1) An Irish rock ban… Read Full Bio ↴Whipping Boy could refer to two different acts:
1) An Irish rock band who were active in the 1990s. They came to public attention with the critically acclaimed Heartworm album. They had been together a number of years at this stage, and had already released a low-key debut, Submarine. Despite its critical acclaim, Heartworm sold poorly and the band was subsequently dropped from their label, Columbia Records. They released a self-financed, self-titled follow up album, which again got huge critical acclaim. However, without the backing of a major record company the record once again flopped. The band had already grown disheartened with their experience and had broken up in 1998, 3 years before they could afford to release their final album. Despite little commercial success, Whipping Boy frequently appear in "best album" and "best band" polls in their native Ireland, and have gained celebrity fans such as Billy Corgan and Lou Reed (who said if the band's single We Don't Need Nobody Else isn't a huge hit, he knows nothing about music).
Whipping Boy consisted of members:
* Colm Hassett (drums)
* Myles McDonnell (bass guitar)
* Fearghal McKee (vocals)
* Paul Page (guitar)
The band reformed in September 2005 announcing 2 Irish dates around Christmas, and the possibility of recording another album.
2) A hardcore punk band from Palo Alto, California. The band was created in 1982, made up of students from Stanford University. Their sound featured lightning-fast melodies, tight, chunky rhythms, and violently incoherent vocals. They espoused a radically anti-government view that caught the attention of Dead Kennedys' Jello Biafra and led to his support. Their first LP, "The Sound of No Hands Clapping" was produced by DK's Bassist, Klaus Fluoride. The band enjoyed moderate success, and a national tour in 1983 was capped by the release of the psychedelic "MuruMuru" in 1983. This abrupt change in style was not welcomed by Whipping Boy's fanbase, and after several personnel changes and the release of another record, "The Third Secret of Fatima," the band broke up in 1986. Incendiary frontman Eugene Robinson is now in the experimental rock band Oxbow.
We Don't Need Nobody Else
Whipping Boy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ideal situations and convulsions
I'm never in and I can't remember
They built portholes for Bono, so he could gaze
Out across the bay and sing about mountains
Maybe. You are what you own in this land
You can be King and it all depends on the view and what you can see
And around here nobody tells me what to do anymore
We don't need nobody else
We don't need nobody else
We don't need nobody else
We don't need nobody else
Why say words that I do not mean
They only serve to amuse, ridicule and destroy,
Hardly ever to teach
I hit you for the first time today
I didn't mean it
It just happened
You wouldn't let me go to the phone,
You wanted to make love and I did not
Now I know the distance between us
Christ we weren't even fighting, I was just annoyed
Silence and you started to cry, that really hurt
You said, yeah and you thought you knew me
We don't need nobody else
We don't need nobody else
Just you and me
Just you and me
Consider this as the wine takes hold
And sinks into your veins
I try to force it but it's not there
Love gives you comfort
And comfort makes you dim
She's in the kitchen
Putting beads in her hair
It all came out tonight
The queen of drugs broke down and cried
'Cause she'd been shagging her best friends guy
She knew the form, she knew the lie
She wasn't shy and she refused to try
That's why I'm gazing out of portholes
And I'm wondering why
We don't need nobody else
We don't need nobody else
Just you and me
The lyrics to Whipping Boy's song We Don't Need Nobody Else can be interpreted in different ways. The first verse talks about the singer's tendency to isolate himself in the morning, lost in memories of ideal situations that resulted in convulsions. The singer seems to be detached from reality, unable to remember important things, while also acknowledging the superficiality of fame and possessions represented by “they built portholes for Bono, so he could gaze out across the bay and sing about mountains. Maybe. You are what you own in this land. You can be king, and it all depends on the view and what you can see." The chorus underlines the song's title "We don't need nobody else," proclaiming that the singer and his partner are all they need, regardless of the societal standards of success and happiness.
The second verse starts with the singer's reluctance to use words he doesn't mean, which often lead to destruction rather than teaching. However, the mood changes when he reveals that he hit his partner for the first time today, mostly unintentionally, but as a result of frustration from not being allowed to answer the phone. A quarrel starts and ends in silence, with the partner crying and the singer being profoundly hurt by it. The verse demonstrates the complexity of relationships and the dangers of misunderstandings. The third verse seems out of place, which can be interpreted as the singer's stream of consciousness, where he contemplates love and comfort, while his partner is in the kitchen “putting beads in her hair." The verse is followed by the revelation of the queen of drugs, who, after a breakdown, confesses that she had sex with her best friend's partner, which perhaps echoes the themes of detachment and disillusionment that run throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
In the morning I am a recluse, lost in memories
I tend to isolate myself in the mornings, getting lost in memories and daydreams.
