Meaning of "Chickenshit Conformist" by Dead Kennedys

"Chickenshit Conformist" is a scathing critique of the punk music scene and the conformist attitudes that plague it. The song suggests that punk is losing its rebellious spirit and becoming just another shallow trend, represented by the line "Punk's not dead, it just deserves to die/ When it becomes another stale cartoon." The lyrics condemn the clique mentality within the scene, where who you know is more important than ideas and creativity. It highlights the pressure to conform and fit into certain stereotypes, forsaking individuality and true expression. The song also addresses the commercialization of punk music, pointing out that labels sign bands that promote hate and violence simply for profit.

The lyrics also touch on the divisions and infighting within the punk scene, with various factions and cliques unwilling to work together unless they completely agree on everything. This disunity prevents any significant change from happening and keeps the scene divided. The song calls out the hypocrisy and lack of integrity, as people who claim to be hardcore and anti-establishment eventually give in to societal pressures and get real jobs.

"Chickenshit Conformist" reflects the frustration of the band with the state of punk, as they see it becoming watered-down and losing its original meaning. The lyrics urge for a return to the joy and hope of an alternative, free from clichés and empty gestures. The song suggests that the '70s, with its cock-rock metal and shallow attitudes, are making a comeback, and laments the lack of depth and substance in the music.

Overall, "Chickenshit Conformist" criticizes the conformity, commercialization, and divisions within the punk scene, calling for genuine change and a return to the rebellious spirit that characterized the genre in its early days.