Mongoloid

Interestingly enough, not only was Mongoloid a term originally used to describe Down's Syndrome, but John Langdon Down (the guy they named the syndrome after) believed that it it was a result of a sort of genetic de-evolution, which was why it caused White people to take on "Mongoloid" characteristics (It was the 19th century, so I think at that time they believed that Asians were less evolved that Whites/Caucasians).

I think what the song means is that this guy, whether through a medical condition or, more probably, as a metaphor, is so underdeveloped could be considered mentally retarded, but no one notices because culture has de-evolved so much that he fits right in.

The point is that you don't have to be smart in order to function in society, you just have to be able to fit in with the corporate/consumer culture, which can easily be done, probably best of all, by someone with surprisingly little intelligence. SO as a culture we're all de-evolving...

I'm kind of reminded of the song "Plastic Man" by the Kinks. Similar theme.

You're close. Mongoloid is actually a now un-PC term describing someone afflicted with Down Syndrome.See: "one chromosome too many", referring to trisomy 21, as nicole said. Keeping with early Devo philosophy, I'd say this is a cynical take on gasp the de-evolution undergone by humanity in respect to society, either as a result of, or more like a response to the "Mongoloid" being able to assimiliate into society without anyone noticing.

In other words: we're all getting dumb due to lack of natural selection, and the Mongoloid is obviously what should not have been selected.

Killer Song. One of Devo's best.

brought home the baconnn

i thought it was pretty self explanitory. but no, look, yep you've opened my eyes.

I think it's a really nice song

I think this song could be a wider observation about society and attention, but I don't think it's derogatory and it has a cool beat.

[Edit: edit]

Permanentlapse is right. "Mongoloid" was once a well-known term for describing someone with down-syndrome. I also agree with how he describes it.

I agree with permanentlapse, its a blatant observation demostrated through the medium of music

yeah my mate said it was about how there was a down syndrome guy that could function perfectly well in society with a job and car and house and all that.

I second the thought about humanity routing natural selection; It would seem a very DEVO-like observation indeed.

I disagree with the notion that the mongoloid here is an object for ridicule. I don't get that judgment from the song at all.

I always read it, personally, as a humble reminder that we are all incapacitated/enabled to varying extents and it matters not. We still "bring home the bacon", etc and no one around us is the wiser.

shhhhhh! -Phase -goloid

"and he wore a hat

and he had a job"

I see this as a reflection of society which is a reference to Saint George and his brutal rivarly with Ashwin Gadiyar, a foreign mercenary who is described in a document as 'wearing a hat and having a job". By the way, did you know that St George ate frogs, and did so whilst doing this speech?