Named after the 1932 Bela Lugosi film, White Zombie's musical style was sample-heavy, based around groovy riffs and Rob Zombie's snarling vocals. The samples that filled their records were mostly from obscure horror films, but used creatively to create a kind of carnival freak-show vibe.
Rob Zombie, still known at this time as Rob Cummings, supported himself through multiple jobs, including working as a cycle courier. Most famously, he was a production assistant on Pee-Wee's Playhouse, but he also worked as a designer on pornographic magazines. At this time, he became involved with Shauna Reynolds, another up-and-coming designer. Together they shared a love of classic horror and sci-fi, heavy music, and the weirder corners of American underground culture. They decided to form a band that would draw upon all these influences and White Zombie was formed. Rob took vocals and the name Rob Straker (later changed to Rob Zombie), while Reynolds became the bassist and assumed the name of Sean Yseult. They became the only constants in the often-fluctuating band line-up.
White Zombie best showed their signature style on their final two studio albums. La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1 and Astro-Creep: 2000 Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head were impressive displays of their sample/riff style, thanks to higher production values.
In 1998, Rob Zombie founded his own label, Zombie-A-Go-Go, signing surf and horror acts like The Bomboras and The Ghastly Ones, as well as compiling the mix album Halloween Hootenany. He was managing the new band of his brother Michael, now known as Spider One, the punk-tinged Powerman 5000, but also looked to his own solo career.
After huge opening week sales of his first solo album, Hellbilly Deluxe that dwarfed those of any White Zombie release, it was announced that the band had split up. Bassist Sean Yseult left to form female horror-rockers Famous Monsters and, later, Rock City Morgue. Rob Zombie went on to continued success with his solo music project, and new acclaim as a successful film director.
Welcome To Planet Motherfucker
White Zombie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A sparkling occasion of a city
Crashdown! Overhead
Revolv'n in a whirlpool a drag-o-rama
Walk'n on the sidewalk so let me see ya howl'n through the keyhole
'Goddamn, swept away' she shouted, she love it, get in away yeah!
I concentrate the midnight without the benefit of ceremony
Whoever said, 'The one who strips your soul is the one that got away'
Got love, so mystifying
'Goddamn, swept away' She shouted, she love it, get in away yeah!
She shouted, she love it, get in away yeah!
Voodoo beat on the mind the digs too deep to find
Something has got to give, man [psych-out] racketeer or star
You are just what you are, Don't play the misty, baby!
[Get you] into a river sky electro nation cry
'I need another, now' drift beyond the sleeping
The moon is shift'n shadows on her figure
Swamptime locomotion 'I can't take it, anymore!'
Sunlight through the shutters
Illuminating moment to the moment buzz a halo over
'Goddamn, swept away' she shouted, she love it, get in away, yeah
Planet pretty kill, motherfucker hang me on the thrills
Psychoholic slag tomorrow is another drag [yeah] picnic in the homeland
Like a Jesus super star yeah! Kiss me deadly, baby [baby]
I know who you are [come on]
Planet pretty kill, motherfucker hang me on the thrills yeah!
No small heaven [haven] I got the left hand of the keeper
Meet me in St. Louis, 'God', a one way ticket's cheaper yeah!
Time-travel I'm walk'n [walk'n]
I got a white line zombie fever [fever] yeah!
Time bomb the hero [hero] yeah get down!!!
The lyrics to White Zombie's song Welcome To Planet Motherfucker are an abstract amalgamation of various phrases that seem to symbolize a dystopian society crumbling under the weight of its own excess. The song begins with an ominous premonition of a land about to erupt with a sparkling city being destroyed by an overwhelming force. The chorus, "goddamn, swept away," suggests an apocalyptic event where everything is being destroyed, and those who survive are swept away by the chaos. The next verse introduces a "weather-beaten angel" descending to embrace the cemetery, possibly representing the final resting place of those who died in the disaster. The song is a commentary on humanity's hubris and recklessness, leading to our own downfall.
