The band's lineup fluctuated significantly over their first nine years, though founding members Steven Ronald "Stevo" Jensen, guitarist Jan Nils Ackermann, and first consistent drummer Joe Escalante remained regular fixtures. Of the original members only Escalante has remained through all incarnations of the band. The current lineup of Escalante, Dave Quackenbush, Warren Fitzgerald, and Josh Freese has remained intact since 1990 and is considered by most fans to be far removed from the band's early 1980s incarnation. Since 2002 Escalante has released all of the band's albums through his Kung Fu Records label, with Fitzgerald generally producing.
Designed By Satan
The Vandals Lyrics
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on paper even looked better on wood.
A card game way out of control. Divining what's
to be while tempting fortune with the soul.
The table tilts the lights go dim and then the fun
begins. We stay up late and it's all great,
The Parker Brothers sin, can't be undone.
Designed by Satan.
Designed by Satan.
John Edwards is much to Blane. The Renaissance is
all but Fair, they all bring on the same.
When will the dirt bags ever learn? For every
Slayer melody a thousand more will burn.
A thousand miles below the floor
where screams cannot be heard.
And those that don't believe don't care don't
recognize the word, until he's won
Designed by Satan
It's all in fun
Designed by Satan
Let's review the rules of the game
Innocent flirtation can lead to eternal flames.
Why chance it? Why pick up the deck?
When Chutes N' Ladders kicks much ass,
And won't send you to Heck.
The table tilts the lights go dim and then the fun
begins. We stay up late and it's all great,
The Parker Brothers sin, can't be undone.
Designed by Satan.
It's all in fun.
Designed by Satan.
The Vandals' song Designed By Satan is a critique of the popular Ouija board, which the band sees as a tool that can lead to spiritual doom. The song's lyrics describe the board as misunderstood and a card game way out of control. The band warns of the dangers of divining what's to be while tempting fortune with the soul. The chorus repeats the phrase "Designed by Satan," suggesting that the board is a tool of the devil. Despite this warning, the song also acknowledges the appeal of the board, noting that it can be fun and addictive.
The lyrics also reference the popular psychic medium John Edwards and the Renaissance Fair. The band compares the Ouija board to these other forms of divination, suggesting that they are all equally foolish and dangerous. The song ends with a call to choose a safer game, like Chutes N' Ladders, instead of taking chances with the Ouija board.
The song was released on The Vandals' 2000 album Look What I Almost Stepped In..., and has become a fan favorite. Designed By Satan has been used in a number of films and TV shows, including the movies Van Wilder and Jackass: The Movie, and the TV series 90210 and Supernatural. The song's catchy chorus and punk rock energy have made it a popular choice for live performances.
Line by Line Meaning
Talking board-misunderstood. What looked good on paper even looked better on wood.
People commonly misunderstand Ouija boards, which may appear appealing on paper, but they are even more attractive in real life.
A card game way out of control. Divining what's to be while tempting fortune with the soul.
This card game is uncontrollable and involves predicting the future using the soul, which is a tempting and dangerous practice.
The table tilts the lights go dim and then the fun begins. We stay up late and it's all great, The Parker Brothers sin, can't be undone. Designed by Satan. It's all in fun. Designed by Satan.
When the Ouija board is in action, strange things start happening, and the proceedings can be very entertaining. The sinister nature of the board and the sins of the Parker Brothers, who created it, cannot be undone.
John Edwards is much to Blane. The Renaissance is all but Fair, they all bring on the same. When will the dirt bags ever learn? For every Slayer melody a thousand more will burn.
Psychic John Edwards is no better than magician David Blaine. The Renaissance was a corrupt era, and history repeats itself. The bad guys never learn, and they keep making the same mistakes. For every rock song that inspires violence, there are many more that will suffer the consequences.
A thousand miles below the floor where screams cannot be heard. And those that don't believe don't care don't recognize the word, until he's won Designed by Satan It's all in fun Designed by Satan
Hell is far beneath the Earth's surface, where nobody can hear the terrified screams of the damned. Non-believers remain indifferent to the dangers that lurk, until it's too late. The Ouija board is an innocent game that has been designed by Satan for our entertainment.
Let's review the rules of the game Innocent flirtation can lead to eternal flames. Why chance it? Why pick up the deck? When Chutes N' Ladders kicks much ass, And won't send you to Heck.
Let's go over the rules of the game. Even harmless flirting can cause eternal damnation. Why take the risk? Why not play a game like Chutes N' Ladders, which is more enjoyable and doesn't lead to Hell.
Contributed by Noah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.