Wingnut Dishwashers Union was sometimes a one human punk band, sometimes a … Read Full Bio ↴Wingnut Dishwashers Union was sometimes a one human punk band, sometimes a sprawling twelve piece orchestra, and always based straight outta Brattleboro, VT. The project lasted in one form or another from the demise of Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains in 2007 until songwriter Pat "The Bunny" moved from Vermont to Arizona to get off junk in December 2009. Since the beginning of 2011, he has played in a new Tucson-based band called Ramshackle Glory. He no longer performs as Wingnut Dishwashers Union.

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 ↴

He's at the show
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

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
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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song 'Stop Being So Cool' by Wingnut Dishwashers Union talk about the superficiality of some people who attend rock concerts. The singer talks about a man at the show who talks about feminism just to get into a woman's pants. This superficiality is further highlighted by the fact that the man never gets up to dance. Moreover, the singer questions the presence of people who come to the show just to be unimpressed with the fun happening around them. These people stand with their arms crossed, aloof and unapproachable, unwilling to participate in the energy of the concert.

The singer then goes on to explain how rock and roll is about freedom, it's not just a symbol, but a literal and practical approach to life. The song urges the listener to dance, to express themselves freely, and to not shy away from being a part of the rock and roll experience. The songwriters use the idea of dancing as a metaphor for living life freely and to its fullest. The exercise of dance is symbolic of casting off your inhibitions and embracing the moment. They even say that after the revolution, every intersection will be a dance floor, possibly alluding to a society where people are free to express themselves without fear of oppression or ridicule.

Overall, 'Stop Being So Cool' is a song about rejecting the superficial and embracing the freedom of rock and roll to its fullest degree. It is an exhortation to live in the moment and refuse to be resigned to a life where joy, fun, and expression are limited or non-existent.

Line by Line Meaning

He's at the show
Referring to a person who is present at the event being discussed

Talking feminism to get into your pants oh yeah
Referring to a man who is disingenuously using his superficial knowledge of feminism to impress and manipulate women into sexual favors

Well he'll quote Emma Goldman
Referring to the above-mentioned man's tendency to quote famous feminist figures out of context to make himself seem knowledgeable

But he'll never get up to dance
Referring to the above-mentioned man's lack of genuine interest in the music and culture being celebrated at the event

And who are these kids who come to the shows
Questioning the motivations and attitudes of a certain group of attendees at the event

Determined not to have fun
Describing the above-mentioned group's negative and closed-minded approach to the event

I see them everywhere I go with their arms crossed
Observing the body language and demeanor of the above-mentioned group, indicating their lack of engagement with the event

In the back the whole night long
Describing the location and duration of the above-mentioned group's presence at the event

One thing about rock and roll is
Acknowledging a commonly-held belief about the genre of music and its cultural significance

That it's freedom yeah
Describing the sense of liberation and empowerment that rock and roll can inspire in its listeners

The symbol and the literal and the theory and the practice
Explaining the multi-dimensional meanings and implications of rock and roll as an art form and cultural phenomenon

So if you aren't dead then you might as well be dancing
Encouraging active engagement and participation in life and the cultural moment, rather than passively observing or disengaging

And if you aren't dancing then you might as well be dead
Emphasizing the importance of participating in the joyful and communal aspects of music and culture as a means of fully experiencing life

I'm waiting for the show to end
Expressing impatience and dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs at the event

In rioting oh yeah
Suggesting a desire for radical and disruptive action as a means of protesting and challenging the status quo

To show us life is struggle
Asserting that the adversities and conflicts of life are an inherent aspect of existence rather than a temporary aberration

So we're fighting or we're dying and my
Describing the attitude of the artist and those who share their worldview toward life and its challenges

Politics of dancing is the only cause worth fighting for
Asserting that the celebration of music, culture, and community is the most worthwhile and meaningful pursuit in life

Cause after the revolution every intersection will be a dance floor
Expressing a utopian vision of a future in which social and political change has transformed everyday life into a joyful and egalitarian experience

Yeah if you aren't dancing then you might as well be dead
Reiterating the central importance of celebrating life, music, and community as a means of fully experiencing and enjoying existence

Contributed by Ella H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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