Zombina and the Skeletones are especially popular on Halloween playlists.
I Was a Human Bomb for the F.B.I.
Zombina and the Skeletones Lyrics
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I'll tell you how I got my atomic tan
I'm full of nitro glycerine
I was a human bomb for the F. B. I
(Don't shake me up! Don't shake me up!)
I'm sellin' shrunken human heads
Settle down and listen how I fared
I was a human bomb for the F. B. I
(Don't shake me up! Don't shake me up!)
I gotta whole lotta liberty
Whole lotta liberty, whole lotta liberty!
(Human bomb! Go!)
This human bomb is gonna blow
I waded through the sewers of New York
Seen my best friend lyin' in a morgue
Proud to say I hunted man for sport
I was a human bomb for the F. B. I
(Don't shake me up! Don't shake me up!)
I'm riding the crest of a new ideal
What I can't afford I steal
Still got the police on my tail
I was a human bomb for the F. B. I
(Don't shake me up! Don't shake me up!)
Don't shake me up!
The lyrics to Zombina and the Skeletones's song "I Was a Human Bomb for the F.B.I." are a little bit cryptic, but there are a few key themes that emerge. The first verse seems to describe the singer's history of violent encounters with ninjas in Japan, and their exposure to dangerous chemicals like nitro glycerine that have given them an "atomic tan." The twist, though, is that these experiences have all been in service of the FBI's efforts to combat various kinds of evil, including the living dead. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Don't shake me up!" suggests that the singer has been made into some kind of explosive device, literally or metaphorically.
The second verse expands on this theme, with the singer bragging about their various exploits, which include selling "shrunken human heads" (perhaps taken as trophies from enemies?), saving the world from the living dead, and hunting men for sport. They're also proud to have a "whole lotta liberty," although it's not clear what they mean by this. The final verse is a bit darker, with the singer describing their criminal activities ("What I can't afford I steal"), and admitting that they're still being pursued by the police. Overall, the song seems to be a kind of tongue-in-cheek celebration of violent, anti-authoritarian rebellion, with a dash of horror-movie imagery thrown in.
Line by Line Meaning
Fought my share of ninjas in Japan
I have experienced fighting against ninjas in Japan
I'll tell you how I got my atomic tan
I will explain to you how I acquired my atomic tan
I'm full of nitro glycerine
My body is filled with nitro glycerine
I was a human bomb for the F. B. I
I acted as a human bomb for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(Don't shake me up! Don't shake me up!)
Please do not shake me up as it may trigger an explosive reaction
I'm sellin' shrunken human heads
I am currently engaged in the sale of shrunken human heads
Settle down and listen how I fared
Please calm down and pay attention as I narrate my story
When I saved the world from the living dead
I was responsible for saving the world from a zombie apocalypse
I gotta whole lotta liberty
I possess a lot of freedom
Whole lotta liberty, whole lotta liberty!
A significant amount of liberty is what I have
(Human bomb! Go!)
I am about to act as a human bomb, let's do this
This human bomb is gonna blow
I am ready to explode as a human bomb
I waded through the sewers of New York
I traversed through the sewer system of New York City
Seen my best friend lyin' in a morgue
I witnessed my best friend's corpse at a morgue
Proud to say I hunted man for sport
I feel a sense of pride in stating that I hunted humans for my own entertainment
I'm riding the crest of a new ideal
I am currently on the forefront of a new ideology or philosophy
What I can't afford I steal
I steal what I cannot afford to purchase
Still got the police on my tail
I am being pursued by law enforcement
(Don't shake me up! Don't shake me up!)
Please do not shake me up as it may trigger an explosive reaction
Contributed by Brooklyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mikkifly
love these guys to DEATH
Ragmatical Rachel
Just to let you know, I still love you guys! I wish more people in Canada knew who you guys are! I've bitten my friends though, they'll be changing over soon! :D
corporatebigwig
love it
Philip Shade
I used "i'm a human bomb for the FBI" as my status on FB. I think it creeped my mom out lol. I'm 35 you think she'd be used to me by now. great song!
Jared Blackburn
All we need to do is promote them until they become filthy rich rockstars and can travel the world -- too bad most people I know assume that if I like something they won't.
Yomagnt'ho
I hope I can catch a show on my vacation to the UK next year.
wrongchordsrecords
this is cool silly vid- i spose the blockiness comes from the transfer at the time , if the tape was found id imagine it could be redigitalised better
Larz Gustafsson
Silly band name but nice guitar sound.
Eric Perkins
I just bugt this cd, wish it were vinyl...
Laura V
Come to the US please! :D