The lyrics of the song are cryptic and open to interpretation, but they seem to speak to the deterioration of society through greed and exploitation. The references to "Voodoo beat on the mind" and "Swamptime locomotion" suggest a world that has lost touch with reality and is drunk with excess. The chorus, "Planet pretty kill, motherfucker hang me on the thrills," seems to underscore this theme of hedonism leading to self-destruction. In the end, the song suggests that humanity needs to wake up to its own destructive path before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Woven in the surface a premonition of a land erupting
A warning of an imminent disaster is visible on the surface
A sparkling occasion of a city
A city with bright lights and excitement
Crashdown! Overhead
Something falls from the sky and lands with a loud noise
Revolv'n in a whirlpool a drag-o-rama
A chaotic frenzy of activity, spinning like a whirlpool
Walk'n on the sidewalk so let me see ya howl'n through the keyhole
Come out on the street and show your wild side
'Goddamn, swept away' she shouted, she love it, get in away yeah!
She's overwhelmed with excitement and loves it
I concentrate the midnight without the benefit of ceremony
I focus on the night, without any formalities
Whoever said, 'The one who strips your soul is the one that got away'
The person who breaks your spirit is the one who escapes
A weather-beaten angel descending to embrace the cemetery
A worn-out angel coming down to take over the graveyard
Got love, so mystifying
Love is puzzling
'Goddamn, swept away' She shouted, she love it, get in away yeah!
She's exhilarated and wants more of it
She shouted, she love it, get in away yeah!
She expresses her joy and wants more
Voodoo beat on the mind the digs too deep to find
A haunting rhythm that is difficult to comprehend
Something has got to give, man [psych-out] racketeer or star
Something has to change, whether you're a criminal or a superstar
You are just what you are, Don't play the misty, baby!
Be honest about who you are, don't act mysterious
[Get you] into a river sky electro nation cry
Take you to an electrifying place in the sky
'I need another, now' drift beyond the sleeping
I want more and escape from the mundane
The moon is shift'n shadows on her figure
The moon casts shadows on her body
Swamptime locomotion 'I can't take it, anymore!'
Moving through water, she can't handle it anymore
Sunlight through the shutters
Light shining through closed windows
Illuminating moment to the moment buzz a halo over
A moment of enlightenment is surrounded by a halo
'Goddamn, swept away' she shouted, she love it, get in away, yeah
She's overcome with excitement and wants more
Planet pretty kill, motherfucker hang me on the thrills
The thrill is deadly on this beautiful planet
Psychoholic slag tomorrow is another drag [yeah] picnic in the homeland
A crazy, addicted person who hates mundane life suggests a picnic in their country
Like a Jesus super star yeah! Kiss me deadly, baby [baby]
A superstar like Jesus; kiss me before I die
I know who you are [come on]
I've got you figured out
Planet pretty kill, motherfucker hang me on the thrills yeah!
The excitement is worth dying for on this beautiful planet
No small heaven [haven] I got the left hand of the keeper
There's no small place you can escape to – I've got the power to protect you
Meet me in St. Louis, 'God', a one way ticket's cheaper yeah!
Come meet me in St. Louis – it's cheaper to leave forever
Time-travel I'm walk'n [walk'n]
I'm walking through time
I got a white line zombie fever [fever] yeah!
I'm infected with a passionate fever
Time bomb the hero [hero] yeah get down!!!
The hero is a ticking time bomb; let's party and enjoy life while we can
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IVAN PETER DE PRUME, JAY NOEL YUENGER, ROB ZOMBIE, ROB WOLFGANG ZOMBIE, SHAUNA YSEULT REYNOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KetamineAddict
White Zombie are the coolest metal band ever, I love the horror/exploitation movie samples and the album artwork. The guitarist and drummer are both brilliant. Rob Zombie's insane lyrics are awesome. The lady on bass kicks ass. I wish the band could have lasted longer.
@doomtucan5093
Just to bad Rob got to greedy and sold out for a solo career
@Lihouification
One of the best metal albums ever hands down. The production on this album is almost flawless. Every instrument is devastatingly smooth
@ronniechapman3866
Lihouification your dillusional? Not even close!
@seanradford3702
I always thought this album was to low. Still Amazing from beginning to end. I would love to hear it remastered...
@noahlevi5894
Chin.gassss w.h.o.maqaa.duh.renxe Kai fo.bo.z
@noahlevi5894
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I will
@kiwiingenuity6666
Drums are a bit dry
@miles573
Back in the summer of '92 my friends and i saw Zombie, Megadeth and Pantera at Riverport in St. Louis, all bands in their prime, all awesome shows. Those were the days.
@timtoopes1952
Vinyl Dog I was there!!