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.
Death Drugs
Violent Femmes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long live the legend.
Long live the legend.
It'll out live us.
Aw mom, I need some long sleeved shirts.
You got to get me some long sleeved shirts.
Mom mom, I need some long sleeved shirts.
You gotta hide the marks where I stick the works.
We're doin' the death drugs.
How come Bobby Dilan and Louie Reed
They're never seen in short sleeves.
Hey the sixties everybody's going to heaven.
Sixty-nine, sixty-eight, sixty-seven.
The things we were doing got me under the rugs.
We be doing the death drugs.
Long live the legend.
It's not for everyone.
Long live the legend.
It's not for everyone.
Long live the legend.
It's not for everyone.
Long live the legend.
It's not for everyone.
Long live the legend.
Long live the legend.
Long live the legend.
It'll out live us.
The Violent Femmes’ song “Death Drugs” is a cautionary tale about the dangers of heroin addiction. The first verse tells the story of a drug user who needs to hide the marks left by needles on their arms by wearing long-sleeved shirts. The second verse references legendary musicians Bob Dylan and Lou Reed, both known for their own battles with addiction. The chorus repeats the phrase “long live the legend”, suggesting that the myth of the tortured artist is more powerful than the reality. The final lines of the song declare that the legend will outlive us all, serving as both a warning and an acknowledgement of the way that drug addiction has taken the lives of so many talented performers.
The song is a meditation on the allure of self-destruction and the way that addiction can become romanticized by those who see themselves as outsiders. The use of the phrase “long live the legend” in the chorus serves as a commentary on the way that the myth of the tortured artist has become intertwined with the history of rock and roll. While the song does not glamorize drug use, it acknowledges the seductive power of the image of the artist who lives fast and dies young. Overall, “Death Drugs” is a song that speaks to the dangers of addiction while also recognizing the way that popular culture has mythologized those who have fallen victim to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Long live the legend.
The notoriety of our dangerous behavior will live on forever.
Long live the legend.
Our legacy of taking dangerous drugs will never be forgotten.
Long live the legend.
Our reputation of using lethal drugs will continue to be talked about.
It'll out live us.
The infamy of our drug use will continue even after our death.
Aw mom, I need some long sleeved shirts.
I need to cover up the marks from my drug use to avoid getting caught.
You got to get me some long sleeved shirts.
Please help me hide the marks from sticking needles in my arm.
Mom mom, I need some long sleeved shirts.
I am desperate for clothing to keep my drug use hidden from others.
You gotta hide the marks where I stick the works.
Please help me conceal the needle marks on my arms.
The things we were doing got me under the rugs.
Our drug use has caused me to spiral out of control and into hiding.
We're doin' the death drugs.
We are taking dangerous drugs that could potentially lead to death.
How come Bobby Dilan and Louie Reed
Why do artists Bob Dylan and Lou Reed never seem to wear short sleeves?
They're never seen in short sleeves.
I have noticed that Bob Dylan and Lou Reed are always wearing long-sleeve shirts.
Hey the sixties everybody's going to heaven.
Back in the 60s, many believed that people were on their way to a better world.
Sixty-nine, sixty-eight, sixty-seven.
These are the countdown years from the 60s to the 70s.
Long live the legend.
Our risky behavior will never be forgotten.
It's not for everyone.
Taking death-inducing drugs is not for those who prioritize their well-being.
Long live the legend.
Our infamy for taking dangerous drugs will always be remembered.
It's not for everyone.
Not everyone is willing to take the risk of using lethal drugs.
Long live the legend.
Our legacy of taking life-threatening drugs will continue to be talked about.
It's not for everyone.
Taking death-inducing drugs is simply not a choice that all individuals would make.
Long live the legend.
Our actions have solidified our status as notorious individuals.
Long live the legend.
Our fame for engaging in risky behavior will never die.
Long live the legend.
Our legacy of using dangerous drugs will continue to exist far after we pass.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GORDON GANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Damien Leader
great track! havn't heard it in years and years and years lol love it!
Nicholas DeRienzo
I was looking for this. Thanks!
matthew robert
this song disappeared off all platforms for awhile... idk why i thought i was crazy and made up the memory of this song
Damien Leader
yes took a long time. i looked for it many times and nothing.
Dan Gallant
thank you so much!
John Chase
wow..THANKS!