Nazi Punks Fuck Off by the Dead Kennedys, Song Facts & Words

In the early 80s, the blooming punk music crowd in California had two polar opposite factions: anti-establishment types, and far-right extremists… and The Dead Kennedys HATED the Nazis. So in 1981, the band released a song on their Alternative Tentacles label to clearly explain how they felt. It was written by Jello Biafra, East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride, D.H. Peligro.

“We were having problems with Nazi skinheads coming to our shows and starting fights. This song was our way of telling them they were not welcome.” – Jello Biafra

The song was released on the “In God We Trust, Inc.” EP in December 1981. The single release was a slightly different recording, but it had the distinction of including an armband with the swastika crossed out.

Fun fact, even though The Dead Kennedys specifically name-check Martin Hannet (who’d produced Buzzcocks and Joy Division) for “overproducing” the single, they never actually worked together.

Here are the words to the song:

“Nazi Punks Fuck Off”, overproduced by Martin Hannet, take four
Two, three, four

Punk ain’t no religious cult
Punk means thinkin’ for yourself
You ain’t hardcore, ’cause you spike your hair
When a jock still lives inside your head

Nazi punks, Nazi punks
Nazi punks fuck off
Nazi punks, Nazi punks
Nazi punks fuck off

If you’ve come to fight, get outta here
You ain’t no better than the bouncers
We ain’t tryin’ to be police
When you ape the cops, it ain’t anarchy

Nazi punks, Nazi punks
Nazi punks fuck off
Nazi punks, Nazi punks
Nazi punks fuck off

Ten guys jump one, what a man
You fight each other, the police state wins
Stab your backs when you trash our halls
Trash a bank if you’ve got real balls

You still think swastikas look cool
The real Nazis run your schools
They’re coaches, businessmen and cops
In a real fourth Reich, you’ll be the first to go

Nazi punks, Nazi punks
Nazi punks fuck off
Nazi punks, Nazi punks
Nazi punks fuck off

You’ll be the first to go, you’ll be the first to go
You’ll be the first to go, unless you think

“If you’re a Nazi and you think punk rock is on your side, you’re wrong.” – Jello Biafra