Rock Lobster

by

The B-52's

Album: The B-52's

Released: 1979

Charted:

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Many B-52's songs have fun, whimsical lyrics, and this is one of them. It's about a beach party where someone encounters a rock lobster (which is also known as a crayfish, but that wouldn't sound as good).

John Lennon heard this song playing in a Bermuda disco in 1979. It reminded him of Yoko Ono's music so much that it inspired him to return to the recording studio after a 5 year retirement. The B52s' guitarist Keith Strickland recalled to Q magazine that at the end of the song, "Cindy does this scream that was inspired by Yoko Ono. John heard it in some club in the Bahamas, and the story goes that he calls up Yoko and says, Get the axe out – they're ready for us again! Yoko has said that she and John were listening to us in the weeks before he died." (This interview is available at Rock's Backpages).

This reached #1 on the Canadian charts in 1980, following Blondie's "Call Me" and preceding The Pretenders' "Brass In Pocket." It held the pole position for one week. (thanks, Kent - Toronto, Canada)

There is no bass guitar in this song but a baritone guitar instead. (thanks, edna - Madrid, Spain)

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Comments (31):

Might want to check your sources on that story, Jake from Talahassee. Rock Lobster is on the B-52's first album in 1979 - and Love Shack was released on Cosmic Thing in 1989. All the songs on Cosmic Thing were written by the whole band, jamming together trying to kick-start their creativity in the late 1980's after the death of Ricky Wilson. So I don't think Rock Lobster and Love Shack were written by Fred Schneider on the same day.

- TheGripester, Wellington, New Zealand

That Song Was Sung On Muppets Tonight With Pierce Brosnan Where The Crustacean Liberation Army
Tried To Take Over The KMUP Television Studios!

- Cory Stoczynski, Lancaster, NY

IMO, "Somebody went under a dock" to relieve themselves, aka #1. The rock of course wasn't a rock, it was a...piece of, um, raw sewage, aka #2.

- john, philadelphia, PA

Thanks Kevin from Philadelphia! I just heard the Botch cover and it is pretty sick!

- Rui, Porto, Portugal

When Fred Snyder wrote this song he was in an aggressive mood supposedly. As he continued adding more and more lyrics to the song it started to make him feel down. This is where the inspiration in the part where he sings "down, down, down" came about. Later that day he started thinking about ideas for "Love Shack". Obviously his overly aggressive mood had shifted to a more peaceful state and thus their next hit was created.

- Jake, Talahassee, MT

In the early 80s this was popular at dance clubs in the northeast. Lots of hopping thenand falling to the ground when the lyrics say "down down down" where the entire dance floor would be covered by people writhing on their stomachs and backs until the guitar riffs started back up. Then we'd all be hopping straight up with arms flailing until the end. The bars would play it as the last song because we'd be worn out by the end and they could close. I miss punk dances. Nobody maked you down for lack of form.

- Lalah, Wasilla, AK

Mathcore band Botch did a cover of this that kicks ass. If you get a chance, listen to the Botch version. It is on their album Unifying Themes Redux.

- Kevin, Philadelphia, PA

This song is on Donkey Konga for the Gamecube, but it gets cut off after the halfway point. >_<

- Matthew, Milford, MA

Fred Schneider once said in an interview that the line "His earlobe fell in the deep" is actually based on an experience he had at a party when he was in drag: his earbob fell off his ear and into a bowl of dip. When they were improvising lines for "Rock Lobster" in a jam session, he turned this into the line that we hear in the song.

- Jimmy, Orlando, FL

What a weird song huh? I first heard it on the radio in the late 90's, I thought it was a joke! Oh well very catchy!

- Joe, Bellingham, WA

In fact, it was in the summer of 1980 (not 1979) that John Lennon heard the song while having a vacation with his son Sean in Bermuda. After that, he started to write the songs that were later included in the Double Fantasy and Milk and Honey albums.

- Eduardo, San Jose, Other

The fact that this song was on Family Guy doesn't matter. I mean, the song by itself, Family Guy or no Family Guy, is truly an amazing piece of work. I don't think anyone could have copied the sound that the B52's had. It was just so unique and Rock Lobster is a great example of their individuality. So are soungs like Is That You Mo Dean, Quiche Lorraine, and 52 Girls. People who have only heard this song should really listen to some more of their music. Each of their songs is so unique...it's just so amazing. I'm getting over-excited just writing this..haha.

- Emily, Xenia, OH

Small correction: it was the more unusual "Making Plan For Nigel" that hit #1 in Canada. Should have done my reference work first!

- Kent, Toronto, Canada

I think it is interesting to point out that "Rock Lobster" enjoyed amazing success in Canada, going to #1 (!) in the charts. (Compare with not even getting near the Top 40 in their native country.) In general, Canada was very much more open to New Wave when it hit. "Life Begins At The Hop" (XTC) was also #1 early on, as well as the early Police hits long before they hit it really big in the States. How about including some other chart positions besides only the U.K. and U.S. ones?

- Kent, Toronto, Canada

The band for this song consists of Drums, Keyboard, Tambourine, cowbell, vocals.. and the best part, a 4 stringed guitar. The guitarist for B52s Only has the two high and two lowest strings and they are downtuned like crazy for this song I believe it is.. (Low E - Tuned down to A) .. (A - Tuned down to G) .. (D - String removed) .. (G - String Removed) .. (B - Tuned DOWN to F) .. (High E - Tuned DOWN to G#) It's a very fun song to play on guitar though.

EDIT: Tried to make it a little clearer.

- Dev01d, Wollongong, Australia

The band for this song consists of Drums, Keyboard, Tambourine, cowbell, vocals.. and the best part, a 4 stringed guitar. The guitarist for B52s Only has the two high and two lowest strings and they are downtuned like crazy for this song I believe it is..
Low E - Tuned down to A
A - Tuned down to G
D - String removed
G - String Removed
B - Tuned DOWN to F
High E - Tuned DOWN to G#
It's a very fun song to play on guitar though.

- Dev01d, Wollongong, Australia

On the surface, the "motion in the ocean" verse [motion in the ocean / his air hose broke / lots of bubble / lots of trouble / he was in a jam / 's in a giant clam] seems to be about a deep sea diver who faces danger when his air tube breaks. But I am convinced this verse has a double meaning -- it is also about a guy whose rubber accidentally bursts while he is having sexual intercourse.

- Andy, Hunterdon, NJ

Rock Lobster is a great song,though all things considered,every B-52's song is great.

- Billy, Otway, OH

This song is so inspirational how silly it is! I'm a musician and now I'm not afraid to write about anything!

- Nelson, Melbourne

i haven't heard of this song till it was on family guy it was so funny!!!!

- jen, Ontario, Canada

I like when Peter sings this on family guy.
good playing,but he sucks at the high part.
he sounds like he has a minor throat irritation

- Windy, Otway, OH

read the lyrics. I meant "in walked a Jelly-fish".
also,how can one piranha eat you in a matter of seconds?

- Windy, Otway, OH

What's with the line, "He was a Jellyfish,uuuggghhh!"? did the rock lobster mess him up beyond being able to know what he was? did he kill the jelly,or what?

- Windy, Otway, OH

Whose earlobe fell in the deep? It must be Van Gogh's...

- Jesse, Haddam, CT

id never even heard of this song until long after their loveshack song in 89...

- marlow, perth

Catchy tune, that keeps rattling around in my head. Drives my wife nuts!

- Mike, St. Paul, MN

Best song ever.

Also a Rock Lobster is also known as a crayfish.

- Mike, Winnipeg, Canada

The song is sampled on a popular casino slot machine called "Lucky Larry's Lobster Mania." Hillarious.

- Pat, Las Vegas, NV

that was hilarious when it was on Family Guy

- Travis, Phoenix, NY

The B-52's performed this on the CBS soap opera "Guiding Light" in the 80's. While the performance itself was amusing, the reaction of the cast was hysterical! I don't think there's been a rock band on a CBS soap since...

- yduR, Knoxville, TN

This song is one of a kind.

Also it was on Family Guy.

- Mike, Winnipeg, Canada

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