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.
Yes that's right, punk is dead,
It's just another cheap product for the consumers head.
Bubblegum rock on plastic transistors,
Schoolboy sedition backed by big time promoters.
CBS promote the Clash,
But it ain't for revolution, it's just for cash.
Punk became a fashion just like hippy used to be
And it ain't got a thing to do with you or me.
Movements are systems and systems kill.
Movements are expressions of the public will.
Punk became a movement 'cause we all felt lost,
But the leaders sold out and now we all pay the cost.
Punk narcissism was social napalm,
Steve Jones started doing real harm.
Preaching revolution, anarchy and change
As he sucked from the system that had given him his name.
Well I'm tired of staring through shit stained glass,
Tired of staring up a superstars arse,
I've got an arse and crap and a name,
I'm just waiting for my fifteen minutes fame.
Steve Jones you're napalm,
If you're so pretty (vacant) why do you swarm?
Patti Smith you're napalm,
You write with your hand but it's Rimbaud's arm.
And me, yes I, do I want to burn?
Is there something I can learn?
Do I need a business man to promote my angle?
Can I resist the carrots that fame and fortune dangle?
I see the velvet zippies in their bondage gear,
The social elite with safety-pins in their ear,
I watch and understand that it don't mean a thing,
The scorpions might attack, but the systems stole the sting.
PUNK IS DEAD. PUNK IS DEAD. PUNK IS DEAD.
PUNK IS DEAD. PUNK IS DEAD. PUNK IS DEAD.
PUNK IS DEAD. PUNK IS DEAD. PUNK IS DEAD.
It's just another cheap product for the consumers head.
Bubblegum rock on plastic transistors,
Schoolboy sedition backed by big time promoters.
CBS promote the Clash,
But it ain't for revolution, it's just for cash.
Punk became a fashion just like hippy used to be
And it ain't got a thing to do with you or me.
Movements are systems and systems kill.
Movements are expressions of the public will.
Punk became a movement 'cause we all felt lost,
But the leaders sold out and now we all pay the cost.
Punk narcissism was social napalm,
Steve Jones started doing real harm.
Preaching revolution, anarchy and change
As he sucked from the system that had given him his name.
Well I'm tired of staring through shit stained glass,
Tired of staring up a superstars arse,
I've got an arse and crap and a name,
I'm just waiting for my fifteen minutes fame.
Steve Jones you're napalm,
If you're so pretty (vacant) why do you swarm?
Patti Smith you're napalm,
You write with your hand but it's Rimbaud's arm.
And me, yes I, do I want to burn?
Is there something I can learn?
Do I need a business man to promote my angle?
Can I resist the carrots that fame and fortune dangle?
I see the velvet zippies in their bondage gear,
The social elite with safety-pins in their ear,
I watch and understand that it don't mean a thing,
The scorpions might attack, but the systems stole the sting.
PUNK IS DEAD. PUNK IS DEAD. PUNK IS DEAD.
PUNK IS DEAD. PUNK IS DEAD. PUNK IS DEAD.
PUNK IS DEAD. PUNK IS DEAD. PUNK IS DEAD.
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this song is excellent. you should all check out a band called 'lower class brats' they kick ass.
Crass is a fucking amazing band as well as Aus Rotten.
HA! jessica, do you even read or listen to the music. What this song is saying is true. Punk nowadays is fuckin commercial. I mean there is so much shit out there that ppl know of. Reach deeper and further and find better stuff. Aus Rotten is great along with Conflict. Listen to something with a message that means something, not emo shit that talks about how they lost their grrrl. BLAH!!
Jessica, you are one of the most ignorant people I've ever encountered. Crass is one of the greatest punk bands, with some of the greatest lyrics. You don't even conprehend what the meaning of this song is, though I could have guessed that without reading your "Kill Crass Kill Crass I 4m s0 dumb" post. Perhaps you should look at how punk -is- dead, and has been dead for a LOOOOOONNNGGG time. it became commercialized, which ruined the scene. it's really quite simple.
sigh if you want to argue about "posers", then how come, when the clash and the jam were on major labels and selling thousands of records, crass actually kept it DIY and lived their message. punk had degenerated into a mere fashion statement before you and i were born, yes there ARE underground bands and yes there ARE people out there "keepin' it real", but don't you think any subculture is dead when it starts getting exposed and distorted by the mainstream media? christ, look what happened to "emo". we went from rites of spring and indian summer to jimmy eat world and thursday. "punk" ceases to be reactionary (and interesting) when its absorbed and sanitized by the big media machine. when you can play a "punk" song for your mom and her only reaction is "hmm. catchy", then it's dead. (for the record, i love the clash and i think london calling is an amazing, powerful album, but it sure as hell isn't "punk") i don't like crass, and i'm most definitly not an anarchist, but i respect their message and they make a damn good point with their music (this song in particular)
i think the entire punk alive/dead subject is irrelavant. however one line seems to speak volumes "the scorpions might attack, but the system’s stole the sting." being born in '85 im sure i missed out on the whole shock value of it all. but i notice atleast around my parts no one with any credibility wants to be associated with the word 'punk' so maybe that is saying something. ahh what the hell do i know i just enjoy the noise
punk died due to all the fucking commercial consumerist bullshit put out by dicks for dicks. this song reflects that well.
crass is fuckin awsome....shut the fuck up jesssica... what crass means is the true meaning of "punk" is dead they do not mean that "punk" music is all dead... they are a slight few bands who are around that could be labeled "punk" but not too many.... "punk" was made on the basis of not fitting in and being different and being yourself when it became popular(not meaning the coolest and mainstream u dumbass-- the ramones and sex pistols were popular as far as fans and have been since they came out-- maybe not as popular but enuf to have ppl pose as "punk" and make it fasionable)....
what crass means is that all the basis the started "punk" became comercialized and was destroyed... thats what this song is about
crass sucks, stfu. i didnt even bother to read what you said after "crass is fucken awesome" haha i don't need to waste my time with that... buh bye
and yeah lower class brats are alright, my friend lauren loves that band, so i listen to them when im with her.