White Punks on Dope

Album: The Tubes (1975)
Charted: 28
Play Video
  • Teenage had a race for the night time
    Spent my cash on every high I could find
    Wasted time in every school in L.A.
    Getting loose, I didn't care what the kids say

    We're white punks on dope
    Mom & Dad moved to Hollywood
    Hang myself when I get enough rope
    Can't clean up, though I know I should
    White punks on dope
    White punks on dope

    Other dudes are living in the ghetto
    But born in Pacific Heights don't seem much betto

    We're white punks on dope
    Mom & Dad live in Hollywood
    Hang myself when I get enough rope
    I can't clean up, though I know I should
    White punks on dope
    White punks on dope

    I go crazy 'cause my folks are so fucking rich
    Have to score when I get that rich white punk itch
    Sounds real classy, living in a chateau
    So lonely, all the other kids will never know

    We're white punks on dope
    Mom & Dad live in Hollywood
    Hang myself when I get enough rope
    Can't clean up, though I know I should
    White punks on dope
    White punks on dope
    Writer/s: MICHAEL ASH EVANS, ROGER A. STEEN, WILLIAM EDMOND SPOONER
    Publisher: MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

  • What You Want A Name from 3rd Rock From The SunThe Tubes were fetishist into various fibers among other things. The Japanese at the beginning of the album and at the end of White Punks on Dope is undoubtedly a reference to a kind of fabric they must have really liked. No wonder Tipper Gore hated them. I bet Al was a snooze in bed. The phrase at the end of the song is from a Japanese commercial. "Aki no Tetoron wa Teijin desu", which loosely translates to "This autumn, it has to be Teijin's Tetoron". Teijin is a Japanese chemical company and Tetoron is the brand name of their high-performance polyester fibres. (source: Yahoo Answers, Teijin Group website)
  • Paul from AustraliaCan anyone (or anyone's Japanese friend) please translate the dialogue at the beginning of the "The Tubes" album, the 30 second section that precedes "Up from the Deep"?
  • Scoco from Born CaliforniaFrom yahoo answers, "Aki no teteron wat teijin desu" is the CM song for TEIJIN co.ltd (a Japanese chemical company), and means
    "The Tetoron (which is popular)in autumn are made by TEIJIN", Teteron is a fabric material.

    It's in the opening few seconds of album opener "Up From the Deep", and at the end of "White Punks on Dope" to close the album.

    "Punks" is diminutive slang for adolescents, as in when Dirty Harry says "Do you feel lucky, punk?"
  • Denise Lafrance from Toronto, Caada
    I asked my Japanese friend. He said,
    ---
    "Akino tetoron wa teijin desu."
    He's saying " Akino Tetron is a teijin."
    ---
    (All that shows up defining teijin is it's the name of a Japanese chemical company. A colloquialism, perhaps --?)
  • Bruce from Hudson Valley, Ny'Give 'Em Enough Rope' wasn't a song title. It was the name of The Clash's 2nd album recorded in large part in The Tubes home base, San Francisco. Punk is not a specific sound per se. It's an attitude. When The Tubes recorded "WPOD" in 1975, "punk" i.e. The Ramones, The Sex Pistols et al were completely unknown. In the context of the times this is "punk."
  • Jon from Midland, MiMike- The phrase at the end of the song is from a Japanese commercial. "Aki no Tetoron wa Teijin desu", which loosely translates to "This autumn, it has to be Teijin's Tetoron". Teijin is a Japanese chemical company and Tetoron is the brand name of their high-performance polyester fibres. (source: Yahoo Answers, Teijin Group website)

    Zab- Don't believe anyone has claimed this is a punk song.
  • Mike from San Diego, CaCan anyone translate the Japanese phrase spoken at the end of the song?
  • Zabadak from London, EnglandOf course, although the word is in the title, this is not a "Punk" song!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Christopher Cross

Christopher CrossSongwriter Interviews

The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Music Video Director David Hogan

Music Video Director David HoganSong Writing

David talks about videos he made for Prince, Alabama, Big & Rich, Sheryl Crow, DMB, Melissa Etheridge and Sisters of Mercy.

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.