Lyrics for Chickenshit Conformist as interpreted by Ice

Chickenshit Conformist Lyrics
Punk's not dead
It just deserves to die
When it becomes another stale cartoon
A close-minded, self-centered social club
Ideas don't matter, it's who you know

If the music's gotten boring
It's because of the people
Who want everyone to sound the same

Who drive bright people out
Of our so-called scene
'Til all that's left
Is just a meaningless fad

Hardcore formulas are dogshit
Change and caring are what's real
Is this a state of mind
Or just another label?

The joy and hope of an alternative
Has become its own cliche
A hairstyle's not a lifestyle
Imagine Sid Vicious at 35

Who needs a scene
Scared to love and to feel
Judging everythng
By loud fast rules appeal

Who played last night?
"I don't know, I forgot.
But diving off the stage
Was a lot of fun."

So eager to please
Peer pressure decrees
So eager to please
Peer pressure decrees
Make the same old mistakes
Again and again
Chickenshit conformist
Like your parents

What's ripped us apart even more than drugs
Are the thieves and the goddamn liars
Flipping people off when they share their stuff
When someone falls are there any friends?

Harder core than thou for a year or two
Then it's time to get a real job
Others stay home, it's no fun to go out
When the gigs are wrecked by gangs and thugs

When the thugs form bands, look who gets record deals
From New York metal labels looking to scam
Who sign the most racist queerbashing bands they can find
To make a buck revving kids up for war

Walk tall, act small
Only as tough as gang approval
Unity is bullshit
When it's under someone's fat boot

Where's the common cause
Too many factions
Safely sulk in their shells
Agree with us on everything
Or we won't help with anythng
That kind of attitude
Just makes a split grow wider

Guess who's laughing while the world explodes
When we're all crybabies
Who fight best among ouselves

So eager to please
Peer pressure decrees
So eager to please
Peer pressure decrees
Make the same old mistakes
Again and again
Chickenshit conformist
Like your parents

That farty old rock and roll attitude's back
"It's competition, man, we wanna break big."
Who needs friends when the money's good?
That's right, the 70s are back.

Cock-rock metal's like a bad laxative
It just don't move me, ya know?
The music's OK when there's more ideas than solos
Do we really need the attitude too?

Shedding thin skin too quickly
As a fan it disappoints me
Same old stupid sexist lyrics
Or is Satan all you can think of?

Crossover is just another word
For lack of ideas
Maybe what we need
Are more trolls under the bridge
Will the metalheads finally learn something-
Or will the punks throw away their education?

No one's ever the best
Once they believe their own press
"Maturing" don't mean rehashing
Mistakes of the past

So eager to please
Peer pressure decrees
So eager to please
Peer pressure decrees
Make the same old mistakes
Again and again
Chickenshit conformist
Like your parents

The more things change
The more they stay the same
We can't grow
When we won't criticize ourselves
The 60s weren't all failure
It's the 70s that stunk
As the clock ticks we dig the same hole

Music scenes ain't real life
They won't get rid of the bomb
Won't eliminate rape
Or bring down the banks
Any kind of real change
Takes more time and work
Than changing channels on a TV set

So why are we
So eager to please
Peer pressure decrees
So eager to please
Peer pressure decrees
Make the same old mistakes
Again and again

Chickenshit conformist
Like your parents

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  • 72 Comments
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scawt
05-12-2002

Rated 0 
I'm so suprised this song hasn't recieved any comments. This song is, in my opinion, the greatest Dead Kennedys song ever. These days it works even better. I'm so sick of all the suburban rich white preps getting into the punk 'scene' and act like they're the shit, with their Republican agenda and brand new sports cars. It's fucking ridiculous, they're the same kind of people the punk scene started against, and now it's all just melting together and making one huge mess of shite. Also, according to these new 'punks', I'm not punk because I don't buy into the latest Hot Topic crazes.

*shakes his head* I'm ashamed, really.

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a scar in the sky
05-12-2002

Rated 0 
sounds like a typical prep.

i wish i could see things from their point of view for a little while, but i can never manage to get my head that far up my ass.

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TheAntiPunk
05-27-2002

Rated 0 
I have to agree with scawt, I also think this is the best Dead Kenndys song they made. It's about how you have all these people supposedly being themselves, but they all conform at one point or another because they think they need to "fit in" in society.

