In Northeast Ohio during the 60s and 70s, the steel and rubber factories--which had created many jobs and held up the infrastructure of the cities-- moved out to places with cheaper labor. This left many Akronites unemployed. When Ohio people serving in the military returned after the Vietnam War, they expected to go work in the factories like their parents and grandparents did. When they didn't, they were forced to finds other, less profitable jobs.
"Fraulein" seems to have this exact theme, althought it's re-shaped so that it takes place in Germany after World War II. The narrator--who's probably in his late teens/early 20s--has a job in the Nazi Army (based off of the lyrics "goosesteps" and "She said I'd gas them") and is supported by his fraulein, which is German for "fiancee". Well, the war ends, and we jump forward about a decade or so, and the narrator is now a "big man" who works at a gas station, and does so very efficiently ("I do two at a time now"). The fact that he lost his job in the army has hardened him ("I feel nothing for those who don't come to my station", "Only tow those who show me their honor"), but he keeps his disdain hidden behind a smile. The only thing that keeps him going are his companions and customers ("We all need eachother to keep ourselves going"), and he hopes to keep his job as long as he can for the sake of supporting himself ("If the good Lord is willing, we'll be here to the end").
TL;DR--Devo retaliated against the collapse of N.E. Ohio and put their own subversive, antagonizing twist on it.
In Northeast Ohio during the 60s and 70s, the steel and rubber factories--which had created many jobs and held up the infrastructure of the cities-- moved out to places with cheaper labor. This left many Akronites unemployed. When Ohio people serving in the military returned after the Vietnam War, they expected to go work in the factories like their parents and grandparents did. When they didn't, they were forced to finds other, less profitable jobs.
"Fraulein" seems to have this exact theme, althought it's re-shaped so that it takes place in Germany after World War II. The narrator--who's probably in his late teens/early 20s--has a job in the Nazi Army (based off of the lyrics "goosesteps" and "She said I'd gas them") and is supported by his fraulein, which is German for "fiancee". Well, the war ends, and we jump forward about a decade or so, and the narrator is now a "big man" who works at a gas station, and does so very efficiently ("I do two at a time now"). The fact that he lost his job in the army has hardened him ("I feel nothing for those who don't come to my station", "Only tow those who show me their honor"), but he keeps his disdain hidden behind a smile. The only thing that keeps him going are his companions and customers ("We all need eachother to keep ourselves going"), and he hopes to keep his job as long as he can for the sake of supporting himself ("If the good Lord is willing, we'll be here to the end").
TL;DR--Devo retaliated against the collapse of N.E. Ohio and put their own subversive, antagonizing twist on it.