In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
We're through being cool
Eliminate the ninnies and the twits
Going to bang some heads
Going to beat some butts
Time to show those evil spuds what's what
If you live in a small town
You might meet a dozen or two
Young alien types who step out
And dare to declare
Spank the pank who try to drive you nuts
Time to clean some house
Be a man or a mouse
Waste those who make it tough to get around
If you live in a big place
Many factions underground
Chase down mister hinky dink
So no trace can be found
Put the tape on erase
Rearrange a face
We always liked Picasso anyway
Mash 'em
Eliminate the ninnies and the twits
Going to bang some heads
Going to beat some butts
Time to show those evil spuds what's what
If you live in a small town
You might meet a dozen or two
Young alien types who step out
And dare to declare
Spank the pank who try to drive you nuts
Time to clean some house
Be a man or a mouse
Waste those who make it tough to get around
If you live in a big place
Many factions underground
Chase down mister hinky dink
So no trace can be found
Put the tape on erase
Rearrange a face
We always liked Picasso anyway
Mash 'em
Lyrics submitted by bouncing soles
Through Being Cool Lyrics as written by Mark Mothersbaugh Gerald V. Casale
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I think it's about being true to yourself, not worrying about being "cool," even to such an extent that you fight against "cool" people. The "young alien types" are the disaffected Devo fans who are urged to confront the "evil spuds" - people who might be "cool" but are hurting everyone/society.
Awesome song that I listened to hundreds of time back in the 80's when they released the NT album. what makes this a great song is that its "DEVO" claiming that they're Through Being Cool.... I mean, do you really think that anyone (even themselves) thought they were cool? Beyond that however the "..rearrange your face, we always liked Picasso anyway.." lines are great. Funny thing about "Not" being cool is that the Mothersbaugh brothers went on to make a heck of a lot more money and acclain than many of their alledged "cool" peers from back in the day. I always thought Devo were a perfect band for the 80's, fun, politically and socially astute, and just plain goofy at times. I understand that they are quie smart, perhaps even Mensa members? should this be the case, I would like them to build a time machine so I could travel back to 1985!
I'm with you - the concept of Devo being 'Through Being Cool' is pretty funny :)
This song really should have made it to the soundtrack to Heavy Metal (the movie).
This has always been one of my favorite songs (Devo or otherwise).
I agree with most other posters saying it's about nonconformity, but what's with the line "eliminate the ninnies and the twits"? What makes someone a ninny or twit? I've seen outsiders get insultingly called that, so it confused me.
Really good song besides. I'm just hung up on that line.
I think this song's about being one of those weird, geeky little kids and finally getting back at the mean popular kids who are always teasing you, making fun of you, and generally tormenting you.
Hahahaha, I tend to think of this song as poking fun at (contemporary)hipsters-even though that was 20 years after this song was recoreded!
This song is another one where seeing the video is essential to getting the meaning. The Smart Patrol is DEVO's idea of a kids clique. They arm them and dress them and in the video they go around and eliminate the people that DEVO sees as ridiculous in contemporary society.
Thats what the whole song is about.
The actual music is also important to interpreting the song. Devo's new post "Whip It" audience was presumably looking forward to hearing a new hit from their favorite band, so New Traditionalists opens with - a melody-lacking tune that wasn't going to get anywhere near Casey Kasem's Top 40.
Then again, the full electronic nature of the song may be directed toward Devo's older fans, who were decrying the band's move away from guitars.