Efficiency and progress is ours once more
Now that we have the Neutron bomb
It's nice and quick and clean and gets things done
Away with excess enemy
But no less value to property
No sense in war but perfect sense at home

The sun beams down on a brand new day
No more welfare tax to pay
Unsightly slums gone up in flashing light
Jobless millions whisked away
At last we have more room to play
All systems go to kill the poor tonight

Gonna kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight

Behold the sparkle of champagne
The crime rate's gone, feel free again
Oh, life's a breeze with you, Miss Lily White
Jane Fonda on the screen today
Convinced the liberals it's okay
So let's get dressed and dance away the night

While they kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight

Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight

Behold the sparkle of champagne
The crime rate's gone, feel free again
Oh, life's a breeze with you, Miss Lily White
Jane Fonda on the screen today
Convinced the liberals it's okay
So let's get dressed and dance away the night

While they kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight

Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight

Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight


Lyrics submitted by Ice

Kill the Poor Lyrics as written by Jello Biafra East Bay Ray

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Kill The Poor song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

32 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +9
    General Comment

    This song is a sarcastic rip on how the upper class views the working poor as a problem or a blemish on their pristine society, instead of victims of a fucked up system that is insensitive to their needs, but it also has a more specific point about the neutron bomb.

    From what I understand about the design of the bomb, it has a small blast range with a lot less heat and "explosion" than other types of bombs. It still emits powerful radiation, however, which passes through solid materials and kills living cells- essentially, if dropped on a city it would kill people but leave minimal damage on buildings.

    First of all, the very idea of something so clearly designed to maximize death counts while minimizing costs is sadistic and disgusting. But beyond that, the point that Jello is making is that this is not a bomb intended to be used in a war, because there isn't any real strategic use of something with a limited range and small effect on structures. The only possible use for this bomb seems to be on small, densely populated areas- for example, urban areas with a lot of low-income residents. Jello is suggesting the disturbing notion that the bomb was built with eliminating America's own impoverished people in mind, at the request of the wealthiest who see the poor as nothing more than an impediment to the development of America into one giant, glamorous, exclusive country club. daycare_abortion's quote illustrates this very well.

    vickevlaron March 24, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    im surprised im the first to comment on this song. It kicks ass.....basically i think without a lower class, the upperclass cant survive..who will be the blue collar workers. WHO will build those nice pretty homes away from the harsh realities of the cities. So basically, i guess you can say its a song of anarchy but then again im just full of shit and think to much

    OR maybe, hehe Jello just is expressing how cruel and insensitive some redneck-backwatter bastards are and also the how most americans and rich ppl think about the poor ....THEY JUST DONT FUCKIN CARE!

    StrayKattOion July 02, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    [Dead Kennedys] JB: It's about the neutron bomb in American cities. When you're fighting a foreign country, the best way to win a war is to devastate them economically and you can't do that if you leave all their buildings intact, so obviously, they've put this together to use it on us! So that's what the song is about--it's sung from the point of view of one who's going to survive. Sometimes I like to slip inside the villains and speak that way rather than standard protest stuff: "Jobless millions whisked away, no more welfare tax to pay!"

    daycare_abortionon July 10, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is about the not only gentrification of American cities but also how private power perceives poor and homeless people: a superfluous population that stands in the way of profit making. It's a hilarious twisted little song that stills has strong relevance today, then again at point in history hasn't the rich been fucking the poor over?

    wrinkledPholeon April 29, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    a perfect mix of anarchy and humour

    aleahxoxon October 05, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Don't compare the DKs to RATM, they are so much better.

    Violentpacifiston April 30, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Seems like a Modest Proposal to me.

    Jackdawkinson May 31, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Hilarious song! Good too!

    Emmelstoneon September 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about the way the high classed people think about the poor: is easier to kill them than to give them what they need. I'm brazilian, so I'm not used to some expressions in english. Could someone please tell me what's the meaning of redneck?

    sergiaoclashon September 15, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    a hick or person from the south who works typically on a farm and gets a 'red neck' from working in the hot sun all day, litteraly.

    natesutteron April 11, 2003   Link

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

Album art
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines: "Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet" So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other: "I had all and then most of you" Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart "Some and now none of you" Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship. This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.