They began their career in 1991, cutting their first 7" record later that year with the lineup of Joey Vindictive (vocals), Johnny Personality (bass), Billy Blastoff (guitar), Dr. Bob (guitar), P.J. Parti (drums) and Erik Elsewhere (drums). The band would end up releasing 12 albums until July of 1996, when Joey Vindictive revealed that his health issues would prevent the band from going on. Luckily for him, he overcame his ailments to re-form the band in 2000, cutting a new album and overseeing the re-release of a significant part of their catalog. Dr. Bob died in 2003 due to a heroin overdose. Their song "The Invisible Man" was featured in the Ubisoft game Watch Dogs, where it attracted attention to restart the band once more in 2013, releasing a new EP titled Mono-Flexi, and to remaster most of their previous songs as Songbooks coming in volumes starting from I to III.
The Vindictives' website is currently down indefinitely.
Assembly Line
The Vindictives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Vindictives' song Assembly Line is a commentary on the dehumanizing effects of modern society and capitalist consumer culture. The opening verse speaks of a suburban lifestyle, with the singer's partner taking Valium in an effort to cope with the monotony of their lives. The chorus speaks to the cyclical nature of the workday, where one toils only to repeat the same routine the next day. The singer feels trapped in a system that prioritizes profit above all else, relegating those who do not offer productivity to the side as "non-productive" or even "deadbeats." Despite this, the singer resists, determined to maintain his autonomy and defend against the violation of his humanity.
The song also questions humanity's origins and the role of mechanization in society. The bridge asks whether humans evolved from apes or emerged from a "Big Machine," suggesting that mechanized behavior has become so ingrained in society that it is difficult to differentiate people from machines. The song challenges listeners to question the values of society and to reject the assembly line life in favor of individuality and autonomy.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby thought that I'd be the perfect spouse we left for work from our white suburban house and then she chewed up fifty tablets of valium (yummy yummy in the tummy)
My significant other believed I could fulfill their ideal partner expectations, we departed our home in the suburbs for our jobs, and then they ingested an excessive amount of valium.
The food chain and I have a tedious relationship enslaving me so now I'm dying to exist but then at dawn ya gotta do it all over again (and again and again and again)
My connection with the food chain is a burdensome one, it has trapped me, and I feel like I'm slowly ceasing to exist. Unfortunately, every day it starts all over again.
I'm a maladaptive function of the wealth of nations I wont be a factory handyman workin on a lifetime plan I'm in the non-productive division of the profit motive I'm a deadbeat, a loser, a parasitic user (a moocher, a cop-out, a wimpy gutted limp dick)
I exist as an inefficient constituent of the world's economies, I refuse to be a lifelong factory worker, I reside in the non-productive sector of the profit-seeking industry. I'm essentially a failure, a lazy individual, and an individual who relies on others for support.
A fateful shadow seems to follow us all as human beings, did we descend from apes or evolve from a Big Machine does mechanized behavior provide us with what we really need (what we really need as human beings)
A feeling of destiny looms over our lives as humans, questioning where we originate from, whether it's from primates or an automated system. Does the use of mechanized behavior genuinely provide us with what we truly require?
What are we doing with a statue of liberty is there anybody out there who can still think critically, you're just all suckers but now you wanna suck up my soul (I sold my soul)
Why are we so focused on the Statue of Liberty? Is there anyone out there who still critically analyzes the world around them? You're all superficial, but now you want to take away my integrity.
You don't think for a second that I'm not the only one the repetitive monotony that you accept has turned you numb your vulgar antidotes won't lure me towards and assembly line life it's my intention to defend my violation
Don't assume for a moment that I'm the only one who is affected by the monotonous repetition that you've accepted in your life and has desensitized you. Your inappropriate remedies won't persuade me to embrace an assembly line lifestyle. I plan to protect my rights.
Contributed by Sarah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.