Most recordings by this band are out of print. They are widely available to pirate online, which is openly encouraged by the band themselves. You can still get the full length, full band CD "Burn the earth! Leave it behind!" from the DIY Bandits at http://www.diybandits.com. You can order a really cheap solo CD of the first batch of Wingnut Dishwashers Union songs from the undercover label Rock-It Records by looking really carefully on http://www.plan-it-x.com. There are still copies of two different split seven-inches lying around, put out by http://www.craftyrecords.net and Triumph of Life Records if you can track them down.
An incomplete list of musicians that played with Wingnut Dishwashers Union during their career. Never shall they all be remembered! Pat "The Bunny" (guitar/vocals) Flash-C (trumpet/drums) Ian Skumfuk (washtub bass), Davis (drums), Mike (guitar/harmonica/piano/accordion/bass) Agatha (banjo) Matt (guitar/bass/trumpet/slide guitar/piano) Dallas (drums/bass) Jacob (guitar) Douglas (theramin) Alex (noisebox) Scott (guitar/drums) Kris (bass) Michael (clarinet) Adhi (saxaphone) Michael Jordan (drums) Thorin (guitar) Emily (cello) Niki (banjo)
Stop Being So Cool and Get Silly
Wingnut Dishwashers Union Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Talking feminism to get into your pants oh yeah
Well he'll quote Emma Goldman
But he'll never get up to dance
And who are these kids who come to the shows
Determined not to have fun
I see them everywhere I go with their arms crossed
In the back the whole night long
That it's freedom yeah
(?)The symbol and the literal and the theory and the practice (?)
So if you aren't dead then you might as well be dancing
And if you aren't dancing then you might as well be dead
I'm waiting for the show to end
In rioting oh yeah
To show us life is struggle
So we're fighting or we're dying and my
Politics of dancing is the only cause worth fighting for
Cause after the revolution every intersection will be a dance floor
One thing about rock and roll is
That it's freedom yeah
(?)The symbol and the literal and the theory and the practice (?)
So if you aren't dead then you might as well be dancing
And if you aren't dancing then you might as well be dead
Yeah if you aren't dancing then you might as well be dead
Yeah if you aren't dancing then you might as well be dead
The Wingnut Dishwashers Union's song "Stop Being So Cool and Get Silly" is a commentary on the mindset of some individuals who attend punk rock shows. The lyrics address a man who comes to shows and pretends to be interested in feminism as a way to impress women, yet he refuses to dance and engage with the music or the crowd. The singer also observes a certain faction of kids who attend punk shows, but they refuse to let loose - instead they cross their arms and stand rigidly in the back.
The song's chorus repeats the phrase "One thing about rock and roll is that it's freedom," and emphasizes the importance of dancing and engaging with music as a means of expression and liberation. The singer hopes for an eventual revolution, where every intersection will be a dance floor. The song ends with the line "If you aren't dancing then you might as well be dead," suggesting that dancing and living life to the fullest is essential to existence.
The lyrics of "Stop Being So Cool and Get Silly" are a critique of punk rock culture and its phenomenon of performative interest in politics without a willingness to engage fully with the music and community. The song calls for individuals to let go of their inhibitions, embrace the freedom of rock and roll, and use dance as a form of protest and liberation.
Line by Line Meaning
He's at the show
Referring to a specific person at the concert
Talking feminism to get into your pants oh yeah
Falsely portraying oneself as a feminist to gain sexual favors
Well he'll quote Emma Goldman
Pretending to be knowledgeable about feminism
But he'll never get up to dance
Being too cool and pretentious to participate in the fun
And who are these kids who come to the shows
Questioning the motives of a certain group of concert-goers
Determined not to have fun
Making a conscious decision to not enjoy themselves
I see them everywhere I go with their arms crossed
Not engaging with the music or the other audience members
In the back the whole night long
Avoiding the spectacle of the concert by staying towards the back
One thing about rock and roll is
A statement about the nature of the genre
That it's freedom yeah
Rock and roll represents an attitude of liberation
(?)The symbol and the literal and the theory and the practice (?)
Unclear meaning, requires further context or interpretation
So if you aren't dead then you might as well be dancing
Encouraging people to let loose and have fun
And if you aren't dancing then you might as well be dead
Emphasizing the importance of enjoying life
I'm waiting for the show to end
Expressing boredom with the current state of affairs
In rioting oh yeah
Sarcastically suggesting that violence would be more interesting than the current situation
To show us life is struggle
Believing that conflict and strife are inherent to existence
So we're fighting or we're dying and my
Highlighting the necessity of action in the face of difficult circumstances
Politics of dancing is the only cause worth fighting for
Arguing that having fun and enjoying oneself is a political statement in and of itself
Cause after the revolution every intersection will be a dance floor
Envisioning a world where people can come together and have fun without worrying about societal pressures
Yeah if you aren't dancing then you might as well be dead
Reiterating the importance of enjoying life to its fullest
Yeah if you aren't dancing then you might as well be dead
Emphasizing that life is short and should be enjoyed as much as possible
Contributed by Savannah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@juicyhandshake
this genre is so underrated
@Awesomehippie16
I just wrote "if you aren't dead then you might as well be dancing and if you aren't dancing then you might as well be dead" on my washboard
@BransonnGames
\../
@noisegrrrl
did the same on my banjo! inspired by you
@inzanity6624
Badass tattoo idea right here
@hamyzschidenfeld3215
Lol, this video is either 360p or 1080p.
@ayoomike
yea dude
@StickWarrior
I got anxiety, dude, Sometimes I'm embarrassed
@Blashyrkh1993
Me too man, I used to get well embarrassed about dancing. But it’s fun so I just made my self dance for a while and slowly realised no one cares how shitty you dance if you look happy doing it.
It’s hard though dude, but I believe in you! Uncross those arms and get silly man!
@indieprince7729
I’m 3 years late to say this to ya, but you don’t have to be drunk to dance. Ya don’t have to be confident to dance. Ya just gotta take a risk sometimes! I’m a totally different person to who I used to be. I’m confident and charismatic now. If I can go from what I was before to being friends with everyone I meet- you can too!