After leaving the band Gerry Hannah became one of a group of political activists called Direct Action, whose frustration lead them toward armed struggle. Among other actions, the group blew up an environmentally unfriendly hydroelectric substation on Vancouver Island and bombed the Litton plant near Toronto, which manufactured parts for the American cruise missile, a "first strike" nuclear weapon. In 1983, Canadian authorities eventually arrested the group, known in the press as the Squamish Five, and Gerry was sentenced to ten years in jail. He was released after serving five years.
In 1995, Gerry and Brian reformed the band for a western Canadian tour, with Jon Williams on guitar and David Macanulty on drums, and the following year the band released a "best of" CD, "Pissed Off . . . With Good Reason", on the Essential Noise/Virgin label.
In 2005, the band reformed to write and record again. This time, the line-up includes original members Brian Goble on vocals, Gerry Hannah on bass, and Mike Graham back on guitar, with punk veteran and powerhouse drummer Jon Card (formerly with SNFU/DOA) on drums. The Subhumans recorded a full-length CD of new material, "New Dark Age Parade", which was released in September 2006 on Alternative Tentacles Records in the U.S. and G7 Welcoming Committee Records in Canada. More extensive touring is planned.
Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/subhumanscanaduh
KFTH Site:
http://homepages.nyu.edu/~cch223/canada/subhumans_main.html
Fuck You
The Subhumans Lyrics
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Say we′re evil, say we're lazy
Say we′re just the violent type
Kind of dumb, not too bright
We don't care what you say
Fuck you
We don't care what you say
Fuck you
You tell your friends that we′re really sick
Just short-haired fags on a commie trip
And you should know cause you′re so cool
Number one, nobody's fool
We don′t care what you say
Fuck you
We don't care what you say
Fuck you
Suck a big one
We don′t care what you say
Fuck you
We don't care what you say
Fuck you
Well come on man you better jump right in
Thus is one game you don′t gotta win
Don't care where you've been, don′t care how you look
It′s hellfire man, you're in you gotta cook
We don′t care what you say
Fuck you
We don't care what you say
We don′t care what you say
We don't care what you say
Fuck you
The lyrics of The Subhumans's "Fuck You" express the band's frustration towards being misunderstood and judged by mainstream society. The first stanza talks about how the band is labeled as weird, crazy, evil, violent, and dumb by those who do not understand them. However, the band refuses to be affected by these labels and uses the chorus to express their disinterest in the opinions of others.
The second stanza addresses the gossip about the band, with lyrics such as "short-haired fags on a commie trip." The band mocks those who talk about them behind their backs and do not have the courage to confront them face to face. The bridge of the song states that the listener is free to join the band and be themselves, regardless of their appearance or background. The overall message of the song is to not conform to societal norms and to remain true to oneself, disregarding the opinions of others who judge without understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
You call us weirdos, you call us crazy
You label us as strange and insane
Say we′re evil, say we're lazy
You accuse us of being wicked and unproductive
Say we′re just the violent type
You depict us as being aggressive by nature
Kind of dumb, not too bright
You portray us as being intellectually challenged
We don't care what you say
We are not influenced by your opinions
Fuck you
We reject your words and opinions
You tell your friends that we′re really sick
You spread rumors about us being ill or abnormal
Just short-haired fags on a commie trip
You insult us by calling us homosexual and communist
And you should know cause you′re so cool
You believe your own opinions are superior because you consider yourself cool
Number one, nobody's fool
You think you are the best and not easily tricked
Suck a big one
An obscene insult directed towards the person being addressed
Well come on man you better jump right in
You are inviting someone to join in on the attack
Thus is one game you don′t gotta win
You imply that the goal is not to win but to hurt the other side
Don't care where you've been, don′t care how you look
You do not judge a person by where they come from or their appearance
It′s hellfire man, you're in you gotta cook
You are saying that being in this situation is like being in a burning fire, and the person has to endure it
Writer(s): Gregory Kurstin, Lily Allen
Contributed by Cole G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.