Dead Kennedys “Kill the Poor”
Dead Kennedys “Kill the Poor” b/w “In-Sight” 1980. Cherry Red Records. My mood for 80′s punk protest music has grown exponentially the closer the unfortunate inevitable approaches. “Kill the Poor,” its title dripping with caustic sarcasm, continues to reflect the hideous reality of our political climate. It was Dead Kennedys’ third single release and appeared on their debut album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. It even charted in the UK, reaching #49 on the singles chart and #1 on the indie chart, in 1980. Ned Raggett from Allmusic writes about the track, “Biafra’s conflation of liberal complacency, conservative aggression, and societal ignorance is both pithy and memorable.” It’s been 37 years and seemingly nothing has changed.
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 homeThe 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 tonightGonna kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonightBehold 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 nightWhile they kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonightKill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonightBehold 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 nightWhile they kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonightKill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonightKill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight
Daily (maybe) pulls from the vault: 33-1/3, 45, 78, old, older, classic, new, good, bad. Subjective. Autobiographical. Occasionally putting a record up for sale.
