Jocko Homo Lyrics
Evolving up from little snails
I say it's all just wind in sails
We are Devo
Are we not men?
D-E-V-O
We are not whole
We're pinheads all
Jocko Homo
We are Devo
Are we not men?
D-E-V-O
We are Devo
Teachers and critics all dance the poot
We are Devo
Are we not men?
D-E-V-O
We are Devo
Are we not men?
D-E-V-O
[some versions include the following bridge: ]
O-Hi-O
What's round on the end and high in the middle?
O-Hi-O
But he used a monkey to do it
Apes in the plan
We're all here to prove it
I can walk like an ape
Talk like an ape
I can do what a monkey do
God made man
But a monkey supplied the glue
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
We are Devo
D-E-V-O
D-E-V-O
D-E-V-O
D-E-V-O
D-E-V-O
D-E-V-O
D-E-V-O
Okay, let's go
Actually, the members of Devo are (or were) very much against organized religion. They eschewed sentimentality and optimism and admitted that Mr. Spock was their idea of the perfect human. The lyrics of "Jocko Homo" result from the misconception that evolution is necessarily a change for the better and that it is possible to "devolve." In reality, "devolution" does not exist; any species-wide change is evolution, and it makes no sense for any species to "devolve" in the first place, since that would require it to become less suited to its environment. Even if humans gradually developed more simian features, it would still be evolution, despite being an atavistic change. This song is a criticism of human stupidity, not of evolution. The mention of God has nothing to do with any particular religion. As Kupo75 said, it doesn't matter whether or not God was involved with humanity; humans are still regressing, according to Devo. And yes, this song is an explanation of why the band chose to name themselves what they did.
Excellent comment , Xenomantid@
Excellent comment , Xenomantid@
This also comes from an old anti-evolution tract Mark and Jerry found called "Jocko-Homo Heavenbound" by B. H. Shadduck. You can buy this online but it's insanely expensive.
The "are we not men" chant comes from Island of Dr. Moreau, by H.G. Wells, and Island of Lost Souls, the movie. The surgically-evolved animals, now in the forms of men, have a long litany they repeat to keep from reverting into their native, animal state. "What is the law? Not to spill blood, that is the law. Are we not men?" Oingo Boingo used this too, in their song "No Spill Blood."
"Dancing the poot" was an art thing Jerry did in college with a friend, Jim Bubbi. Bubbi was dressed like a luchador and led around on a leash like a dog, as the character "Pootman." Meanwhile Jerry dressed in a hideous leather mask and butcher's jacket as Gorj, "he who is not always thus," kind of a god of depression. Anyway, Gorj would lead Pootman around art exhibits at the school and then point at an exhibit, at which point Pootman would hold his nose and do an "it stinks" dance.
I'm not making that up.
I heart Devo, but are they like uber-religious or something? Y'know, 'God made man' etc. Hmmhr. and i'm sure they say 'are we not kings' at somepoint. oh well. devo are great. electro nonsense, that's what i like to hear.
No, I'm sure that the message that they're trying to convey is not pertaining to the accuracy of the evolution theory, rather the false impression that we, as a species, are improving as we are evolving, but that we are in reality deteriorating, devolving. Nothing religious about this song I assure you!
No, I'm sure that the message that they're trying to convey is not pertaining to the accuracy of the evolution theory, rather the false impression that we, as a species, are improving as we are evolving, but that we are in reality deteriorating, devolving. Nothing religious about this song I assure you!
To me, this is the true and best explanation of the theory of de-evolution and where it has taken us in society. Essentially, it explains how Devo got their name, and why they chose to name themselves as such.
Our society is decaying - it's slowly DEeVOlving. Soon we'll all be back to monkeys. Whether by God or not, man came into being through monkeys, and we'll die that way too.
Read "The Beginning Was The End" by Oscar Kiss Maerth. Its where their entire philosophy comes from. Humans de-evolved from a species of brain-eating apes. Their diet increased the apes sex drives, brain size, agression and physical dexterity, but eventually caused insanity. We are the product of this de-evolutionary anomoly.
thanks - i have been beaten to the punch - i have no need to comment on this song. you folks are right on - very intelligent commentary.
I absolutely love the end of the song, before the final "We are Devo" part. One of the most persuasive and most addictive Devo songs.
God, the live version's so goddamned different.
This is my version of the Lyrics: they tell us that we lost our tails evolving up from little snails i say it's all just wind in sails
are we not men?
we are DEVO!
we're pinheads now we are not whole we're pinheads all jocko homo
are we not men?
D-E-V-O
monkey men all in business suits teachers and critics all dance the poot
are we not men?
we are DEVO!
are we not men?
D-E-V-O
I Got A Rhyme that comes in a Riddle (OH-HI-OH) What's Round On The Ends: High in the middle? (OH-HI-OH) All Together Now: God made man but he used the monkey to do it. apes in the plan and we're all here to prove it I can walk like an ape talk like an ape. i can do what monkeys do. God made man but a monkey supplied the glue
are we not men? we are DEVO!
are we not men? we are DEVO!
are we not men? we are DEVO!
are we not men? we are DEVO!
We Must Repeat D-E-V-O
We Must Repeat D-E-V-O
We Must Repeat D-E-V-O
We Must Repeat OK LET'S GO