We've Got A Bigger Probem Now

Annotation

The Dead Kennedys - a hardcore punk band formed in 1978, in San Francisco, California. This EP featured Jello Biafra (vocals), Klaus Flouride (bass, vocals), East Bay Ray (guitar, vocals), and Peligro (drums). The song "We've Got a Bigger Problem Now" (Alternative Tentacles # VIRUS 5) focused on the election of Ronald Reagan in 1981 but it also mentioned the Vietnam War and showed concern about Alexander Haig, Reagan's Secretary of State (1981-1982), who served under Nixon during the Vietnam War as White House Chief of Staff (1973-1974) and Henry Kissinger's deputy at the National Security Council (1970-1973). The lyrics suggested that Reagan and Haig might lead the US to more Vietnam style wars, referencing the conflict in El Salvador or Afghanistan. They warned the youth audience that "they'll draft you". This is an updated version of the song California Über Alles released as a single in 1979, but with different lyrics (which do not mention Vietnam). The original song attacked the counter-culture and hippies for becoming too close to the economic and political establishment. But with the Reagan election, as the new title suggested, the Dead Kennedys found it more important to oppose the rise of right-wing parties, big business, and the role of religion in politics.1Sources1Sells like Teen Spirit (Ryan Moore, 2009)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Punk Songs

The Dead Kennedys - a Hardcore Punk band formed in 1978, in San Francisco, California. This EP featured Jello Biafra (vocals), Klaus Flouride (bass, vocals), East Bay Ray (guitar, vocals), and Peligro (drums). The song "We've Got a Bigger Problem Now" (Alternative Tentacles # VIRUS 5) focused on the election of Ronald Reagan in 1981 but it also mentioned the Vietnam War and showed concern about Alexander Haig, Reagan's Secretary of State (1981-1982), who served under Nixon during the Vietnam War as White House Chief of Staff (1973-1974) and Henry Kissinger's deputy at the National Security Council (1970-1973). The lyrics suggested that Reagan and Haig might lead the US to more Vietnam style wars, referencing the conflict in El Salvador or Afghanistan. They warned the youth audience that "they'll draft you". This is an updated version of the song California Über Alles released as a single in 1979, but with different lyrics (which do not mention Vietnam). The original song attacked the counter-culture and hippies for becoming too close to the economic and political establishment. But with the Reagan election, as the new title suggested, the Dead Kennedys found it more important to oppose the rise of right-wing parties, big business, and the role of religion in politics.1 Sources1Sells like Teen Spirit (Ryan Moore, 2009)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Last call for alcohol, last call for your freedom of speech / Drink up, happy hour is now enforced by law / Don't forget our house special, it's called a Trickie Dickie Screwdriver... / I am Emperor Ronald Reagan, born again with fascist cravings / Still, you made me president, human rights will soon go 'way... / Now you're going to pray in school, I'll make sure they're Christian... / You closed your eyes, can't happen here, Alexander Haig is near / Vietnam won't come back you say, join the army or you will pay / Welcome to 1984, are you ready for the third world war?!? / You too will meet the secret police, they'll draft you... / Die on our brand new poison gas, El Salvador or Afghanistan / Making money for President Reagan and all the friends of...Reagan

About the artist

American punk band formed 1978 in San Francisco, California ('Holiday in Cambodia'). [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Nixon · Reagan · Haig · Draft · El Salvador · Afghanistan · Vietnam Analogy

In collections

Draft Songs · Vietnam as Comparison · Punk Songs