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rachypoo6
05-27-2002

Rated 0 
i think that the craze will evaporate soon enough and go the well beaten path of pogs and beanie babies. punk is about music, and should be about music, not the image or the clothing. too many preppy rich little snobs like to turn on mtv and watch dashboard confessional, blink 182, and sum 41 and tell themselves that they're misunderstood and punk ... it kinda makes me sick to think that such a great genre and such great music is squandered on little 13 year old girls who go to good charlotte concerts and think they have credibility. id like to see these kids go to a hardcore show in their $80 hot topic bondage pants and little pre-ripped t-shirt that says rebel.

:) ... such a sweet picture

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TheAntiPunk
05-27-2002

Rated 0 
Agh...I hate hot topic, I never have, and never will shop there. Salvation army all the way!


P.S. I used to play with pogs when I was younger...hehe..

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DeadKennedys18
06-09-2002

Rated 0 
Pogs Rule haha I agree with rachypoo6 and scawt is about the music not the way u fucking look or dress

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onkid
06-09-2002

Rated 0 
Hey, i tottaly agree with all of you.
punk is a a type of music! i always here people saying whats "punk" and whats not. it pisses me off so much, and also, hot topic sucks, with all its "punk" clothing

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rudette
06-21-2002

Rated 0 
Punk was never supposed to be a form of dress. When it first started out Punk was the music for the little guy(or girl :p), the poor working class that could truely see the flaws of society at the time and were rising up against the government and other things they belived to be wrong. Punk music was a very 'in-your-face' way to get the message across and be heard. Also, becasue many poor and working class seemed to be the only ones with these ideas of society they had always had a torn, wornm looking form of dress.

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rudette
06-21-2002

Rated 0 
Punk was never supposed to be a form of dress. When it first started out Punk was the music for the little guy(or girl :p), the poor working class that could truely see the flaws of society at the time and were rising up against the government and other things they belived to be wrong. Punk music was a very 'in-your-face' way to get the message across and be heard. Also, becasue many poor and working class seemed to be the only ones with these ideas of society they had always had a torn, wornm looking form of dress.

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dead_kennedys
06-21-2002

Rated 0 
rudette does have a point butt i think the song is about how many people dont like punk music and wish it were never here

like your parents

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Blindwish
07-02-2002

Rated 0 
Well, at least it's better than the MTV punk bullshit.

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cockNballs!999
07-04-2002

Rated 0 
i think its just talking about how someone who swears there all hardcore and just acts like a total dick and thinks ur supposet to act a certain way and just labels anyone but who knows im retarded

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Lets_kill_music
07-04-2002

Rated 0 
Punk is still alive its just not on the telly, besides the whole punk thing was about image as much as it was music (the UK scene that is) just look at the sex pistols videos.

Has anyone heard the new jello biafra spoken word record?

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Anti-Flag1081
07-05-2002

Rated 0 
PuNk's NoT DeAd! Its still alive and rocking. LeT me 1st compliment all of you who have submitted your comments about this. Yes, Punk Rock is not about the dress, its all about the music. people have taken it to an extreme by watching MTV, seeing those bands such as: blink 182 and sum 41, then go out in the world and call themselves "hardcore" punks. I agree with rachypoo6. I would like to see those people go to a concert with their expensive hot topic bondage pants and rebel shirt. They would get the shit knocked out of them.

Don't listen to those people who try to put you down just because they say you aren't punk. Just do what you want and know what your doing. Go through life with your head up, and not a care in the world when some idiot tries to tell you that you aren't punk. Don't let it bother you one bit. Just do what you think is right and rock on.

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a scar in the sky
07-06-2002

Rated 0 
punk's not dead. it just smells funny

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Anti-Flag1081
07-09-2002

Rated 0 
Ha-Ha! What does it smell like?

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i_am_rhy
07-11-2002

Rated 0 
punk's not about the image. then why are all you people complaing about "preps" listening to punk? ok! back to judging people by the brand of clothing they wear!

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anthracis
07-18-2002

Rated 0 
"Who drive bright people out, Of our so-called scene, 'Til all that's left, Is just a meaningless fad" that is so true with Blink-182. All they sing about is having sex and drinking and stupid stuff and that is getting mainstream attention opposed to the music that has real meaning such as Dead Kennedys, The Clash, TSOL, etc.


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blerg
07-21-2002

Rated 0 
I think the discrimination is alive and well in all directions, but one of the things this song was warning about is "sticking to the ideals of punk" and totally shutting out anyone who doesn't "fit in". So what do we see here? 'Yeah, I agree, stupid rich white republicans don't belong in our scene!'


Be open. People are born into money sometimes, that doesn't mean they're greedy or spoiled. I was born poor, but some of my friends lived in giant houses growing up and it didn't make them better or worse than me. Sometimes people are republican because they like something about the ideology of it, not because they're dumb and haven't seen the light like you have.


