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Lick My Decals Off, Baby Lyrics
Rather than I want to hold your hand,
I wanna swallow you whole
'n I wanna lick you everywhere it's pink
'n everywhere you think
Whole kit 'n kaboodle 'n the kitchen sink
Heaven's sexy as hell
Life is integrated,
Goes together so well
'n so on
Well, I'm gonna go on 'n do my washing
Well, now you may think I'm crazy but I want you to
Lick my decals off baby
'n I don't want you to be lazy
'cause it's drivin' me crazy
'n this song ain't no sing-song
It's all about the birds 'n the bees
'n where it went all wrong
'n where it all belongs
'n the earth all go down on their knees
lookin' for ah little ease
She stuck out her toungue 'n the fun begun
She stuck out her toungue 'n the fun begun
She stuck it out at me, 'n I just thumbed my nose
'n went on washing my clothes
I wanna swallow you whole
'n I wanna lick you everywhere it's pink
'n everywhere you think
Whole kit 'n kaboodle 'n the kitchen sink
Heaven's sexy as hell
Life is integrated,
Goes together so well
'n so on
Well, I'm gonna go on 'n do my washing
Well, now you may think I'm crazy but I want you to
Lick my decals off baby
'n I don't want you to be lazy
'cause it's drivin' me crazy
'n this song ain't no sing-song
It's all about the birds 'n the bees
'n where it went all wrong
'n where it all belongs
'n the earth all go down on their knees
lookin' for ah little ease
She stuck out her toungue 'n the fun begun
She stuck out her toungue 'n the fun begun
She stuck it out at me, 'n I just thumbed my nose
'n went on washing my clothes
Song Info
Submitted by
afbailey On Sep 12, 2008
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Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Blow job!
Its not about blowjobs (as many believe) its about dropping acid. Decals are small pictures or drawings; tabs of acid always have a cartoon picture on. You take acid by placing the tab on your tongue, thus the reference to licking and the like "she stuck out her tongue and the fun begun"
@Armitage Shanks: Tabs of acid did NOT "always have a cartoon picture on" them! When I first started taking acid in 1969, they came in tablets, barrels, or capsules. They didn't have pictures of any kind on them. I didn't see any cartoon tabs (or windowpanes) until the mid-1970s or so. I still have a couple of acid tabs with Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice on them, which I sucked the LSD out of but kept the paper tabs. And "Lick My Decals Off, Baby" is about sex, not LSD.
@Armitage Shanks: Tabs of acid did NOT "always have a cartoon picture on" them! When I first started taking acid in 1969, they came in tablets, barrels, or capsules. They didn't have pictures of any kind on them. I didn't see any cartoon tabs (or windowpanes) until the mid-1970s or so. I still have a couple of acid tabs with Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice on them, which I sucked the LSD out of but kept the paper tabs. And "Lick My Decals Off, Baby" is about sex, not LSD.
I dunno, it may not be "about" oral sex, but that's totally a major aspect of it. "everywhere that's pink 'n everywhere you think", "down on their knees", "all about the birds and the bees" and all that. I consider the opening lines a statement of intent - this ain't no Beatles song, you and I are gonna get rutty!
I don't really think this song is about taking acid. From what I can tell Don wasn't a big proponent of drugs. And yeah, LSD sometimes comes with pretty pictures, I don't think just having a picture on something qualifies it as a decal.
A decal is like a little sticker that you put on something (model airplane for example). Yeah, that model plane may look like the real deal with all those cool decals on it, but the decals are just a thin, artificial mask that only hides what really is. Beneath all the stickers, it's just a hunk of plastic.
I think Beefheart is using decals as a metaphor for the masks we wear and the personas we portray in social situations. It's only when you get rid of the decals, that you get to the true nature of yourself.
I also agree with ozacrot that the sexual aspect of this song was intended. "I want to lick you everywhere it's pink 'N everywhere you think". You may say I have a dirty mind but I know what I'M thinking...
And that nod to the Beatles is a great opener for both the song and the entire album. It lets you know just what kind of ride you've strapped yourself in for.
@earthlycitizen We now know Don was an enthusiastic LSD user for quite a while, even though he denied it. But your analysis of the song is pretty spot on.
John French made a fool of himself in his book, getting all prudish about the oral sex part of the lyrics.
@earthlycitizen We now know Don was an enthusiastic LSD user for quite a while, even though he denied it. But your analysis of the song is pretty spot on.
John French made a fool of himself in his book, getting all prudish about the oral sex part of the lyrics.