West Side Story
Tony Mordente Lyrics
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They believe everything they read in the papers about us cruddy J.D.'s
So that's what we give 'em
Somethin' to believe in
Hey, you
Who? Me Officer Krupke?
Yeah you
Gimme one good reason for not dragging you down to the station house
Ya punk
Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke, you gotta understand
It's just our bringin' upke that gets us out of hand
Our mothers all are junkies, our fathers all are drunks
Golly Moses, naturally we're punks
Gee, Officer Krupke, we're very upset
We never had the love that every child oughta get
We ain't no delinquents, we're misunderstood
Deep down inside us there is good
There is good
There is good, there is good
There is untapped good
Like inside, the worst of us is good
That's a touching good story
Lemme tell it to the world
Just tell it to the Judge
Dear kindly Judge, Your Honor, my parents treat me rough
With all their marijuana, they won't give me a puff
They didn't wanna have me but somehow I was had
Leapin' lizards, that's why I'm so bad
Right, Officer Krupke, you're really a square
This boy don't need a judge, he needs an analyst's care
It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed
He's psychologically disturbed
I'm disturbed
We're disturbed, we're disturbed
We're the most disturbed
Like we're psychologically disturbed
Hear ye, hear ye
In the opinion of this court
This child is depraved on account
He ain't had a normal home
Hey, I'm depraved on account I'm deprived
So take him to a headshrinker
You
Who? Me?
My daddy beats my mommy, my mommy clobbers me
My grandpa is a commie, my grandma pushes tea
My sister wears a mustache, my brother wears a dress
Goodness gracious, that's why I'm a mess
Yes, Officer Krupke, he shouldn't be here
This boy don't need a couch, he needs a useful career
Society's played him a terrible trick
And sociologically he's sick
I am sick
We are sick, we are sick
We are sick, sick, sick
Like we're sociologically sick
In my opinion, this child does not need to have his head shrunk at all
Juvenile delinquency is purely a social disease
Hey, I got a social disease
So take him to a social worker
Dear kindly social worker
They tell me get a job
Like be a soda jerker, which means like be a slob
It's not I'm antisocial, I'm only anti-work
Glory Osky, that's why I'm a jerk
Eek, Officer Krupke, you've done it again
This boy don't need a job, he needs a year in the pen
It ain't just a question of misunderstood
Deep down inside him, he's no good
I'm no good
We're no good, we're no good
We're no earthly good
Like the best of us is no damn good
The trouble is he's lazy, the trouble is he drinks
The trouble is he's crazy, the trouble is he stinks
The trouble is he's growing, the trouble is he's grown
Krupke, we've got troubles of our own
Gee, Officer Krupke
We're down on our knees
'Cause no one wants a fella
With a social disease
Gee, Officer Krupke
What are we to do?
Gee, Officer Krupke
Krup you
The lyrics to Tony Mordente's song from West Side Story capture a poignant and satirical commentary on societal perceptions of juvenile delinquency and the cycle of blame and misunderstanding that often surrounds troubled youth. The song starts by showing the antagonistic relationship between the cops and the J.D.'s (juvenile delinquents), highlighting the lack of trust and mutual understanding between the two groups. The J.D.'s feel misunderstood and targeted by the authorities, so they purposely act out to confirm the negative stereotypes placed upon them, giving the cops "somethin' to believe in".
As the song progresses, we see the J.D.'s shifting blame onto their upbringing and family circumstances as the root cause of their behavior. They paint a picture of dysfunctional homes plagued by drug addiction, alcoholism, and neglect, asserting that their actions are a result of their environment and lack of love and support. Despite their outward rebellious nature, they argue that there is a sense of untapped good within them, pleading to be seen beyond their outward appearances.
The lyrics then humorously portray a sequence of interactions with figures of authority, including Sergeant Krupke and a judge, as they attempt to deflect responsibility and shift the focus onto external factors. Each character offers their own perspective on the reasons behind the delinquency, from psychological disturbances to societal neglect and lack of opportunities. The song cleverly showcases the absurdity and futility of trying to diagnose and fix the root causes of juvenile delinquency within a system that is quick to judge and pigeonhole individuals.
Ultimately, the song culminates in a sense of resignation and despair, with the J.D.'s lamenting their predicament and feeling trapped in a cycle of misfortune and societal condemnation. They express a sense of hopelessness and helplessness in the face of a world that seems to have already made up its mind about them, ending on a note of defeat and frustration. Overall, the lyrics of the song delve deep into the complexities of youth delinquency and the societal structures that perpetuate it, painting a bleak yet thought-provoking picture of the struggles faced by marginalized and misunderstood individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
See them cops
Observing the police officers who easily believe everything negative written about us rebellious individuals
So that's what we give 'em
We provide them with just what they are expecting - trouble
Somethin' to believe in
We give them a reason to hold onto their beliefs about us
Gimme one good reason for not dragging you down to the station house
Tell me why I shouldn't arrest you and take you to the police station right now
this boy don't need a judge, he needs an analyst's care
He doesn't require a judicial punishment, rather he needs professional psychological help
Like we're psychologically disturbed
We're mentally troubled and need assistance
Take him to a headshrinker
Bring him to a psychiatrist for evaluation and treatment
This child is depraved on account
This individual has behavioral issues due to his environment
My daddy beats my mommy, my mommy clobbers me
My family environment is violent and abusive, leading to my own disruptive behavior
So take him to a social worker
Refer him to a professional who can help address social issues and provide support
Glory Osky, that's why I'm a jerk
Unfortunately, I am perceived as unpleasant due to my aversion towards work
We're no earthly good
We are deemed as useless and unproductive individuals by society
Krup you
Clearly expressing frustration and defiance towards Officer Krupke
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind