Violent Femmes is an alternative rock band, formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,… Read Full Bio ↴Violent Femmes is an alternative rock band, formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States in 1980. The band originally consisted of Gordon Gano (vocals, guitar), Brian Ritchie (bass), and Victor DeLorenzo (drums), with Guy Hoffman replacing DeLorenzo following his departure starting in 1993 and up until his return in 2002. The band split in early 2009, their last recording being a cover of the Gnarls Barkley song "Crazy", a response to Gnarls Barkley's cover of the Femmes song "Gone Daddy Gone" released the previous year. In January 2013, it was announced that the Violent Femmes would be reuniting and performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April. They performed there, the Bottlerock Napa Valley in May and Milwaukee's Summerfest in June. The band is also on the bill for Riot Fest, which will take place in Chicago in September.
Drummer Victor DeLorenzo said that he would be open to recording new material with the Violent Femmes, but on July 15, 2013, it was announced that Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione would be replacing DeLorenzo as the band's drummer. In a statement, DeLorenzo said "It's always hard to write a eulogy for a lost loved one. In this case, I sadly lament the loss of a dream and an ideal that was once Violent Femmes." Viglione is credited as the drummer on the 2016 release We Can Do Anything but would later be replaced by John Sparrow, who had played in the Violent Femmes backing band previously.

Their music is an innovative combination of American folk music and punk rock. The lyrics mix common adolescent themes like yearning for love, sex and affection with explorations of sin, death, and the hope of salvation. Their songs often express both a lyrical and musical sense of humor. Critics often attribute the Violent Femmes as laying the groundwork of dynamicism for the 90s grunge movement.

In its early days, the band frequently played coffee houses and street corners. They were discovered by James Honeyman-Scott (of The Pretenders) on August 23, 1981, when the band was busking on a street corner in front of the Oriental Theatre, the Milwaukee venue that The Pretenders would be playing later that night. Chrissie Hynde invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act. The band signed to Slash Records and recorded their eponymous debut in July 1982.

The group quickly gained a small cult following after the release of their self-titled album that never burgeoned into widespread popularity, although a few songs from this album did get some recognition ("Add It Up", "Blister in the Sun" and "Gone Daddy Gone"). The debut album Violent Femmes went platinum ten years after its release, and "Blister in the Sun" has become an alternative rock radio staple.

36-24-36
Violent Femmes Lyrics

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36-24-36
see a girl walkin' down the street
just the kind of girl that I'd like to meet
it ain't her hair, her clothes, her feet
somethin' much more discreet
now I ain't loud baby I ain't proud
I just want what I'm not allowed
movin on up & help myself

do a world of good for my mental health
36-24-36
something's broken that needs to be fixed
I don't know how to tell you this but
I'm getting bored and I need some kicks
like 36-24-36
man-o man-o man-o man
I got a red hot plan if you understand
cannot fail it's plain to see
I'm havin' fun and makin' money
I know this summer's gonna be the best
if I don't die from lack of rest
experience what my daddy said
that's what I got just like he said
36-24-36
something was broke but I got it fixed
I don't know if I should tell you this
but I was gettin' bored and I got my kicks
like 36-24-36
somethings special 'bout her personality
somethings special 'bout her psysiology
36-24-36
I want lots of pretty chicks
36-24-36
I want lots of pretty chicks
36-24-36
I want lots of pretty chicks

36-24-36
I want lots of...

Overall Meaning

The song "36-24-36" by Violent Femmes is a bouncy, upbeat track that focuses on the singer's attraction to a particular type of woman. He describes seeing a girl walking down the street who has a certain something about her that he finds irresistible, something "much more discreet." While he doesn't specify what it is that draws him to her, he makes it clear that he's willing to do whatever it takes to get close to her.

The second verse finds the singer getting restless and bored, feeling like something is "broken" and needs to be fixed. He's got a plan to make himself some money and have fun doing it, and he's confident that he can't fail. He's looking forward to the summer, but also realizes that he needs to take care of himself and not work too hard.

Overall, the lyrics to "36-24-36" are somewhat ambiguous and open to interpretation. The singer seems to be a bit of a schemer, but also genuinely attracted to the kind of woman he describes. The song has a fun, carefree vibe that is typical of the band's early work.

Line by Line Meaning

36-24-36
Physical measurement of a woman's body

See a girl walkin' down the street
The singer sees a woman walking down the street

Just the kind of girl that I'd like to meet
The singer finds the woman attractive and wants to meet her

It ain't her hair, her clothes, her feet, somethin' much more discreet
There's something about the woman that's not obvious, but attractive to the artist

Now I ain't loud baby I ain't proud, I just want what I'm not allowed
The artist desires the woman but acknowledges societal taboo around expressing such desires

Movin on up & help myself, do a world of good for my mental health
The singer wants to improve his social status and achieve personal growth by pursuing the woman

Something's broken that needs to be fixed
There is something missing in the singer's life that needs to be fulfilled

I don't know how to tell you this but, I'm getting bored and I need some kicks
The artist is getting restless and wants excitement in his life

Like 36-24-36, man-o man-o man-o man
The artist finds the physical measurements of a woman's body to be exciting and desirable

I got a red hot plan if you understand, cannot fail it's plain to see
The artist has a plan to pursue the woman and is confident in its success

I'm havin' fun and makin' money
The singer is enjoying his pursuit of the woman and also profiting from it

I know this summer's gonna be the best, if I don't die from lack of rest
The artist is optimistic about his future with the woman but acknowledges the potential exhaustion from his efforts

Experience what my daddy said, that's what I got just like he said
The singer is emulating his father's advice and behavior in his pursuit of the woman

Something was broke but I got it fixed
The singer has found fulfillment in his pursuit of the woman

I don't know if I should tell you this, but I was gettin' bored and I got my kicks
The singer is being secretive about his pursuit of the woman but admits to finding excitement and fulfillment through it

Something's special 'bout her personality, something's special 'bout her physiology
The artist finds both the character and physical traits of the woman to be attractive and special

I want lots of pretty chicks, 36-24-36
The artist desires multiple women with physical measurements of 36-24-36

I want lots of pretty chicks, 36-24-36
The singer repeats his desire for multiple women with physical measurements of 36-24-36

I want lots of...
The artist's desire for multiple women continues but is left unfinished

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GORDON GANO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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