Point is: If you must judge, then judge "persons" and not "people".

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HarlequinStars
08-26-2002

Rated 0 
I agree With rhy. And gues what those preps arent in the real scene, they go to goldfinger, and AFI shows now. I have yet to see a local hardcore or punk show over run with 'preps'. The real scenes are the local shows.

And if those rich white preppy kids want to join so what? I mean seriously if they enjoy the music more power to them if they're in it for the current trends and to impress friends then theyll be gone soon enough.

Punk's not dead
It just deserves to die
When it becomes another stale cartoon
A close-minded, self-centered social club
Ideas don't matter, it's who you know

Arent you being close mined by saying rich preps shouldn't be in the scene? Well if your still solid on your opinion then FUCK you ALL and come down to the Bronx or ill even meet you in manhattan and show you what fucking punk is. Cause you know what My families got money because they worked for it and were lucky to suceed.

"Its about ideas, its about your attitude, its not about what you wear, its not about your fucking hair, If you saw me youd think i was just another average girl but fuck with me and you'll learn soon, looks can be decieving."
-!! My best buds band!! ^.^

So fuck off all you close-minded followers cause you dont know shit.

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*Lechuza*
09-29-2002

Rated 0 
We don't have Hot Topic here in Aus [or we do but they're not widespread] but we do have this shop. This evil, evil shop that sell midriff baring shirts w/ ties and tartan mini-mini skirts - for the punks, the stupid racist tops with the "enter race here do it better" slogan on them or pick-up lines on them and would charge $50 just for a shoelace. I hate this shop so much that I walk as far away as possible from it when walking past it and hold my breathe so that the evil doesn't get me. [Haha] They even have posters of girls in skimpy police uniforms - the fashion police. Lame or lame?
Nothing really to do with 'punk image' in that comment [^] but here to be a punk all you have to do is mis-match your socks, pull your jean shorts' crutch down to your knees, where a studded belt [what's the use of a belt if they pull their pants down anyway??] and a band t-shirt with a tie.

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sokickass87
10-14-2002

Rated 0 
That's the problem nowadays. Punk has become an image. And yes, i have seen local shows with alot of non-punks. It pisses me off to hear a kid say "oh, i just came for *insert hardcore band here*. i hate punk, i just like metal" or to see the girls who came because some "hot guy" went and just sit there and look depressed for the rest of the night after the one pop-punk set ends. Oh, and yes, i have shopped in hot topic. Well, let my 'rents buy me some shirts. Yea, that's right, my parents buy me clothes. Whop de doo, a couple 12-15 dollar band shirts at hot topic becuase its cheaper than ordering them online. Beats paying 40 dollars for a t-shirt at the local trendy store. Shoot me. I'd never buy those gay 80 dollar "bondage pants". I mean they're kinda cool, but hell, 80 bucks, no way. Make your own or something. And yes, i like ames/walmart/salvation army for clothes too. You can find some great stuff that's actually affordable. And no, i'm nowhere near rich, although i have some friends who are. Punk is about being open and tolerant, not single-minded and lame.

When people complain about preps/jocks whatever, they mean like the type of person that would go to a punk show one night, than the next day in school crack some racist jokes and actually mean them, and rip on kids for how "dirty" they are or call them fags or something. And there are times when i would have voted for a repubican candidate. Oh well, so maybe i'm not a typical punk. That's just it tho, there shouldn't be a typcial punk. Like on MTV or whatever i hear theres more and more punk bands. Even rancid has been on MTV. WTF! i haven't watched MTV (in many years :))since i saw a video on how they market to us kids. It's so greedy, MTV isnt about the music at all, they're all image and profit. And so now the "punk image" is becoming like that too. Ok, im gonna shut up now. W/e, go support your local scene.

PS- Jello for president 2004

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Exist
03-11-2003

Rated 0 
"PS- Jello for president 2004"

Agreed.

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TimBuck2
04-23-2003

Rated 0 
you, my friends, well, most of you anyway, ARE the thugs who wreck today's scene. who are you to decied what's punk and what not? first you yap about how un-cool and un-punk are those preppy-hot topic-shoppers, and then you say to "be proud" and not to let people say you're not punk. I mean- waht the hell? go away, I don't want you in MY scene...

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skatopassthetime
05-03-2003

Rated 0 
posers, hot topic, mtv..etc. really suck. but i think it would be better to just not worry about it so much. i mean of course it makes me terribly angry, but in the end, we'll know whos really in it for the music and who just wants to get in on the latest trends. and by the way, i am a 14 year old girl, and not all 14 year old girls that say they like punk are posers.

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