Punk rock love songs?
March 19, 2010 12:33 PM Subscribe
Punk rock love songs?
Looking for punk rock songs that are clearly love songs. I'm not looking for the punk analogue to the hard rock/heavy metal power ballads: ideally, the songs should still have punk energy, instrumentation, DIY ethic. I'm not ruling out slower songs but I want it to be something you consider to be punk.
Ultimately, I'll let you define what punk is since we could debate that all day long (just punk, Irish punk, California punk, straight edge, garage, mod, protopunk, ska punk, hardcore, Oi!, Ramones, Sex Pistols, Stranglers, Television, early Wire, Minor Threat, Runaways, YOU name it -- I think it would be patently anti-punk to quibble over that kind of label and miss out on some great music.)
Looking for punk rock songs that are clearly love songs. I'm not looking for the punk analogue to the hard rock/heavy metal power ballads: ideally, the songs should still have punk energy, instrumentation, DIY ethic. I'm not ruling out slower songs but I want it to be something you consider to be punk.
Ultimately, I'll let you define what punk is since we could debate that all day long (just punk, Irish punk, California punk, straight edge, garage, mod, protopunk, ska punk, hardcore, Oi!, Ramones, Sex Pistols, Stranglers, Television, early Wire, Minor Threat, Runaways, YOU name it -- I think it would be patently anti-punk to quibble over that kind of label and miss out on some great music.)
Nation of Ulysses, "You're My (Miss Washington D. C.)."
posted by nasreddin at 12:37 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by nasreddin at 12:37 PM on March 19, 2010
I'm blanking on original songs, but Me First and the Gimme Gimmes cover a lot of pop songs (love songs included, of course) with a pop-punk sound.
posted by entropicamericana at 12:38 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by entropicamericana at 12:38 PM on March 19, 2010
Pogues: Love you till the end from Pogue Mahone counts?
posted by hariya at 12:43 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by hariya at 12:43 PM on March 19, 2010
I know this is questionable even with your disclaimer, but I would really suggest Green Day's 1,039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours, a collection of EPs from 89-90.
If that doesn't count, then try pretty much any song by Rites of Spring.
posted by jalexc at 12:50 PM on March 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
If that doesn't count, then try pretty much any song by Rites of Spring.
posted by jalexc at 12:50 PM on March 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
Screeching Weasel - I Think We're Alone Now (a cover, obviously)
Green Day - 2,000 Lightyears Away
posted by Jaltcoh at 12:50 PM on March 19, 2010
Green Day - 2,000 Lightyears Away
posted by Jaltcoh at 12:50 PM on March 19, 2010
The band "Great Plains" had a song called "Letter to a Fanzine," that included the lyrics:
Why do punk rock guys go out with new wave girls?
Why do punk rock guys go out with new wave girls?
Isn’t my haircut really intense?
Isn’t Nick Cave a genius in a sense?
You didn’t print my last letter – what’s better? drugs or sex?
Isn’t my haircut really intense?
posted by HP LaserJet P10006 at 12:51 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Why do punk rock guys go out with new wave girls?
Why do punk rock guys go out with new wave girls?
Isn’t my haircut really intense?
Isn’t Nick Cave a genius in a sense?
You didn’t print my last letter – what’s better? drugs or sex?
Isn’t my haircut really intense?
posted by HP LaserJet P10006 at 12:51 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Another Girl, Another Planet - Only Ones, though obviously it's a drug song too.
Ever Fallen In Love? - Buzzcocks
posted by Abiezer at 12:55 PM on March 19, 2010 [4 favorites]
Ever Fallen In Love? - Buzzcocks
posted by Abiezer at 12:55 PM on March 19, 2010 [4 favorites]
Actually, "You're My Miss Washington D. C." doesn't have any parentheses. (It wouldn't make sense anyway.) My bad.
posted by nasreddin at 12:55 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by nasreddin at 12:55 PM on March 19, 2010
OOOOH, I like these questions:
the pixies (yes, I do consider them somewhat punk- very proto-punk for today's stuff at least): Here comes your man, Hey,
Get up kids (bordering on emo, but whatever): Mass Pike
Jawbreaker: chemistry
I'm sure I'll have alot more to post.
posted by TheBones at 12:55 PM on March 19, 2010
the pixies (yes, I do consider them somewhat punk- very proto-punk for today's stuff at least): Here comes your man, Hey,
Get up kids (bordering on emo, but whatever): Mass Pike
Jawbreaker: chemistry
I'm sure I'll have alot more to post.
posted by TheBones at 12:55 PM on March 19, 2010
Ever Fallen In Love
Orgasm Addict
What Do I Get
E.S.P.