Ideal situations and convulsions
I have unrealistic fantasies about how situations should be, but reality often disrupts them.
I'm never in and I can't remember
I often feel like I'm not present in the moment, and my memory can be unreliable.
They built portholes for Bono, so he could gaze
Celebrities have the luxury of enjoying beautiful views through specially designed windows while others don't.
Out across the bay and sing about mountains
Bono can sing about anything he wants, even topics that have nothing to do with his surroundings.
Maybe. You are what you own in this land
Possessions and wealth define social status in this society.
You can be King and it all depends on the view and what you can see
What you perceive as important and valuable determines your status in society.
And around here nobody tells me what to do anymore
I enjoy the freedom of having no one tell me what to do and being able to make my own decisions.
We don't need nobody else
We only need each other.
Why say words that I do not mean
I question why people say things they don't genuinely feel or believe.
They only serve to amuse, ridicule and destroy,
Hollow words can have negative impact, such as mocking or damaging someone emotionally.
Hardly ever to teach
Empty words rarely educate or enlighten others.
I hit you for the first time today
I lashed out physically at you for the first time today.
I didn't mean it
I didn't intend to hurt you.
It just happened
My anger or frustration got the best of me and I acted impulsively.
You wouldn't let me go to the phone,
You prevented me from using the phone.
You wanted to make love and I did not
You desired intimacy, but I didn't feel the same way.
Now I know the distance between us
I'm more aware of the emotional separation between us.
Christ we weren't even fighting, I was just annoyed
We weren't even having an argument; I was just irritated at the time.
Silence and you started to cry, that really hurt
I hurt you by remaining silent and not showing empathy when you became upset.
You said, yeah and you thought you knew me
You expressed your disillusionment towards me because you thought you knew me better than that.
Just you and me
We only need each other to be happy and content.
Consider this as the wine takes hold
As the effects of alcohol kick in, contemplate this idea.
And sinks into your veins
The alcohol penetrates your bloodstream and affects your judgment.
I try to force it but it's not there
I struggle to find inspiration, but it's not coming naturally.
Love gives you comfort
Being in love provides comfort and security.
And comfort makes you dim
Feeling overly comfortable can dull your senses and motivation to take risks or explore new experiences.
She's in the kitchen
Someone is cooking in the kitchen.
Putting beads in her hair
The person is engaged in a hairstyling activity using beads as decoration.
It all came out tonight
Everything became clear or revealed itself tonight.
The queen of drugs broke down and cried
A drug abuser broke down emotionally and cried.
'Cause she'd been shagging her best friends guy
She was crying because she was guilty of sleeping with her best friend's partner.
She knew the form, she knew the lie
She was aware of the potential repercussions of her actions and had been living a lie.
She wasn't shy and she refused to try
She was unapologetic and didn't want to make amends or seek forgiveness.
That's why I'm gazing out of portholes
I'm looking out of a beautiful view or window, lost in thought or contemplation.
And I'm wondering why
I'm questioning or pondering the workings of the universe.
Contributed by Jasmine T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@reseirs
Heartworm is one of those albums that is meant to be played loudly.
@jeffchavarria4219
"Heartworm" is one of the best albums of 90s
A Masterpiece album 👌🏽
@thebartolo3873
"Heartworm" is one of the best albums of all time.
Broadcasting from Granada (Spain).
@bppmurphy
Ya know what, with all the video essays/documentaries and whatnot being bandied about on YouTube nowadays, I do think heartworm and the story of whipping boy is well overdue one.
@niallcollins1917
Heartworm is the greatest album ever released by an Irish artist.
@sonicheaven1
Not loveless?
@julie-annsherlock9123
It was until Skinty Fia arrived.
@Pointblankmos
Loveless, Skinty Fia, and Heartworm are the best Irish albums I've heard.
@sparkeydmh
U2
@barryflynn879
Blue in Heaven - Explicit Material