I recently did a Ramones deep dive where I listened to all fourteen studio albums by Ramones, and in connection with this, I made a guest appearance on an album ranking video for the JOEpinionated YouTube channel. Even before the deep dive, I was already a huge fan and was well aware of their considerable influence. One aspect of the band that sometimes gets overlooked, which I developed more of an appreciation for, is the band’s social awareness. Both Dee Dee and Joey Ramone have composed some insightful social commentary. Here is a sampling of ten of these tunes.
Havana Affair (1976)
From the band’s landmark self-titled debut, even though it is not explicitly a protest song, the tune could be considered a commentary on the Cuban Missile Crisis and American interventionism during the Cold War, which included employing Cuban citizens to engage in espionage. The song’s protagonist is a Cuban man who becomes a CIA spy.
Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World (1976)
Also, from the band’s self-titled debut, this is probably the band’s most controversial and provocative tune. Dee Dee Ramone wrote the lyrics partially based on his experiences growing up in Germany and being bullied (his father was a US soldier and his mother was German), both in Germany for his American heritage, and when he moved to the States because of his German heritage. As a child, Dee Dee was also fascinated with the Nazi memorabilia that he would discover in the rubble in Germany.
Sung from the perspective of a member of Hitler’s Youth, the original version of the song (which they would perform live, and uncensored versions have since been released) opened with the line “I’m a Nazi baby,” but they changed the lyric due to pressure from their Sire Records label boss Seymour Stein (who also happened to be Jewish), who was worried that the lyric would be offensive to listeners. Considering Joey Ramone, a left-leaning Jew who was not afraid to speak up against fascism (which we will discuss later on this list), felt comfortable singing the lyrics would indicate that he likely understood it to be satire. The lyrics could be considered a critique of the indoctrination that takes place within regimes and how dangerous ideologies appeal to the vulnerable.
Commando (1977)
From their sophomore album Leave Home, this satirical tune critiques military involvement and societal norms, especially in the context of the Vietnam War (“They do their best, they do what they can. They get them ready for Vietnam”). It also provides commentary on the absurdity of war (“First rule is, ‘The laws of Germany.’ Second rule is, ‘Be nice to mommy.’ Third rule is, ‘Don’t talk to commies.’ Fourth rule is, ‘Eat kosher salamis’”),
High Risk Insurance (1980)
The closing track from their Phil Spector-produced fourth album, End of the Century, the song is a galvanizing anthem of perseverance and nonconformity (“You got to fight to stay independent). Also, the line “Got no love for the enemy nation” can work both on a metaphorical level and in a broader socio-political context.
The KKK Took My Baby (1981)
This catchy tune about the KKK kidnapping the protagonist’s girlfriend appears on the album Pleasant Dreams. There are a couple of conflicting stories concerning the origins of the song, one of which was that Joey Ramone directed it to Johnny Ramone, who hurled antisemitic insults at Joey and stole his girlfriend. The other story is that he dated a black woman, but she broke it off because her parents objected to her dating a Jewish person. Either way, the song could be viewed as an anti-racist tune.
I’m Not Afraid of Life (1984)
From the album Too Tough To Die, the song is about fighting to stay optimistic, despite all of the troubles in the world. The lyrics express concerns over nuclear annihilation and address other social issues such as poverty and homelessness.
Planet Earth 1988 (1984)
Also from the album Too Tough To Die, similar to “I’m Not Afraid of Life,” but even more explicitly political, the tune well expressed the Cold War anxiety that was prevalent at the time. The lyrics also address racism, unemployment, and income inequality.
Bonzo Goes To Bitburg (1985)
This anti-Reagan protest song was initially released as a UK single in June 1985 with the title “Bonzo Goes to Bitburg”. It was renamed “My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)” when it appeared on the influential punk band’s 1986 album, Animal Boy. One of the band’s more direct political tunes, the lyrics protest then US President Ronald Reagan’s visit to the Bitburg military cemetery in Germany, which included grave sites of Nazi soldiers. Joey, as a Jew, was particularly appalled by this. Interestingly, Johnny was a devout Republican and Reagan supporter, and he didn’t want to record the song. As a compromise, the band added the “My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down” to the title. It is definitely more catchy than most protest tunes, but the sing-along nature of the song does not take away any of the lyrical bite of the message.
Censorshit (1992)
This anti-censorship protest song opens the album Mondo Bizarro. The lyrics specifically address Al Gore’s wife, Tipper, who spearheaded the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) efforts to place parental advisory labels on albums. The lyrics reference both Ozzy Osbourne and Frank Zappa (who notably testified during the Senate hearing), both of whom were targets of censorship efforts. The lyrics also highlight that, instead of focusing on censoring the freedom of speech of musicians, politicians should focus on real issues, such as the economy, homelessness, and the environment.
Poison Heart (1992)
Also from Mondo Bizarro, the song isn’t necessarily a direct protest, but it is a socially conscious song written in response to the plight of the world. It also addresses issues such as homelessness with the powerful lyric: “Making friends with a homeless torn up man. He just kind of smiles, it really shakes me up.”
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