Der Untermensch
Type O Negative Lyrics
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Why don't you get a job?
Sell some dope and buy some pride
It's the only thing you couldn't rob
Socioparasite
How does it feel to live for free?
Skells like you allowed to live
You wonder why we're taxed
Socioparasite
Getting fucked up on Classon Avenue
Smoking crack and drinking booze
Spike in your arm
No money for food
But there's plenty of gas in your BMW
There's a dopewhore waiting at home
Dealing your shit on the chemophone
Poor Tawana gets born with a birth defect
But it only increases your welfare check
Been doing some thinking and I have an answer
To arrest the spreading cancer
Send you back to where you came from
Get the fuck rid of you (sub)human scum
If you don't pay taxes you shouldn't vote
So get in line and get back on the boat
I'd love to tear down all those projects
Kiss my ass home relief reject
Waste of life
You're a waste of life
The lyrics to Type O Negative's "Der Untermensch" speak shamelessly to the societal issues around public assistance and taking advantage of the welfare system. The opening lines mockingly address someone receiving the assistance and urge them to get a job, or even sell drugs, to uphold their pride, something that they couldn't otherwise obtain. The term "socioparasite" is introduced to denounce those who live off society's resources without any contribution to society.
The song paints a picture of someone living life recklessly with no thought for the future or others. The lyrics, "Smoking crack and drinking booze, Spike in your arm, No money for food, But there's plenty of gas in your BMW" are particularly damning in their indictment of the carelessness, selfishness, and moral bankruptcy of those who live off society. The songwriters go further to imply that those who receive public assistance are not only a burden on taxpayers, but they are also contributing to a lack of resources for those in genuine need.
Overall, "Der Untermensch" is a harsh critique of those who choose to live off the backs of others without any regard for the consequences of their actions. It is easy to take offense at the song's unapologetic and insensitive lyrics, especially for those who have been in a position to seek temporary help from the welfare system, but it is also a poignant reminder of the problems facing society.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey you on public assistance
Direct address to a person who is availing public assistance.
Why don't you get a job?
Asking why the person doesn't work for a living.
Sell some dope and buy some pride
Suggesting drug selling to earn money and buy self-dignity.
It's the only thing you couldn't rob
Saying that individual's pride is the only thing they can earn on their own.
Socioparasite
A made-up word to describe a person who makes a living off of others, without being productive or helpful to society.
How does it feel to live for free?
Asking how it feels to survive without putting any effort or paying for anything.
Get off society's back
No longer be a burden on society.
Skells like you allowed to live
Calling the person a low-life and questioning why they are still given the right to live.
You wonder why we're taxed
Questioning why the taxpayers have to carry the burden of supporting people who don't work.
Getting fucked up on Classon Avenue
Drinking alcohol and using drugs in public.
Smoking crack and drinking booze
Using hard drugs and alcoholic beverages.
Spike in your arm
Referring to drug usage via injection.
No money for food
Unable to buy basic necessities like food.
But there's plenty of gas in your BMW
Showing irony that the person can afford to buy and run a car, but not buy food, due to their financial situation.
There's a dopewhore waiting at home
Referring to a person the drug user has a relationship with, who is also selling drugs.
Dealing your shit on the chemophone
Slang language that refers to the drug-dealing using mobile phones to arrange their transactions.
Poor Tawana gets born with a birth defect
Referring to a child being born with defects due to the mother's drug usage.
But it only increases your welfare check
Using the fact that Tawana has birth defects to collect more welfare money.
Been doing some thinking and I have an answer
Claiming to have found a solution after reflecting on the issues.
To arrest the spreading cancer
Suggesting removing the source and stopping the cancer from spreading in society.
Send you back to where you came from
Ordering the troublesome members of society to return to their homelands.
Get the fuck rid of you (sub)human scum
Hurtful and derogatory language aimed at dehumanizing the person.
If you don't pay taxes you shouldn't vote
Linking the right to vote with the responsibility to pay taxes.
So get in line and get back on the boat
Telling certain people to leave their country of residence.
I'd love to tear down all those projects
Expressing a strong desire to remove public housing projects.
Kiss my ass home relief reject
Hurtful language rejecting and degrading the person.
Waste of life
Labeling the person as useless and worthless.
You're a waste of life
Repeating the idea that the person is a waste of life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER THOMAS STEELE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind