Songfacts®:

• This was the third single taken from American new wave rock band The B-52s' third album, Whammy!. The song finds the members taking turns introducing themselves. Here's the breakdown:
  
  Fred Schneider:
  I'm Fred the Cancerian from New Jersey
  I like collecting records and exploring the cave of the unknown
  
  Cindy Wilson:
  I'm Cindy, I'm a Pisces
  I like Chihuahuas and Chinese noodles
  
  Ricky Wilson:
  My name is Ricky and I'm a Pisces
  I love computers and hot tamales
  
  Kate Pierson:
  I'm Kate and I am a Taurus
  I love tomatoes and black-capped chickadees
  
  Keith Strickland:
  My name is Keith and I'm a Scorpio from Athens, Georgia
  I like to find the essence from within
• The B-52s are a very democratic group, and the band's achievements are equally credited to each of the members. B-52er Fred Schneider told the NME this group mentality was what was behind this song. He explained: "We've always wanted to do a song where we introduce ourselves. There's so many of 'em: the Floaters, 'The Jam' by Grand Central station… a lot of rap groups. We figured it was about time, especially as Kate and Cindy and I are upfront and Keith and Ricky have never sung. We like to promote all five of us. Be sure attention is paid equally to everyone this time round."
• In a Songfacts interview with B-52s vocalist Cindy Wilson, she said: "'Song For A Future Generation' was a marvel - it had everybody singing on it and everybody was doing a stand-out, where we would come on the stage and we each got to step out like a TV show from the '60s. It was our anthem - we're all in there and we're all contributing."