The Trashmen’s major hit was 1963’s “Surfin’ Bird,” which reached #1 coast to coast in the United States and in Canada. They were #1 in Caracas, Venezuela for 6 weeks and are still listed as the top rock band of all time in that country. In Sweden, “Surfin’ Bird” came out of its cage, flying up the record play list to #2 and to #5 in Australia. Mexico called it “El Surf Del Pajaro por LosTrashmen" where it flapped its way to the top of the charts.
The Trashmen continued to release great follow up singles. In 1964, “Bird Dance Beat” reached #30 in The United States, becoming a mega hit in Brazil. In Canada, “Bird Dance Beat” was a top 10 hit, as well.The Trashmen went on to have 5 other charting singles and 14 albums.
In the time period between JFK’s assassination and the Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, The Trashmen ruled teenage America: Surfin’ Bird was THE soundtrack of 1964. The Trashmen are revered as the #1 garage band of all time and the all time cult rock band of the mid 60’s. Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that enjoyed its original period of success in the U.S. and Canada from 1963 to 1967. In 1963, garage bands were all the products of local scenes such as The Kingsmen (Portland), Paul Revere and The Raiders (Boise), and The Trashmen (Minneapolis). [None of this is neutral]
The Trashmen’s “Surfin’ Bird” LP album is recognized by 60’s collectors as the Holy Grail of garage rock. Their original Trashmen LP which originally sold for $2.88, as well as largely unavailable 45’s, are selling today on ebay for stratospheric prices.
“Surfin’ Bird” has been covered by many artists, including the Ramones, The Cramps, Sodom, and Pee-Wee Herman. The song has been featured in several films, such as Full Metal Jacket, Sleeper, and Pink Flamingos. It has been heard on television commercials for Mervyns’s and Reebok, and as a ring tone on Sony’s Erickson cellular phones. It has even been used in the soundtrack of the video game “Battlefield Vietnam”. “Bird Is The Word” was used on the popular TV series, “Moonlighting”.
In the November 2006 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine, “Weird Al” Yankovic said of Surfin’ Bird, “It’s everything that’s great about Rock And Roll distilled into one song.”
People who love those oldies will turn the volume as far to the right as it’ll go when “Surfin’ Bird” comes out of a car radio from the local oldies station. Blasting: “A-Well-A, Everybody’s Heard About The Bird. B-B-B-Bird, Bird, Bird, B-Bird Is The Word."
The Sleeper
The Trashmen Lyrics
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Sleeper, Sleeper
There's an old gray coupe been comin' around and it looks like nothin' but sad
All scratched and dirty with a cracked windshield and the paint job's really bad
Well her fenders shake and a taillight's gone and the rust is showin' through
She's a dog on top but a devil underneath and she'll make a fool of you
She may look funny but don't you know, that bone yard devil can really go
Nine flat in a quarter mile
Sleeper, Sleeper, watcher kinda close don't laugh too loud or smile
She may look funny but don't you know, that bone yard devil can really go
Nine flat in a quarter mile
She's a dog on top and a devil underneath and you wouldn't believe your eyes
When she leaves a Cobra sittin' on the line, somebody's gonna get wise
Well nobody's touched that old gray coupe and nobody's shut her down
Comin' long side or waitin' for the light, you can hear that big bad sound
Sleeper, Sleeper, leave me alone don't want no more I'm wise
She may not shine or look so neat, with her tailpipe draggin' down the street
But it's just a big disguise
Well it's just a big disguise
Well it's just a big disguise
Well it's just a big disguise
The Trashmen’s song “Sleeper” follows a theme common to the surf rock genre, with an emphasis on cars and racing. The song tells the story of an old gray coupe that, despite its apparently unimpressive appearance, is deceptively fast and deadly on the race track. The song’s title itself, “Sleeper,” references the racing term for a car that appears to be slow, but in reality can outpace opponents.
The lyrics paint a picture of a beat-up car, with a “cracked windshield” and a “paint job’s really bad,” that is nevertheless a “devil underneath,” capable of humiliating high-performance sports cars like the Cobra. The singer of the song seems to be aware of the car’s true potential, warning others to “watcher kinda close,” and emphasizing that this “bone yard devil can really go / Nine flat in a quarter mile.”
The “Sleeper” serves as a symbol of the unexpected, an underdog triumphing against the odds. The song’s protagonist refuses to underestimate the old gray coupe, recognizing that its appearance is not a true indicator of its capabilities. The song’s message can be interpreted as a call to not judge based on appearances, and to always look beyond the surface before making assumptions.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleeper, Sleeper,
This song is about an old car that might look like junk, but is actually really fast, hence the nickname 'sleeper'
There's an old gray coupe been comin' around and it looks like nothin' but sad
The car in question is a beat-up old gray coupe that appears to be in poor condition
All scratched and dirty with a cracked windshield and the paint job's really bad
The car is described as scratched, dirty, and having a poor paint job, which adds to its unattractive appearance
Well her fenders shake and a taillight's gone and the rust is showin' through
The poor condition of the car is further emphasized by its shaking fenders, missing taillight, and visible rust
She's a dog on top but a devil underneath and she'll make a fool of you
Despite its poor exterior appearance, the car is actually very powerful and fast, and could easily outpace many other vehicles
watcher kinda close don't laugh too loud or smile
Be wary of underestimating this old car as it might surprise you with its speed
She may look funny but don't you know, that bone yard devil can really go
Although the car may appear funny or strange, it is actually very fast and could easily outrun other cars
Nine flat in a quarter mile
The car is capable of completing a quarter-mile in just nine seconds, making it one of the fastest cars around
She's a dog on top and a devil underneath and you wouldn't believe your eyes
The car looks unimpressive on the outside but is actually very powerful underneath, and most people would not believe how fast it can go
When she leaves a Cobra sittin' on the line, somebody's gonna get wise
The car is so fast that it can beat a high-performance car like a Cobra, which could make people take notice and recognize its true potential
leave me alone don't want no more I'm wise
The singer is aware of the true nature of the car, and wants others to stop bothering him about it
She may not shine or look so neat, with her tailpipe draggin' down the street
The car may not look pretty, with a tailpipe that drags on the ground, but that doesn't mean it's not fast
But it's just a big disguise
The poor appearance of the car is simply a disguise for its true capabilities as a fast and powerful vehicle
Well it's just a big disguise
Well it's just a big disguise
Well it's just a big disguise
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, THE MUSIC GOES ROUND
Written by: LA POLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind