Kung Fu
by Ash

Album: 1977 (1995)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • On December 26, 1994, Ash frontman Tim Wheeler came up with this song while waiting for a plane in Belfast. The song is a chop suey of references to martial arts movie tropes, with Bruce Lee, Mr. Miagi and Jackie Chan all getting mentions.

    "I fell in love with the words 'kung fu,' 'Hong Kong' and 'Fu Manchu,'" Wheeler told NME in 1995. "We wanted to write a really crap Ramones song and it was meant to be the B-side but it turned out too good. A fluke - written in five minutes and recorded in two-and-a-half."
  • The opening fight sounds were taken from the 1980 martial arts spoof Spooky Encounters.
  • The line, "I haven't been the same since my teenage lobotomy," is a reference to the 1977 Ramones song "Teenage Lobotomy."
  • This plays in the opening scene of the 1995 movie Rumble in the Bronx, starring Jackie Chan, who is mentioned in the song.
  • Owen Morris, known for his work with Oasis, produced this track.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Charles Fox

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.

Bible Lyrics

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.