Meaning of "Smokin' Banana Peels" by The Dead Milkmen

The lyrics of "Smokin' Banana Peels" by The Dead Milkmen can be interpreted as a satirical take on counterculture and drug culture. By referencing smoking banana peels, a rumored method of achieving a psychedelic high in the 1960s, the song satirizes the absurdity and futility of seeking altered states of mind through unconventional means. The surreal and nonsensical imagery throughout the lyrics can be seen as a critique of society's obsession with superficiality, materialism, and escapism through substances. The scattered references to seals, Elvis, life cereal, and electric eels add to the overall playful and whimsical tone, highlighting the absurdity of trying to find deeper meaning in mundane things. The repeated use of "mellow" and "too mellow" can also symbolize a sense of lethargy or apathy towards life's complexities, poking fun at the idea of seeking simplicity or numbness in the face of reality.