This song is timeless, and nearly 20 years after its creation, still possesses the mystique it did the first time i heard it ~1994. To me, at first blush, all those years ago, it had some kind of homo-erotic allure. The line "so that the others may do" tells of something which must be done for others to follow suit. It felt like like some kind of roxy-glam-pop invitation to sexual liberation.
Upon further introspection I think the song may not have an intrinsic meaning, but simply represents a sort of "holding open the door" for people who otherwise might be affronted by this song/band's unusual style. I know, as a sort of armchair rock-historian, that there have been few bands so daring and so true to the sound that wanted to emerge from within, whether the creator wanted it or not. This band handled it with elegance and grace seldom, if ever, seen.
Down in Carolina Way
Lived a man name o' Big BJ
BJ went and got a school
Founded on Caucasian rule
Bumper sticker on his Ford
Says, 'Honkies if you love the Lord'
We don't need no color code
We don't need no color code
Take your rules and hit the road
We don't need no color code
Judgment Day is goin' down
Better burn your cap and gown
White man speak with forked tongue
White supremist eat their young
Bigotry is on the loose
Ignorance is no excuse
I know Jesus loves that man
Even with a Greenville tan
We don't need no color code
We don't need no color code
Take your rules and hit the road
We don't need no color code
Judgment Day is goin' down
Better burn your cap and gown
Marching to Pretoria
Marching to Pretoria
Color codes in churches, huh?
Color codes in churches, huh?
Following a fascist creed
Following a what?
Whose translation do you read?
True believers won't be snowed
True believers won't be snowed
We don't need no color code
We don't need no color code
We don't need no color code
We don't need no color code
Take your rules and hit the road
We don't need no color code
Judgment Day is goin' down
We don't need no color code
We don't need no color code
Take your rules and hit the road
We don't need no color code
We ain't playin' dead this time
This is where we draw the line
Lived a man name o' Big BJ
BJ went and got a school
Founded on Caucasian rule
Bumper sticker on his Ford
Says, 'Honkies if you love the Lord'
We don't need no color code
We don't need no color code
Take your rules and hit the road
We don't need no color code
Judgment Day is goin' down
Better burn your cap and gown
White man speak with forked tongue
White supremist eat their young
Bigotry is on the loose
Ignorance is no excuse
I know Jesus loves that man
Even with a Greenville tan
We don't need no color code
We don't need no color code
Take your rules and hit the road
We don't need no color code
Judgment Day is goin' down
Better burn your cap and gown
Marching to Pretoria
Marching to Pretoria
Color codes in churches, huh?
Color codes in churches, huh?
Following a fascist creed
Following a what?
Whose translation do you read?
True believers won't be snowed
True believers won't be snowed
We don't need no color code
We don't need no color code
We don't need no color code
We don't need no color code
Take your rules and hit the road
We don't need no color code
Judgment Day is goin' down
We don't need no color code
We don't need no color code
Take your rules and hit the road
We don't need no color code
We ain't playin' dead this time
This is where we draw the line
Lyrics submitted by Cherub Rock
We Don't Need No Colour Code Lyrics as written by Steve Taylor
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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South Africa can still use this one.