And dozens of others from the Buzzcocks
posted by Ironmouth at 12:56 PM on March 19, 2010 [5 favorites]
Orgasm Addict
What Do I Get
E.S.P.
And dozens of others from the Buzzcocks
posted by Ironmouth at 12:56 PM on March 19, 2010 [5 favorites]
Ramones: Oh Oh I Love Her so
I met her at the Burger King we fell in love by the soda machine
So we took the car downtown the kids were hanging out all around
Then we went down to Coney Island on the coaster and around again
And no one's gonna ever tear us apart cause she's my sweetheart
posted by davebush at 12:59 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
I met her at the Burger King we fell in love by the soda machine
So we took the car downtown the kids were hanging out all around
Then we went down to Coney Island on the coaster and around again
And no one's gonna ever tear us apart cause she's my sweetheart
posted by davebush at 12:59 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Vandals - If The Government Could Read My Mind
posted by jeffamaphone at 1:01 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jeffamaphone at 1:01 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
"baby, i love you" by The Ramones
"monosyllabic girl" by NOFX
"pop rocks and coke" by green day
posted by MXJ1983 at 1:01 PM on March 19, 2010
"monosyllabic girl" by NOFX
"pop rocks and coke" by green day
posted by MXJ1983 at 1:01 PM on March 19, 2010
oh, i forgot Nirvana's cover of "love buzz" and Black Flag's "I Love You"
posted by MXJ1983 at 1:05 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by MXJ1983 at 1:05 PM on March 19, 2010
Alkaline Trio: Warbrain
The Gaslight Anthem: Great Expectations
The Lawrence Arms: Are you there Margaret? It's me God.
Plenty out there if you're including pop punk, i.e. Blink 182's Rock Show.
posted by craven_morhead at 1:06 PM on March 19, 2010
The Gaslight Anthem: Great Expectations
The Lawrence Arms: Are you there Margaret? It's me God.
Plenty out there if you're including pop punk, i.e. Blink 182's Rock Show.
posted by craven_morhead at 1:06 PM on March 19, 2010
Dead Kennedys To Drunk TO F**k
posted by digividal at 1:06 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by digividal at 1:06 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Television Personalities - "The Prettiest Girl In The World"
posted by clcapps at 1:08 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by clcapps at 1:08 PM on March 19, 2010
Damned (again)- New Rose
posted by macadam9 at 1:11 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by macadam9 at 1:11 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
"My Baby Does Good Sculptures" - the Rezillos
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:12 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:12 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Not technically punk rock, but seems to fit:
Magnetic Fields-Punk Love
Lyrics:
Punk Love
Punk Love
Punk Rock Love
Fin
posted by newpotato at 1:12 PM on March 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
Magnetic Fields-Punk Love
Lyrics:
Punk Love
Punk Love
Punk Rock Love
Fin
posted by newpotato at 1:12 PM on March 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
Even in Blackouts - If
They have some other unique love songs including 'Cynical Love', which can be found on iTunes. There aren't too many performance videos on YouTube, unfortunately.
posted by lholladay at 1:13 PM on March 19, 2010
They have some other unique love songs including 'Cynical Love', which can be found on iTunes. There aren't too many performance videos on YouTube, unfortunately.
posted by lholladay at 1:13 PM on March 19, 2010
The World Inferno Friendship Society - Only Anarchists are Pretty
posted by pombe at 1:15 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by pombe at 1:15 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
If you're not opposed to foreign punk, Linda Linda by The Blue Hearts totally captures that exuberant feeling of love. Trust me, you don't have to speak Japanese to get that it's all about an amazing girl named Linda. There's a fairly well-known Japanese cover from a movie about an all-girl Blue Hearts cover band, and it's also been partially covered in English by MxPx. You can even read about the lyrics on AskMe here.
