Kill The Poor

Dead Kennedys

Efficiency and progress is ours once more
Now that we have the Neutron bomb
It's nice and quick and clean and gets things done
Away with excess enemy
But no less value to property
No sense in war but perfect sense at home

The sun beams down on a brand new day
No more welfare tax to pay
Unsightly slums gone up in flashing light
Jobless millions whisked away
At last we have more room to play
All systems go to kill the poor tonight

Gonna kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight

Behold the sparkle of champagne
The crime rate's gone, feel free again
Oh, life's a breeze with you, Miss Lily White
Jane Fonda on the screen today
Convinced the liberals it's okay
So let's get dressed and dance away the night

While they kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight

Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight

Behold the sparkle of champagne
The crime rate's gone, feel free again
Oh, life's a breeze with you, Miss Lily White
Jane Fonda on the screen today
Convinced the liberals it's okay
So let's get dressed and dance away the night

While they kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight

Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight

Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight


Lyrics submitted by Ice

Kill the Poor Lyrics as written by Jello Biafra East Bay Ray

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Kill The Poor song meanings
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32 Comments

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  • +8
    General CommentThis song is a sarcastic rip on how the upper class views the working poor as a problem or a blemish on their pristine society, instead of victims of a fucked up system that is insensitive to their needs, but it also has a more specific point about the neutron bomb.

    From what I understand about the design of the bomb, it has a small blast range with a lot less heat and "explosion" than other types of bombs. It still emits powerful radiation, however, which passes through solid materials and kills living cells- essentially, if dropped on a city it would kill people but leave minimal damage on buildings.

    First of all, the very idea of something so clearly designed to maximize death counts while minimizing costs is sadistic and disgusting. But beyond that, the point that Jello is making is that this is not a bomb intended to be used in a war, because there isn't any real strategic use of something with a limited range and small effect on structures. The only possible use for this bomb seems to be on small, densely populated areas- for example, urban areas with a lot of low-income residents. Jello is suggesting the disturbing notion that the bomb was built with eliminating America's own impoverished people in mind, at the request of the wealthiest who see the poor as nothing more than an impediment to the development of America into one giant, glamorous, exclusive country club. daycare_abortion's quote illustrates this very well.
    vickevlaron March 24, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Commentim surprised im the first to comment on this song. It kicks ass.....basically i think without a lower class, the upperclass cant survive..who will be the blue collar workers. WHO will build those nice pretty homes away from the harsh realities of the cities. So basically, i guess you can say its a song of anarchy but then again im just full of shit and think to much

    OR maybe, hehe Jello just is expressing how cruel and insensitive some redneck-backwatter bastards are and also the how most americans and rich ppl think about the poor ....THEY JUST DONT FUCKIN CARE!
    StrayKattOion July 02, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment[Dead Kennedys] JB: It's about the neutron bomb in American cities. When you're fighting a foreign country, the best way to win a war is to devastate them economically and you can't do that if you leave all their buildings intact, so obviously, they've put this together to use it on us! So that's what the song is about--it's sung from the point of view of one who's going to survive. Sometimes I like to slip inside the villains and speak that way rather than standard protest stuff: "Jobless millions whisked away, no more welfare tax to pay!"
    daycare_abortionon July 10, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General CommentThis song is about the not only gentrification of American cities but also how private power perceives poor and homeless people: a superfluous population that stands in the way of profit making. It's a hilarious twisted little song that stills has strong relevance today, then again at point in history hasn't the rich been fucking the poor over?
    wrinkledPholeon April 29, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Commenta perfect mix of anarchy and humour
    aleahxoxon October 05, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General CommentDon't compare the DKs to RATM, they are so much better.
    Violentpacifiston April 30, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentSeems like a Modest Proposal to me.
    Jackdawkinson May 31, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General CommentHilarious song! Good too!
    Emmelstoneon September 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think this song is about the way the high classed people think about the poor: is easier to kill them than to give them what they need. I'm brazilian, so I'm not used to some expressions in english. Could someone please tell me what's the meaning of redneck?
    sergiaoclashon September 15, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commenta hick or person from the south who works typically on a farm and gets a 'red neck' from working in the hot sun all day, litteraly.
    natesutteron April 11, 2003   Link

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