Sunday, June 6, 2010

California Über Alles

"California Über Alles" was the first single by the Dead Kennedys. The title is an allusion to the old national anthem of Germany: "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles." ("Germany, Germany above all,").


The song focuses on Jerry Brown, the Governor of California between 1975 and 1983, and is sung from his perspective. An imaginary Brown outlines a hippie-fascist vision for America, in which his "suede denim secret police" kill un-cool people with "organic poison gas" chambers.


Lyricist Jello Biafra later said that he now feels different about Brown, as it turned out he wasn't as bad as he thought he would be.


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