Depending on how you feel about "Christian punk" (bleh), the second link might be the least punk, but it's my favorite.
posted by Diagonalize at 1:30 PM on March 19, 2010
Depending on how you feel about "Christian punk" (bleh), the second link might be the least punk, but it's my favorite.
posted by Diagonalize at 1:30 PM on March 19, 2010
NOFX - Liza and Louise
Jawbreaker - Chesterfield King
posted by xbonesgt at 1:47 PM on March 19, 2010
Jawbreaker - Chesterfield King
posted by xbonesgt at 1:47 PM on March 19, 2010
The Ramones- I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
Vibrators- Whips and Furs
posted by cottonswab at 1:52 PM on March 19, 2010
Vibrators- Whips and Furs
posted by cottonswab at 1:52 PM on March 19, 2010
The Replacements - Kiss Me On The Bus. It might be more of a crush or lust song than a love song, but fantastic either way.
posted by domnit at 1:52 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by domnit at 1:52 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
"Have a Heart, Betty" by the Soft Boys
posted by pickypicky at 2:06 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by pickypicky at 2:06 PM on March 19, 2010
Say Anything - Alive with the Glory of Love
Alkaline Trio - Clavicle
Descendents - Get the Time
Unwritten Law - Mean Girl
posted by axiom at 2:08 PM on March 19, 2010
Alkaline Trio - Clavicle
Descendents - Get the Time
Unwritten Law - Mean Girl
posted by axiom at 2:08 PM on March 19, 2010
Hmmm, this is more difficult than I thought.
The effing awesome Hex Dispensers made a love song, yay! So I can namedrop them: My Love Is A Bat
Does Dead Moon count? They covered "Play With Fire" -- god I miss that band.
Do the Exploding Hearts count? If so, anything that's not about sniffing glue, most of all "Sleeping Aides And Razor Blades" and "Jailbird" (which is about sniffing glue by the way)
Stooges? "Johanna"'s obvious, but not such a great song, IMO. In Iggy's gritty way, "I wanna be your dog" definitely qualifies as a love song
posted by gijsvs at 2:11 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
The effing awesome Hex Dispensers made a love song, yay! So I can namedrop them: My Love Is A Bat
Does Dead Moon count? They covered "Play With Fire" -- god I miss that band.
Do the Exploding Hearts count? If so, anything that's not about sniffing glue, most of all "Sleeping Aides And Razor Blades" and "Jailbird" (which is about sniffing glue by the way)
Stooges? "Johanna"'s obvious, but not such a great song, IMO. In Iggy's gritty way, "I wanna be your dog" definitely qualifies as a love song
posted by gijsvs at 2:11 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Crime - Baby You're So Repulsive
Rezilllos - I Like It
Ramones - I Want You Around
posted by hydrophonic at 2:11 PM on March 19, 2010
Rezilllos - I Like It
Ramones - I Want You Around
posted by hydrophonic at 2:11 PM on March 19, 2010
Lotsa Queers songs mentioned already (and rightfully so) by my fave by them is Like A Parasite.
And if you want even smirkier, poppier punk, look no further than the Smoking Popes.
posted by Ufez Jones at 2:20 PM on March 19, 2010
And if you want even smirkier, poppier punk, look no further than the Smoking Popes.
posted by Ufez Jones at 2:20 PM on March 19, 2010
Broken - Bad Religion
One of my favourite songs of theirs.
posted by Admira at 2:22 PM on March 19, 2010
One of my favourite songs of theirs.
posted by Admira at 2:22 PM on March 19, 2010
OWWWW, how could I forget? All on the Cheapo Crypt Sampler CD:
The Raunch Hands - Naked Naked Naked
The Gories - I Got Eyes For You
The Oblivians - Sunday You Need Love
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - The Feeling of Love
Thee Mighty Caesars - Why Don't You Try My Love
More about sex than love, but hey! This Is Punk Rock MAN
posted by gijsvs at 2:25 PM on March 19, 2010
The Raunch Hands - Naked Naked Naked
The Gories - I Got Eyes For You
The Oblivians - Sunday You Need Love
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - The Feeling of Love
Thee Mighty Caesars - Why Don't You Try My Love
More about sex than love, but hey! This Is Punk Rock MAN
posted by gijsvs at 2:25 PM on March 19, 2010
Bouncing Souls - Streetlight Serenade (To No One)
It's a love song to his bike, which I think is great. YMMV
posted by theichibun at 2:26 PM on March 19, 2010
It's a love song to his bike, which I think is great. YMMV
posted by theichibun at 2:26 PM on March 19, 2010
Does the Bouncing Souls cover of "Don't You Forget About Me" count? It's pretty awesome.
posted by elizardbits at 3:30 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by elizardbits at 3:30 PM on March 19, 2010
I'm not sure Liza and Louise is really a love song...
posted by jeffamaphone at 3:33 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by jeffamaphone at 3:33 PM on March 19, 2010
Ramones - Needles and Pins
posted by Robot Johnny at 3:36 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by Robot Johnny at 3:36 PM on March 19, 2010
"Song for A Mix Tape" - The Ataris
"IOU One Galaxy" - The Ataris
"Need You Around" - Smoking Popes
"Baby Baby" - The Vibrators
posted by SisterHavana at 4:41 PM on March 19, 2010
"IOU One Galaxy" - The Ataris
"Need You Around" - Smoking Popes
"Baby Baby" - The Vibrators
posted by SisterHavana at 4:41 PM on March 19, 2010
"Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby I Love You" by <>Sweet Baby.
posted by mds35 at 4:53 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by mds35 at 4:53 PM on March 19, 2010
Response by poster: Wow! Great answers everyone! Thanks. Feel free to keep adding if you like.
posted by brokeaspoke at 7:28 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by brokeaspoke at 7:28 PM on March 19, 2010
PiL, "This is not a Love Song"
--
FWIW, Punk Rock Girl has always seemed to me to be the only successful actual, not-ironic punk rock love song; most other punk 'love songs' are really about satirizing expectations in relationships, gender roles, or pop structural conventions. Which is why they are punk, right?
That said, a lot of the Buzzcocks stuff is great at conveying that elevated fizzy feeling while simultaneously separating it from anything but the physical and the social.
posted by mwhybark at 9:14 PM on March 19, 2010
--
FWIW, Punk Rock Girl has always seemed to me to be the only successful actual, not-ironic punk rock love song; most other punk 'love songs' are really about satirizing expectations in relationships, gender roles, or pop structural conventions. Which is why they are punk, right?
That said, a lot of the Buzzcocks stuff is great at conveying that elevated fizzy feeling while simultaneously separating it from anything but the physical and the social.
posted by mwhybark at 9:14 PM on March 19, 2010
Isn't it quintessentially punk to quibble over what constitutes punk?
Jets to Brazil, "You're the One I Want."
Jawbox, "Static."
Suture, "Pretty Is."
Discount, "Rooftop Empathy."
posted by gentilknight at 9:20 PM on March 19, 2010
Jets to Brazil, "You're the One I Want."
Jawbox, "Static."
Suture, "Pretty Is."
Discount, "Rooftop Empathy."
posted by gentilknight at 9:20 PM on March 19, 2010
... and, not a song, but certainly the greatest thing I ever read pretty much precisely on this topic:
Aaron Cometbus' Punk Rock Love Is...
posted by mwhybark at 9:24 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Aaron Cometbus' Punk Rock Love Is...
posted by mwhybark at 9:24 PM on March 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
...worth noting: Aaron namechecks a Buzzcocks song (Ever Fallen in Love) and the bands the Descendents, the Ramones, and the Clash (well, a Clash song, Stay Free, which is a sort of love song).
posted by mwhybark at 9:30 PM on March 19, 2010
posted by mwhybark at 9:30 PM on March 19, 2010
The Weakerthans - The Reasons
"I know you might roll your eyes at this/but I'm so glad that you exist"
posted by just_ducky at 10:06 PM on March 19, 2010
"I know you might roll your eyes at this/but I'm so glad that you exist"
posted by just_ducky at 10:06 PM on March 19, 2010
And continuing the bitterness from earlier, Gang of Four's "Damaged Goods".
posted by brujita at 12:12 AM on March 20, 2010
posted by brujita at 12:12 AM on March 20, 2010
Descendents "Silly Girl"
World Inferno Friendship Society "Younger Man"
This Bike is a Pipe Bomb "Of Chivalry and Romance In a Dumpster"/ "Imperfection"
Used Kids "I Know You're Mine"
Bouncing Souls "Hopeless Romantic"
Rites of Spring "All There Is"
So many more.....
posted by dm_nyc at 8:24 AM on March 22, 2010
World Inferno Friendship Society "Younger Man"
This Bike is a Pipe Bomb "Of Chivalry and Romance In a Dumpster"/ "Imperfection"
Used Kids "I Know You're Mine"
Bouncing Souls "Hopeless Romantic"
Rites of Spring "All There Is"
So many more.....
posted by dm_nyc at 8:24 AM on March 22, 2010
Falling In Love - NOFX
posted by Twicketface at 9:57 AM on March 22, 2010
posted by Twicketface at 9:57 AM on March 22, 2010
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posted by Sara Anne at 12:37 PM on March 19, 2010